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Bedfordshire Women's Land Army

Timeline 1945

Bedfordshire Women's Land Army > Timelines

January

Cover heading of The Land Girl, January 1945

Cover heading of The Land Girl, January 1945

  • "Special consideration will be given in future to volunteers with three or more years' service in the Women's Land Army (WLA), who are working away from home but who want to transfer to their home counties." (The Land Girl, January 1945 (Vol. 5, No.10) p9).
  • Wounded military personnel from the local convalescence home were entertained by hostels in the north of the county (Bolnhurst, Milton Ernest, Sharnbrook and Hulcote Moors) (The Land Girl, February 1945 (No.11, Vol.5) p12).
  • One thousand and thirty-three land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, January 1945 (No.10, Vol.5) p16).

February

  • Four more CEMA (Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts) concerts at hostels.
  • Miss Digby, new Organiser for Bedfordshire, is welcomed and Mrs. Grand, Hostel and Welfare Officer, at the Bedford WLA HQ.
  • Lady Denman, Honorary Director of the WLA, announced, on 17 February 1945, her resignation after nearly six years' service with the national organisation she created. This was in protest against the Government's announcement that land girls will not be getting the post-war gratuities and other benefits which others such as those in the Forces and Civil Defence will. Her resignation was designed to draw public attention to what she saw as an injustice and to attempt to bring about a change of heart by the Government.
  • Miss Squire, YWCA, attended Milton Ernest hostels 3rd birthday party (The Land Girl, April 1945 (No.1, Vol.6) p13).
  • One thousand and eight land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, February 1945 (No.11, Vol.5) p16).

March

  • Lady Denman request that WLA County staff stay in their posts to continue the smooth running of the Land Army (The Land Girl, March 1945 (No.12, Vo.5) p2).
  • 19 March: nine land girls complete proficiency tests in milking and dairy work, two gaining Distinction certificates (The Land Girl, April 1945 (No.1, Vol.6) p13).
  • Land reclamation at Bolnhurst. Use of steam-powered tractor with a winch to pull the roots out. Use of prisoners of war (Bedfordshire Times, 16 March 1945 p4).
  • Nine hundred and sixty-six land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, March 1945 (Vol.12, Vol.5) p16).
Cranfield Aerodrome working party

Cranfield Aerodrome working party

April

Cover heading of The Land Girl, April 1945

Cover heading of The Land Girl, April 1945

  • Congratulations to Hulcote Moors for achieving 'best working hours' and to Leighton Buzzard for 'best garden' (The Land Girl, April 1945 (No.1, Vol. 6) p11).
  • No WLA girls on strike in Bedfordshire, despite land girls from Buckinghamshire WLA at their Linslade hostel striking last week over the question of post-war gratuities (Bedfordshire Times, 20 April 1945 p4).
  •  Nine hundred and ninety-two land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, April 1945 (No.1, Vol.6) p16).

May

Victory in Europe (VE) Day Celebrations in St. Paul's Sq. Bedford

Victory in Europe (VE) Day Celebrations in St. Paul's Square, Bedford
BLARS (Bedfordshire Times archive)

  • 8 May: end of war in Europe.
  • Approximately 60,000 land girls still employed nationally (The Land Girl, May 1945 (No.2, Vol.6) p16 : 60,600 at 28 April 1945).
Land girls with a decorated milk trolley

Land girls with a decorated milk trolley (to celebrate end of war) delivering milk to householders (Bedfordshire Times, 11 May 1945)
BLARS (Bedfordshire Times archive)

