Timeline 1946

Bedfordshire Women's Land Army (WLA) recently took over Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) hostels and "farewell" parties were held (The Land Girl, February 1946 (No.11, Vol.6) p.13).
Miss Bower, from the WLA national headquarters, attended a conference of District Reps at the Bedfordshire WLA Chairman's house, outside Bedford (The Land Girl, February 1946 (No.11, Vol.6) p.13).
"Awards to Land Girls": a party for two hundred land girls was held at Shire Hall on 25 January 1946. Mrs. Dorothy Fowle, Eastern Regional Officer, presented 'good service' half-diamond badges to fourteen members and yellow armbands (for two years' service) to two others (Bedfordshire Times, 25 January 1946 p.6).

Cover heading from 'The Land Girl', January 1946

Princess Elizabeth's visit to Bedford. Six hundred Bedfordshire land girls paraded before the 19-year old future Queen at St. Paul's Square, before a tea and presentation in the Corn Exchange. This event, on Valentines Day, was only part of three days of celebration, 14-16 February 1946, that marked the high spot of the Women's Land Army in Bedfordshire. Sixty-five land girls received long service (4-6 years) armlets, including Lucinda Croft, who had missed the Mansion House presentation through injury. A three-day exhibition was entitled: "How Victory Was Won on the Home Front" (Bedfordshire Times, 15 February 1946 p7 & The Land Girl, March 1946 (No.12, Vol.6) p12).

Bedfordshire land girls parade past Princess Elizabeth, St. Paul's Square, Bedford,
14 February 1946
BLARS (Bedfordshire Times Archive)

Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant-Colonel Part, the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire
BLARS (Bedfordshire Times Archive)

WLA nationally needed 30,000 new members, as many wartime volunteers had been demobilised (The Land Girl March 1946 (No.12, Vo.6) p1).
Bedfordshire land girl numbers down to about six hundred (Bedfordshire Times, 31 May 1946 p4).

Cover heading from 'The Land Girl', April 1946

Sixty new land girls recruited to Bedfordshire since 1 April 1946. Mrs Ida Eugster said that although demobilisation had reduced the Bedfordshire WLA strength to six hundred, membership was now at about eight hundred.
The new intakes are trained at Toddington Park and at Ravensden (milking training) (Bedfordshire Times, 31 May 1946 p.4).
Land Girls (including some from Bedfordshire WLA) attending a course at Northamptonshire Institute of Agriculture (The Land Girl, May 1946 (No.2, Vol.7) p5).

Land girls attend post-war course at Moulton, Northamptonshire.

County's Weekend of Thanksgiving and Celebration. Ten land girls attended (Bedfordshire Times, 7 June 1946 p3).
Recruiting by Bedfordshire WLA showed 'steady' results and a special 'broadcasting' van was to appear at all outdoor county functions over the next three months.
Grace Cross chosen to represent Bedfordshire WLA at the London Victory Parade on 8 June 1946 (The Land Girl, June 1946 (No.3, Vol.7) p.13).
Talks on 'food waste' by Ministry of Food officials at several hostels.
Twelve 'original' members receive scarlet armbands from the County Secretary.

Rita Woodward at a Clophill farm
BLARS (Bedfordshire Times archive)

Leighton Buzzard hostel celebrated its fourth birthday recently.
Wrest Park Lodge hostel, Silsoe, celebrated its third birthday party on Empire Day.

Bedford HQ sorry to lose Mrs. Nelson, County Organiser, who was replaced by Miss Fuller (who previously served as Employment Section Officer). Miss Collier takes over as Employment Section Officer (The Land Girl, June 1946 (No.3, Vol.7) p.13).
More Land Girls Wanted: 120 land girls were present at the Royal County Theatre, Bedford, when an Interval appeal was launched for a relief milking scheme. There was a guarantee of 2 years work then further training. Photo of the "Lorna Doone" production on in the theatre at the time (Bedfordshire Times 21 June 1946 p.4).

Land girls mingle with actresses from 'Lorna Doone' at Royal County Theatre, Bedford.
BLARS (Bedfordshire Times archive)

At the Bedford HQ, Miss N.G. Burke was welcomed as the replacement for Miss Stringer as County Organiser in the South. Miss K.M. Chage, Hostel Section Officer, was leaving this month.
Proficiency test in milking and dairying are held this month
Prize-winning stock from Mr. Godfrey's farm, Clophill, shown by P. Yirrell and H.F. Wallis, land girls, at the agricultural show at Wrest Park this month, where the WLA had a recruiting display (The Land Girl, July 1946 (No.4, Vol.7) p13).

Cover heading from 'The Land Girl', July 1946

W.L.A. hostels nearly full and it was hoped to open others. Recent volunteers from the North Country (Bedfordshire Times, 13 August 1946 p6).

Proficiency tests in general farm work are held this month (The Land Girl, July 1946 (No.4, Vol.7) p.13).

Women's Land Army Proficiency Certificate

31 September 1946: Women's Timber Corp (a branch of the WLA which began in April 1942) is disbanded (The Land Girl, September 1946 (No.6, Vol.7) p.1).
Six hundred and ninety three land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, September 1946 (No.6, Vol.7) p.16).

Six hundred and ninety-nine land girls employed in Bedfordshire (Bedfordshire Times, 18 October 1946 p4).
Aspley Guise hostel, "The Holt", opening shortly for forty land girls.

Cover heading from 'The Land Girl', October 1946

"We went to a large land Army Hostel the other night, where a first-class Concert was given by London Artistes. I liked the way (Mrs Erica Graham, Chairman of Beds. WLA) was received by the girls, and I appreciated her little speech at the end...The girls seemed to be drawn from all over the country." Mr. Bramwell Graham, Secretary to Bedfordshire War Agricultural Committee and Clerk to Bedfordshire County Council. (21st November 1946, BLARS Graham archive)

Land Army still necessary (Bedfordshire Times, 20 December, 1946 p4)
New recruits trained at Ravensden. New Warden: Mrs D.E. Winter.
Miss Margaret Perry, former land girl (three and a half years), after further training at Moulton becomes Farm Secretary to Mr Row of Markyate, Kensworth and in charge of his herd.

Page last updated: 10th March 2014