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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
From left to right, top to bottom: Land Girls at the beach. Source: Joan Birchall Photo Archive Wartime picnic, Grace Buckeridge, Ethel Sweenie, ‘Buddy’, Mary Warner and fiancé (?) Scales. Source: Stuart Antrobus Land Girls...
From left to right, top to bottom: Land Girls entertaining the troops at Thundersley Hostel, Essex. Source: Lorna Cosgrove A get together after a day’s training. Versatile Iris Joyce types, farms and also plays....
Bicycles, which were often used as transport from the girls’ accommodation to the farms were vital, once they got to know their way around the country lanes. Having your own (or a WLA bicycle)...
Thank you to all those that have shared photos for the monthly collages. We look forward to sharing them throughout the year. This month focuses on the snow, just one of many weathers which...