  • Land girls encouraged to look out for the potato pest, the Colorado Beetle, and report and send specimens to the Ministry of Agriculture (colour leaflet inserted in The Land Girl, May 1945 (No.2, Vol.6) p3).
  • Government announces proposals for the post-war treatment of the Womens Land Army. No concession on gratuities or clothing grants. Instead, promises of post-war training facilities and a grant to the WLA Benevolent Fund of 170,000.
  • Mrs. F.C. (Inez) Jenkins becomes Chief Administrative Officer of the WLA (there was no new Hon. Director in place of Lady Denman).
  • 26 May 1945: Second WLA May Queen crowned at Hulcote Moors Hostel (The Land Girl, June 1945 (No.3, Vol.6) p13 & Bedfordshire Times, 1 June 1944 p3).
Myra Griffiths of Hulcote Moors hostel crowned May Queen, May 1945  

Myra Griffiths of Hulcote Moors hostel crowned May Queen, May 1945  

June

  • Three land girls (all in WLA since 1939) represented the organisation at the Victory Thanksgiving Service at St. Pauls Church, Bedford.
  • Edith Catchlove (4 yrs service) led a contingent of 30 land girls in the Luton Victory Parade on Thanksgiving Sunday.
  • A senior Resettlement Advice Officer, Ministry of Labour, has been touring hostels, giving talks on careers after the war.
  • Miss Williams, Regional Officer resigned. At Bedfordshire WLA HQ, welcome to Mrs. Nelson as Eastern Area Organiser, to replace Miss Ellison. Mrs. Place, Assistant Secretary has resigned through ill-health (The Land Girl, June 1945 (No.3, Vol.6) p13).
  • Nine hundred and sixty-one land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, June 1945 (No.3, Vol.6) p16).
Cover heading of The Land Girl, June 1945

Cover heading of The Land Girl, June 1945

July

  • Minister of Agriculture informs WLA county secretaries that the organisation will be needed "at least until the harvest of 1948" (The Land Girl, July 1945 (No.4, Vol.6) p1).
  • Grand Garden Party & Dance, Sharnbrook (WLA & WAEC) for hostel land girls.
Land girls tug of war at Sharnbrook hostel, July 1945

Land girls tug of war at Sharnbrook hostel, July 1945

  • Nine hundred and thirty-nine land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, July 1945 (No.4, Vol.6) p16).
Cover heading of The Land Girl, July1945

Cover heading of The Land Girl, July 1945

August

  • "There is no holding them," said the farmer as his land girls departed to make whoopee in Bedford at the announcement of VJ Day (15 August 1945)
Land girls celebrate the end of the Second World War

Land girls celebrate the end of the Second World War
BLARS (Bedfordshire Times archive)

  • Elstow and Silsoe hostels celebrated second birthdays recently.
  • Miss M.M. Jones promoted to Assistant Secretary at Bedford HQ; Miss Young appointed third WLA Organiser.
  • Two dances organised at Corn Exchange, Bedford, in aid of WLA Benevolent Fund.
  • Two tennis matches recently between Bedfordshire War Agricultural Commitee ("War Ag.") and WLA land girls and staff: "War Ag" won by narrow margin.
  • Nine hundred and seven land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, August 1945 (No.5, Vol.6) p16).
Hulcote harvest field, c. 1940s

Hulcote harvest field, c. 1940s

September

  • Ministry of Agriculture regrets it is not possible to grant an early release from WLA, despite end of war, since it is vital for the harvest to be secured (The Land Girl, September 1945 (No.6, Vol.6) p1).

October

Cover heading of The Land Girl, October 1945

Cover heading of The Land Girl, October 1945

November

  • Government announces a system of releases for members of WLA who joined for "duration of the war" (The Land Girl, November 1945 (No.8, Vol.6) p1).

December

  • Fourteen Bedfordshire land girls were among those from all over the country who were present at a Mansion House, London, reception for land girls. Two of those (Joan Garratt & Mildred Hull) were presented with armlets for six years or more service. 
  • 800 volunteers in England and Wales and 80 officials and office staff who had worked since autumn 1939 attended (The Land Girl, December 1945 (No.9, Vol.6) p1  & The Land Girl, February 1946 (No. 11, Vol.6) p13).

Stuart Antrobus Historian/Author

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Page last updated: 10th March 2014