Audrey Genevieve Paget (née Lancaster)

General Information

First Name(s): Audrey Genevieve

Unmarried Surname: Lancaster

Married Surname: Paget

Date of Birth: 08/03/1927

Place of Birth: Stockwell, London

Date of Death: 20/03/2019

Date Joined WLA: 01/04/1946

Date Left WLA: 09/04/1949

WLA Number: 164624

Previous occupation: Telephonist in Stockwell, London and worked for Neonamic Photo’s in 1942.

Reasons for joining:

A major change to my life!
More freedom.
To serve my country and work on the land, which I considered to be reason for joining WLA.
Opportunity to leave home and to be independent financially.
A great opportunity for me.

Family’s reaction to leaving:

I left living with my mother to join the WLA.
I wanted to leave home and to do something with my life.
The WLA was my opportunity to broaden my horizons and do something meaningful with my life.

Reactions of local people towards WLA / WTC: They were alright, nothing really experienced that I can remember, good reputation.

Treatment by farmers or market gardeners: I did work living and looking after an elderly lady and helping out on the farm. My employer, a farmer, was really pleased to have me and respected my experience in the WLA. I left this position and then employed by another farmer to work on the land with tractors, ploughing fields and feeding livestock.

Reasons for leaving: Sickness. I did not pass a medical examination due to anemia deficiency. Unfit for WLA service. Invalided out of the WLA. Convalescent in Rothschild, my last days in Rothschild’s House, Ashtonwold.

Employment

Trained at Ravensden, went onto various counties as a driver, farm worker. Passed driving test.

Worked for private farmer, Gerald. R. Davison as a grower and from June 1949 as a poultry maid.

Worked in Bedfordshire. Worked at various locations as driver, and on the land.

Clophill – 1946
Clifton – 1947
Bolnhurst – 1949
Cockayne Hatley

Any names of other Land Girls worked or shared accommodation with:

George Copeman
Joan Taylor – 1947
Iris – in Ashtonwold House – 1949
Doris – in Ashtonwold House -1949 (Feb) convalescence home
Charles – (German) in Clophill – A dear friend
Stella – in Ashtonwold House
The Gang : Doreen Wright – 1947, J. Walton – 1947, Velmer Clifton, Sheila Brewer, Nora O’Connor, Mildred, Marjorie – 1948
Ashtonwold Military Hospial

Type of work undertaken:

Forewoman Driver at Old Cople House – 1946
Driving my lorry with supplies and transporting others.
Working on the land, in the fields, ploughing, driving tractors, making hay stacks, working with horses and combine harvesters.

Work liked most and least:

Most

Driving my lorry called baby
Working on the land with other land girls, Best days.

Least

Tired hard work
Little rest.
No support.
Exhausting, emotionally.
Labour work.
Relocation, isolation

Any accidents or injuries sustained by you or by fellow workers and what effect they had: One accident sustained kicked by a bull in a field which damaged my big toenail permanently. Badly injured when two lorries collided in Bedfordshire with two other Land Army Girls.

Best and worst memories of time:

Best

Times working with other Land Army Girls.
Better social life.
Commitment.
Uniforms.

Worst

Hard work.
No time for yourself.
Missing home and parents.
Little leave time or time off.
Long hours.
Challenging
Isolation.
No support.

Opportunities to meet other Land Girls working elsewhere, locally, during wartime. If so where? Worked with many other Land Girls. During war time never any opportunities to meet other Land Girls working else where or locally.

Any outstanding events or achievements in WLA / WTC or in later life: Passed my driving test. 1946 – Became forewoman driver, Old Cople House Hostel.

Accommodation

Paxton Hill
St Neots
Huntingdonshire
Slept and worked here
Old Coples House – 1946

Life after the war

Did you return back to their pre-war occupation? No, not possible, no position and my skills required updating or retraining.

What was your / their occupation after the war? Live in housekeeper to a vicar and his wife.

Did you stay on the land? No, required to leave and go back home to find work. I was invalided out of the WLA and had to convalescence in Rothchild House in Ashtonwold.

How did work in the WLA effect your life? Dramatically, I missed working in the WLA. I felt lost and I did not know what I was going to do. No support given to me when I left WLA, life was difficult.

Any other comments on time in the WLA:

A new venture.
I enjoyed my time in the WLA.
Exhausting work.
A special time in my life and The Gang.
WLA improved my job prospects and enhanced my independence.
Responsibility of others I really enjoyed.

I really enjoyed my experience of the WLA, especially working on the land. I felt useful and appreciated. Hard work and responsibility. Very worthwhile experience. Getting the job done, no complaining, no fuss. Proud to serve WLA.