Joining Up – The Women’s Land Army

Issued the WLA Uniform

The uniforms were well designed and practical and also flattered my figure. I felt very smart in it, and with my trim build it suited me. It comprised a trilby like hat made of fur felt crowned with a WLA badge, khaki shirt and tie, a beautiful green wool sweater, twill riding breeches, leggings and stout brown shoes with a very smart tailored three quarter length top coat. I soon found the regulation breeches did not suit me, and as fast as I could had tailored ones made, a great improvement. This uniform was for “best”, on the job I was to wear less glamorous attire. I quickly learnt the benefits of practical working clothes, heavy coveralls and boots or clogs. Even in these, however, there was always the opportunity for some feminine touch. A nice head scarf was one thing I found that served that purpose, but was practical too, it kept straw, hay, insects and many other things out of my hair.

Farming – Learning at Lancashire College of Agriculture

Now all I had to do was to learn something about farming, and be assigned a farm to work on. I was impatient to get started on that as soon as I could. Our farming eduction was carried out at the long established and well regarded Lancashire College of Agriculture at Hutton, about six miles to the west of Preston. Here apart from the experimental work, courses of training in sound agricultural methods of all aspects of farming were taught to pupils intending to make a career in farming. The College’s mandate was now broadened to include training WLA members. My delight with this assignment was heightened by the Institute’s distance from Liverpool.

I am the girl in the front row, fourth from left, Veronica is in the row behind, third from left.
The enthusiasm and energy of us all just jumps off the page. As does the background deserve study. That was the kind of farming we were heading to. This photograph first appeared in the local press and since has featured in several books about the WLA and its wartime work. I don’t recall who took it.