Marian Raffel (née Cockburn)

General Information

First Name(s): Marian

Unmarried Surname: Cockburn

Married Surname: Raffel

Date of Birth: 1922

Place of Birth: Newcastle upon Tyne

Date joined WLA: 1940

Date left: 1950

Previous occupation: Retail work in Newcastle upon Tyne

Reasons for joining: War effort

Family’s reaction to joining: Great reaction/proud

Reactions of local people: All very friendly

Treatment by farmers:

Reasons for leaving: Other work

Pre-work training: Lumber Jill Training

Employed by: Coombs Wood Sawmill, Armathwaite / Lazonby, Cumberland.

Transferred to Fetherstone Castle Pow.

Type of work undertaken: Tractor and machinery operator

Work liked most and least: Driving Vehicles most liked. Crashing vehicles most disliked.

Best and worst memories of time: Working with other land girls. Working at POW Camp most where only kids.

Opportunities to meet others: Armathwaite Saw mill locals and other girls. Met Husband.

Lived in Cumrew and Armathwaite, Cumbria.

Did they return back to their pre-war occupation? No, due to marriage.

What was their occupation after the war? House Keeper for estate house

Did they stay on the land? Moved for work reasons.

How did work in the WTC affect their life? It was great era the companionship of others working.

Any outstanding events or achievements in WTC or in later life? Crashed tractor pulling out timber.

Name: Philip Raffel

Relationship to Land Girl: Youngest son