Running the WLA: Rest Break Houses
In June 1944, the WLA in England and Wales set up two Rest Break Houses. Selected Land Girls enjoyed recuperation through paid holidays at a seaside resort after either long service or illness brought...
Tagged: Bedfordshire
Running the WLA: Raising the Profile
In Britain, the WLA employed around 234,000 women on the land during the course of the First and Second World Wars. What was new during both World War One and Two was the unprecedented...
Running the WLA: YWCA Hostels
While there is a lot of information on hostels run by the WLA, there is much less on hostels run by the YWCA. As one of the purposes of this monthly series is to highlight previously-neglected aspects of the running of the WLA, the YWCA’s involvement seems appropriate to explore.
Valentine’s Day 2019: Land Girl GI Brides
Over 1 1/2 million American servicemen arrived in Britain from January 1942 onwards to help fight the war with Germany. Not surprisingly, there were frequent romances and relationships with local girls, many short-lived or...
Gladys Louise West: A Land Girl working in the forests
Gladys Louise West (nee Leech) April 1923 – March 2012 Life before the WLA My mother, Gladys Louise Leech was born in Tuebrook, Liverpool in 1923. A true city girl who probably hankered for...
December: Land Girls celebrating Christmas!
From left to right, top to bottom: The last but one Christmas party to be held at the WLA hostel, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, December 1948. The hostel closed in around September 1950. The two...
October: A Night Out and Dancing
From left to right, top to bottom: Land Girls and Lumber Jills, some in uniform, some in mufti, dance with British soldiers at a dance in a large hall, near to their camp in...
August: Sports
Land Girls on the beach ready for a swim. Source: Joan Birchall Photo Archive Sarah Johnson Duncan and friends in Cornwall ready for a kick about. Source: Julia Greenwood Inter-hostel sports competition, Bedfordshire, 6th...
July: Land Girls and Men in Uniform
From left to right, top to bottom: Hope House Land Girls with soldiers. Source: Joan Birchall archive British Land Girls with members of the Women’s Royal Air Force (WAAF) dancing with men of the...