Mary Roy in Greenford in 1944 just before enlisting into the Women’s Land Army.
General Information
First Name(s): Mary Ann
Unmarried Surname: Roy
Married Surname: Ellis
Date of Birth: 12.10.1925
Place of Birth: Stenhousemuir, Scotland
Date of death: 5.11.2021
Date joined WLA: 8.6.1944. Mary was living in Greenford, Middlesex when she enlisted.
Date left WLA: 30.11.1950
WLA number: 146030
Reasons for leaving: Land Army disbanded.
Beaty, Olive Woodhouse, Ivy, and Mary in Liphook in 1945.Ruby, Win, Mary, Sheila, and Kate in Basingstoke in 1946.Potato picking in Innadown. Mary on right.Mary (back row, second in) in Innadown in 1945.Mary (first left, front row) and Eddie (back row, first right) in Innadown in 1946.A car with the WLA badge prepared for a parade in Southampton in 1946.A WLA parade in Southampton in 1946. The banner reads Hook Hostel.A WLA parade in Southampton 1946 featuring Land Girls onboard a steamer.VE Day (8 May 1945). Mary on the back row, third from right.Eddie, Gladys, and Mary in Odiham in 1946.Marianne and Mary in Yately in 1946.Mary, Jean, Marianne, Nora, and Barbara in Yately in 1946.
Employment
Worked in the following places:
1944: Innadown
1945: Liphook
1945: Bramshott
1945: Waterside
1945: Alton
1945: Liphook
1946: Yately
1946: Odiham
1946: Newton Valence
From 1947-1950, transferred to work in Tiverton, Devon. Carried out market gardening, possibly at Knightshayes (now National Trust).
Type of work undertaken: Market gardening and general farm work – potato picking, dung spreading and corn harvesting.
Opportunities to meet other Land Girls: When at Hook, there was a day trip to Bognor in 1947. Invited by the Ox and Bucks team for tea in 1947. When at Tiverton, trip to Truro, 1947.
Outstanding achievements: Proficiency badge in Market Gardening and Field Work. Mary had the highest marks in the South West and received a letter of commendation from the area office.
Any other comments: A reunion afternoon tea event was held in Tiverton in 2009 – I have a copy of the programme with list of attendees – many of whom were ex Land Girls.
Mary (top row, second right) outside Hook Hostel in 1946.Land Girls at Hook Hostel in 1946.Land Girls pictured peering out of the windows of Hook Hostel in 1946.Mary (back row, right) and Lassie the dog outside Hook Hostel in 1947.Mary (back row, third from right) outside Hook Hostel in 1947.Mary in white jumper in 1947 (Hook Hostel).Land Girls outside Hook Hostel in 1947.Land Girls at Hook Hostel in 1947.
Mary Roy with fellow Land Girls in Tiverton. Mary is pictured on the front row second left, Win Merrick is pictured on the first right on the second row.
Accommodation
Hostel in Hook, Hampshire.Other Land Girls based at Hook were:
Rosie Hooker
Win Merrick
Edwina (Eddie) Applegate
Peggy Knight
Alma Ward
Olive Woodhouse
Esme Hamilton
While in Tiverton, worked and/or lived with:
Jessie Edmunds
Win Merrick
Edwina Applegate
Joan C
Joan L
Mary (front row, second left) and Win Merrick (first right, second row) in Tiverton in 1947.Eddie (first left, middle row) and Joan (front row, second right) in Tiverton in 1947.Eddie (second right) and Win (third right) in Tiverton in 1947.Mary sat on wall on the right and Win Merrick standing (right hand side).Mary on back row, first right, maybe in Tiverton in 1947.Mary with a spring lamb in 1949, probably in Tiverton.Mary pictured on the far-left knitting with Land Girls probably in Tiverton.Iris, Joan C, Joan L, and Jessie Edmunds in Tiverton in 1948.Joan C, Joan L, Jessie Edmunds, and Iris in Tiverton in 1948.
Life after the war
Mary stayed in the Tiverton area and I believe she continued to help out at Knightshayes until she married in 1951.
Post-war occupation: Worked at Knightshayes and Bickleigh Castle probably on the land.
Did they stay on the land? After raising two children, Mary worked at various locations in Tiverton, mainly in retail.
How did work in the WLA / WTC effect your/ their life? Mary was very proud to have served in the Land Army and kept in touch with a few of her colleagues. She kept all her certificates and photographs.
Mary pictured with fellow Land Girls in Hook in 1947. Mary is pictured on the back row on the left. Alma Ward is pictured next to her.
Contributor Information
Name: Brian Ellis
Relationship to Land Girl: Son
Mary Roy letter of thanks from the Queen.
Mary Roy WLA Release Certificate.
Mary Roy certificate issued with the WLA and WTC Veterans’ badge in July 2008 and signed by Gordon Brown.
