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Bedfordshire Women's Land Army

Timeline 1950

Bedfordshire Women's Land Army > Timelines

February

  • 25 February: supper party given at Someries House, Regents Walk, London (Ministry of Agriculture luncheon club) by the County Welfare Committees, nationwide, for one hundred and thirty Land Girls and staff who had completed ten years service (two hundred and thirty invited). Speech by the Earl of Huntingdon. He spoke of the total number of Land Girls who had served in the Women's Land Army (WLA) as being 203,000 (compared with 23,000 in the First World War).
  • Ten-year service badges (made in metal) "made to last forever - something to be worn with pride."
  • WLA Benevolent Fund total, raised by members & friends, 184,000 (Land Army News March 1950 (Vol.3, No.8) p3).

April

  • Closing of "St. Elmo" WLA Rest Break House in Torquay (Llandudno closed "some time ago") (Land Army News, April 1950 (Vol.3, No.11) p1).
Mabel Bracey with friends at the sea front at Torquay.

Mabel Bracey (left) with Joan and Sue on a rest break at Torquay, while staying at St. Elmo WLA Rest Break House.

May

  • Mrs Winston Churchill at Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) Hostel, Clapham Road, Bedford. Photograph includes a land girl, Miss Phyllis Raynor, in working uniform (Bedfordshire Times 26 May 1950 p10).

June

  • Before 30 November 1950 all land girls remaining in agriculture would be provided with a booklet giving them useful information about wages, insurance, income tax and other matters (Land Army News, June 1950 (Vil.4, No.1) p1).

July

Clare Samm and Betty Gray harvesting at Manor Farm

Clare Fletcher and Betty Gray at Manor Farm, Cardington.

  • Each Land Girl who remained at work on the land (after Nov 1950) would be allowed to keep her complete outfit of uniform free of charge. Those who are in possession of a WLA bicycle on loan or hire will be allowed to buy their machines for a very modest sum.
  • "Land Girls who are now in A.E.C. (War Ag) employment and who intend to stay in agricultural work will in general continue to live in their hostels which, though no longer managed by the WLA, will be run on much the same lines." (Land Army News, July 1950 (Vol.4, N0.5) p.1).
  • Miss Ramage, County Secretary had to resign due to ill health. Mrs. J. Hirst appointed to succeed.

September

Threshing gang at Lodge Farm, Toddington.

Threshing gang at Lodge Farm, Toddington.

October

  • Increased agricultural wages for women: 76 shillings (3.80p) for a 47 hour week (Land Army News, October 1950 (Vol.4, No.5) p1).
  • "Pool Labour: Farmers to Run Own Scheme": decision of Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire Agricultural Executive Committees to close down their hostels and end all pool labour. At beginning of 1951, Farmers Union branches were to look into the possibility of setting up their own co-op scheme (Bedfordshire Times, 6 October 1950).
  • "Bedfordshire Girls in Land Army Farewell". Report on the farewell parade at Buckinghamshire (prior to November disbandonment). 500 land girls inspected and presented with long-service badges. Eleven Bedfordshire representatives listed (Bedfordshire Times, 27 Oct 1950 p6).

November

  • Final edition of Land Army News, including text of Queen's farewell speech at final WLA parade, Buckingham Palace, Sat 21 Oct 1950. Message from the Minister of Agriculture. Article on the history of the WLA over 11 years of national service (Land Army News, November 1950 (Vol. 4, No.6) pp1/2).
  • "Happy End to Women's Land Army". Farewell party at Shire Hall, Bedford, on Saturday 18 November (WLA officially ends 31 November 1950). 80% of remaining Bedfordshire land girls were staying on the farms. Mrs. J.B. Graham recalled that Bedfordshire WLA's first tea party had been in the same committee room - they had come full circle. Miss Amy Curtis, Chief Admin Officer of the WLA attended. Miss Phyllis Chiplin presented her with a book on Bedfordshire. Miss I. Eugster, first Assistant Secretary, then County Secretary for a total of nine years, cut the cake. Officers and Mrs. Martin, original committee member, listed as attending (Bedfordshire Times, 24 November 1950 p.6).
Many land girls married farmers or farm workers.

Many land girls married farmers or farm workers.
Vera Jobling married "Ben" Barnett, pictured here with his brother Wilfred (right) at Park Farm , Keysoe.

Stuart Antrobus Historian/Author

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Page last updated: 16th June 2015