Timeline 1947

Cover heading from 'The Land Girl', January 1947

Two weeks paid holiday per year announced for land girls nationally (The Land Girl, January 1947 (No.10, Vol.7) p.1).
New Year's Honours: Miss Georgina M. Gray (WLA 58933, Bedfordshire) awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) and now undergoing a Government training course at Moulton College.
Spell of very bad weather kept many girls off the land, but busy in other ways.
New Year's Day: One hundred land army girls attended the pantomime in Bedford topical WLA references won much applause.
24 January 1947: grand Party Dance at Corn Exchange, Bedford. Advertisement for dancing partners brought a good response from as far a field as Twickenham (The Land Girl, February 1947 (No.11, Vol.7) p.13).
672 land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, February 1947 (No.11, Vol.7) p.16).

Cover heading from 'The Land Girl', February 1947

"One More Furrow": Minister of Agriculture recently sent a letter to every land girl encouraging them to continue in the Women's Land Army (WLA) (The Land Girl, February 1947 (No.11, Vol. 7) p.1).
All ex-members of WLA who completed at least two years' service and received a willing release by VJ Day (15 August 1945) entitled to receive a certificate signed by the Queen (The Land Girl February 1947 (No.11, Vol.7) p.6).
Miss Medley-Costin, the new Regional Officer, paid a visit to Bedfordshire.
Six hundred and sixty three land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, February 1947 (No.11, Vol.7) p.16).

Cover heading from 'The Land Girl', March 1947

Final edition of "The Land Girl", after 7 years. A small "Land Army News" will replace it, after a delay caused by the fuel crisis.
Six hundred and nineteen land girls employed in Bedfordshire (The Land Girl, March 1947 (No.12, Vol.7) p.16).
No further county employment figures for Bedfordshire and other counties published, following the end of "The Land Girl"; local newspapers the only occasional source of figures.

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment invited four hundred land girls to a grand concert (Land Army News, June 1947 (No.1, Vol.1) p.3).

Cover heading from 'Land Army News', June 1947

First edition of "Land Army News" published (No.1, Vol.1). Free to WLA members in private employment. Hostel members to share copies. Only four pages but larger (just over A4) format. No photos or drawings.
"Brighter hostels" competition in Bedfordshire: 1st prize - Cople House; 2nd. prize - Aspley Guise; Hutments 1st prize - Milton Ernest (oldest hostel); 2nd. prize - Leighton Buzzard.

Aspley Guise hostel

Land Girls brighten up their dormitory with a lick of paint at Aspley Guise hostel.

New hostel at Clifton to be opened shortly.
Pauline Collier (ex-land girl) appointed the new Employment Officer at the County Office (Land Army News, June 1947 (No.1, Vol.1) p3).

A warm welcome was given to Inez Jenkins, WLA Chief Administrative Officer, when she toured Bedfordshire on 31 July 1947. She saw girls in training, at work and taking proficiency tests.

Phyllis Chiplin presents Inez Jenkins with a book on Bedfordshire

She presented long service badges and proficiency tests certificates at a large gathering at Kempston Barracks. Cople Hostel provided special entertainment during the evening.
100 new recruits welcomed to Bedfordshire from Derbyshire, Lancashire and London / Middlesex (Land Army News, August 1947(No.3, Vol.1) p.3)

Proposed increase in minimum wage for agricultural workers, including a maximum board and lodging deduction to be fixed nationally for land girls billeted by their employees (there was no longer any county-by-county variation).
Land girls invited to let their Local Representatives know what form of recreation or education they would like provided for hostels, club or local group this winter.
The Women's Employment Federation suggests future careers for land girls (Land Army News, August 1947 (No.3, Vol.1) p.1).
Congratulations to E.M.B. "Liz" Day (WLA 36558 Bedfordshire) on gaining three distinctions in recent proficiency tests. Miss Day gained 100% for field work, 96% for outdoor garden work and 93% for general farm work.

A number of Bedfordshire land girls were attending courses at agricultural colleges.
WLA Gymkhana held at Stevington to help raise money for the WLA County Welfare Fund (Land Army News, October 1947 (No.5, Vol.1)).

Staploe land girls

Bates Brothers seed potato greenhouse, Staploe 1942
(l-r) Constance 'Peg' Hopkins, Mrs Rene Marshall (not a land girl), Phyllis Reed, Freda Carter

Land girl B. Simner attended the Milking and Dairy Show at Olympia, London, to represent Bedfordshire Young Farmers Club, 31 October. She tied for first place in the Poultry Judging Competition. (Land Army News, December 1947 (No.7, Vol.1)).

Land girl ploughing in Colmworth area

Land girl ploughing in Colmworth area
MERL, University of Reading

A number of Bedfordshire WLA members passed their tractor driving proficiency tests this month.
A Fancy Dress Dance was held in Bedford with great success - 50% in fancy dress. Mayor of Bedford, J.A.Canvin, and WLA County Chairman, Mrs. J.B. Graham judged the competition (Land Army News December 1947 (No.7, Vol.1)).

"Party at the Palace" given by Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, 16 December. WLA had presented the newly-married couple with a breakfast table of inlaid mahogany and clock (chosen by the princess).
Six hundred and eighty nine land girls employed in Bedfordshire (Land Army News, January 1948 (Vol.1, No.8) p1).

Bringing home the Yule log

Page last updated: 17th October 2013