Land Girl dungarees with real pockets, top and head scarf

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Theland girlwould also swap out her regulation40s stylegreen sweater for a bobble-embellished or popcorn knit confection in bubble gum pink or sky blue, layered over her sensible brown overalls. There was a Land Army uniform of green jumpers, brown breeches or dungarees, brown felt hats and khaki overcoats. As the Land Army was not a military force, however, uniform was not compulsory. The WLA badge depicted a wheat sheaf as a symbol of their agricultural work. There was also an official magazine The Land Girl, and a special song: The Women’s Land Army was established in January 1917 to help increase the amount of food grown within Britain. It was wound up in 1919 and then re-established shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War in June 1939. At first it asked for volunteers. This was supplemented by conscription and at its peak in 1944 over 80,000 women worked as Land Girls. They replaced the male farm workers who had gone to war and made agriculture their wartime profession to ensure that the nation didn’t starve.

And mow – our Women on the Land.’ From the Women’s Land Army Handbook containing the Land Army Song. Catalogue ref: MAF 59/2 Before the Second World War, Britain had imported much of its food. When war broke out, it was necessary to grow more food at home and increase the amount of land in cultivation. With many male agricultural workers joining the armed forces, women were needed to provide a new rural workforce.The Land Army was disbanded in 1950. Although the work was hard, conditions were often bad and the pay was low, many women enjoyed the experience, and formed lifelong friendships with fellow Land Girls.

Small annotations on the records can help you learn about an individual’s wider life. For example, there might be a comment to suggest someone was discharged for medical or compassionate reasons. At times it might say dismissed for not following regulations. On the card of MrsBeryl Holmes it was noted that she left the service as she was ‘setting up home for husband’. Many women left the service when they got married or became pregnant. World War II Women’s Land Army Index Card of Amy Rosina Hope. Catalogue ref: MAF 421/1 Vera Nancy HornAlthough the Women’s Land Army is often associated with the Second World War, it was first formed in 1917 by the Board of Agriculture, and then disbanded until June 1939. The government initially asked for volunteers, but later moved to conscripting women. The Land Army was to be disbanded for the final time in 1950. Women’s Land Army girls practicing milking. Catalogue ref: MAF 59/154 Find the40s styleclothes and accessories in the shapes, prints, fabrics and styles that appeal to you, then wear them with all your current favourites for refreshed day-to-evening looks that never go out of style. Theland girlof40s fashionput her own spin on her land army uniform, layering playful blouses infloral prints, Peter Pan collars and puffed sleeves under her overalls.

The Women's Land Army (WLA) made a significant contribution to boosting Britain's food production during the Second World War.

40s outfits for children

ladies fashionwould not be complete without the iconic hair styles of1940s women. Hair was worn long and curly, tied up during the day for practical work, then styled elaborately for evening events. ladies fashionalso saw the advent of the war time land girl in her brown twill overall, worn over a forest green sweater, her waist nipped in with a broad warm brown belt. This blog has explored just a little of the potential of these records. With these records now being more accessible, we should be able to learn much more about the everyday women who served in the Women’s Land Army. The index cards only contain information about those individuals who participated in the Land Army in the Second World War. The online images and indexes exclude individuals born less than 100 years ago. To learn more about the Women’s Land Army in general, read this blog on the The Women’s Land Army in eight documents. The index cards in the collection have the potential to include all, or some, of the following information:

Land Girls were expected to work long hours for the war effort with very little free time. Some had one day off per week but others might only get one weekend off per month. It was not until 1943 that Land Girls had the legal right to one week’s paid holiday time per year. In their very limited leisure time, Land Girls were encouraged to do whatever they could for the war effort with many of them putting on events as a fun way of fundraising. This included dances, quizzes, tea parties, whist drives, sports tournaments, stage productions and craft fairs. During these events many Land Girls would continue to wear their uniforms but some would opt for tea dresses or two-piece skirt suits. Our very appropriately named Lumber Jill dress would be a perfect example of the kind of dress they would wear outside of work.The Land Girls were known for their instantly recognisable uniform which included practical breeches or dungarees, green jumpers and brown felt hats. They also often wore a green tie and the WLA badge which depicted a wheat sheaf as a symbol of their agricultural work. As the Women’s Land Army wasn’t a military force, the uniform was not compulsory to wear. Authorities often waited before issuing kit as women’s bodies changed dramatically with the heavy manual labour. Garments needed to be made using the least amount of cloth but still be able to keep up with the amount of work the girls were doing. Their clothing needed to be warm, weatherproof and durable. The full uniform issue was as follows: