Timeline 1944

Recruitment nationally to the Women's Land Army (WLA) was re-opened on 3 January 1944 for milking and other responsible jobs only.
Nine hundred and ninety land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, January 1944 (No.10, Vol.4) p16).

"The Chairman and County staff would like to thank all the volunteers who entertained them so liberally at Christmas parties. Lectures on health and beauty have been given at all hostels managed by the WLA and we were lucky in having Mrs. Godfrey Phillips, the National Association for Health Education, as our lecturer. These talks were so popular that we hope to arrange a week-end session at our WLA club for all privately employed volunteers who were not able to go to the hostels." (The Land Girl, February 1944 (No.11, Vol.4) p13).

Royal visit to Cople WLA hostel, 9 February 1944
BLARS (Bedfordshire Times archive)

The Duchess of Gloucestershire visits Cople hostel, Wednesday 9 February 1944. One hundred and fifty land girls provided guard of honour (Bedfordshire Times, 11 February 1944 p7 & The Land Girl, March 1944 p9)
Nine hundred and seventy three land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, February 1944 (No.11, Vol.4) p16).

Cover heading of The Land Girl magazine, March, 1944

Bedfordshire land girls have contributed an average of 12s. 6d. (62 p) each to the WLA Benevolent Fund to date (WLA Benevolent Fund Bulletin No.3 May 1844).
Nine hundred and seventy-four land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, March 1944 (No.12, Vol.4) p16)
New Toc H club opened in St. Peter's Street hostel, Mrs I. Eugster expressed appreciation on behalf of the WLA, which she explained, since it was not a military service, often fell between two stools. The St. Peter's Street hostel offered the right type of leisure facilities and would accept land girls.

Twenty six clothing coupons were given up by every land girl at the beginning of the rationing period to allow for uniform during the year (Bedfordshire Times, 21 April 1944 p4).

Cover heading of The Land Girl magazine, May, 1944

Peggy Clark, elected by fellow land girls at Hulcote Moors hostel as Britains first Land Army May Queen. Coronation at Cranfield 6 May.

Peggy Clark, Britain's first Land Army May Queen, Hulcote Moors 6 May 1944
BLARS (Bedfordshire Times archive)

Ethel Eaton, Bedfordshire's champion land girl plougher
'The Land Girl' magazine, May 1944

WLA "Farm Sunday" procession from De Parys Avenue to Russell Park, Bedford, Sunday 14 May: "a tribute to the Women's Land Army who have come from all corners of England and from every walk of life to do a tough job and have come out with flying colours" (Bedfordshire Times, 12 May 1944 p4).
Nine hundred and ninety two land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, May 1944 (No.2, Vol.5) p16).

Rest houses for land girls were established at Torquay and Llandudno, funded by the British War Relief Society of USA, where a few land girls from Bedfordshire were able to enjoy a break after years of hard labour in the WLA.

Torquay and Llandudno WLA rest break houses
'The Land Girl' magazine, June 1944

"Land Girls Put On a Show": WLA concert of "mirth and melody" in aid of the "Salute the Soldier Week" and Red Cross POW Fund, in Sharnbrook Village Hall (Bedfordshire Times, 16 June 1944 p1).
Services Handicraft Exhibition held on 19 June in Bedford, opened by the Duchess of Kent. "Some beautiful work was exhibited around our land girl maypole...Special mention must be made of Miss Keable's (3796) fire screen, and an original set in leather (hat, bag and shoes) made by Miss Robbins (42994) which was specially commended by HRH."

Nine hundred and ninety-nine land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, June 1944 (No.3, Vol.5) p16).

Cover heading of The Land Girl, July 1944

Proficiency tests enabled land girls to demonstrate their skills. This was one of the many 'Distinction' certificates gained by Elizabeth 'Liz' Day

Nine hundred and eighty-seven land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, July 1944 (No.4, Vol.5) p16)

Some land girls formed a guard of honour to line the route when HM The Queen visited the Biggleswade area (The Land Girl, August 1944 (No.5, Vol.5) p1).
One thousand and six land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, August 1944 (No.5, Vol.5) p16).
Bedfordshire's Gymkhana in aid of the Red Cross and the WLA Benevolent Fund was held in Bedford "The Land Army rose splendidly to the occasion and a very merry time was had by all. A display of "Haute Ecole" riding by Mr. Gloster and his famous horse Mavourneed was much appreciated." (The Land Girl, September 1944 (No.6, Vol.5) p11)) One hundred and forty six horses took part and 440 gross was taken.

Four-year armlet party held at the WLA Club in Bedford, with Mrs. Dallas as the hostess. Mr. Lawrence of Beds WAEC ("War Ag") gave a talk on Young Farmers Clubs. American comfort parcels were distributed to each volunteer. Thirteen out of thirty seven were unable to attend owing to pressure of harvest (The Land Girl, October 1944 (No.7, Vol.5) p13).

One thousand and forty-two land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, October 1944 (No.6, Vol.5) p16).

Margaret Perry (extreme right) trains land girl recruits in arable farming at Ravensden

Ravensden House WLA training centre syllabus outlined. "These girls are carefully selected and it is hoped that they will not be confused with daily 'gang-labour'".
Musical afternoon at WLA Club in Harpur St., Bedford, with musical accompaniment by Mrs. Rogers, Warden at Ravensden.
Miss Cornelius, the new organiser in the south of the county had replaced Miss Ellison who now takes over in the north.
One thousand and fifty-seven land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, October 1944 (No.7, Vol.5) p16).

Cover heading of The Land Girl magazine, November, 1944

One thousand and fifty-three land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, November 1944 (No.8, Vol.5) p16).

17s.3d (86p) raised on average per Bedfordshire land girl for the WLA Benevolent Fund to date (WLA Benevolent Fund Bulletin No.4 December 1944 p2).

Hulcote Moors set a new county record by passing the 100 mark for money raised for the WLA Benevolent Fund .
Two excellent CEMA concerts (Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts) have been arranged at Cople and Elstow ("Chimney Corner") hostels (The Land Girl December 1944 (No.9, Vol.5) p12).

Shire Hall, Bedford, Christmas Party on 14th December for privately employed land girls from across the county (The Land Girl, February 1945 (No. 11, Vol.5) p.12). "Two hundred and fifty land girls attended. Mrs Whitbread has sent a huge Xmas tree. We are to sing carols and an American Glee Choir are singing too." (Erica Graham, 13 December 1944, BLARS (Graham Archive)).

One thousand and forty-four land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, December 1944 (No.9, Vol.5) p16).

Cover of The Land Girl, December 1944

Page last updated: 10th March 2014