The Land Army
Feeding the nation
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The Women's Land Army was set up during the First World War. In June 1939, prior to the outbreak of World War II, it was re-introduced by the Government to help increase food production. When war broke out it freed up the men who normally worked on the land, to go off and fight.
The land girls were provided with suitable clothing and given training. Many of the farmers didn't think women could do the job, but they were proved wrong. The women learned to plough using tractors and horses, milk cows, dig ditches, harvest, fell trees, and a host of other essential jobs.
The women worked long hours for 28 shillings (£1.40) a week and received only 1 week's paid holiday a year.
News from the fields
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