OUR first talk of the year at Thorverton History Society was a talk by Becks Pearson entitled Devonshire Land Girls.

It was also the first time the WI opened their bar at the Hut for drinks before the talk. It is planned that this very popular addition to our meetings is to continue.

Becks is a Devon born lady who served in the Royal Navy but her interest in the land girls started four years ago when she attended an auction and purchased some clothing from the 1940’s.

A book on the subject by Vita Sackfield West provided a good insight to the subject.

By 1943 there were 1708 ladies in Devon serving in the land army but the land girls were first used in 1917.

The need for help in the fields was recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture following a poor harvest. 46,000 women applied to join and half were taken on. They had to be over 21, well behaved, mobile and not frequent pubs.

In WW2 land girls were not popular in Devon - the farms were small and farmers were in a reserved occupation. Child labour was also cheaper than land girls who were paid 28 to 35 shillings a week.

Baroness Gertrude Denman became the Director of the Women’s Land Army.

The country was divided into seven areas and there was a need for 50,000 women. Advertising posters were printed using posed photographs of happy, attractive ladies working the land.

They had to be between 17.5 and 40 years old. They had to be interviewed and have a medical and many came forward to do their bit for the war effort.

In Devon there was a training centre at Whimple where they spent four weeks learning to be farm workers.

They lived in dormitory accommodation and all had to learn how to milk. They also learned how to thatch, drive tractors and catch rats. Some had to learn forestry work where they worked in pairs.

There were no ranks in the Land Army - the farmer was the boss.

Once trained, they were sent out to their farms or villages near to their place of work where during busy times they might have to work from 5am to 10pm - it could be a hard life.

The Women’s Land Army was not disbanded until 1950 due to labour shortages.

No medals were issued to the ladies who served but many years after the war a badge was made available to those who applied for it.

Robert Turner

• Thorverton and District History Society arranges lectures and presentations by visiting speakers and members on subjects of local or regional historical interest. Membership is open to all – annual subscription £7, Non-members welcome, £2 at door. Meetings are held at Thorventon WI Hut on fourth Friday of month, excluding July, August and December.

For further details, contact Rob Turner, Secretary: [email protected] or telephone 01392 860310.

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