Kathleen Maud Bailey in the Land Army

Kathleen Maud Bailey in her 'Women's Land Army' uniform.
From a private collection
Women's Land Army Poster
From a private collection

In 1943 on my seventeenth birthday it was suggested by my father (recently pensioned out of the British Army) that I help the war effort by joining the ‘Women’s Land Army’.  Coming from a military family I think it was a forgone conclusion that I should see service in one form or another.

A military background
My two elder sisters,Barbara & Dorothy, were already in the ‘WRAF’ and were stationed at the Metropole Hotel on Brighton seafront.  My father had been a professional soldier for twenty-three years and had seen action in the Khyber Pass in the First World War and again in North Africa in World War Two with the Royal Artillery.  My eldest brother had been in the army from the onset of the war.

My determination to join the war effort
Two weeks prior to my seventeenth birthday the family had been informed by the War Office that my brother Edward had been captured by the Germans in Southern Italy.  His contribution to the war at this point was over; from there his company were forced-marched up to Germany where he ended up in ‘Stalag’ (prisoner of war camp) for the remaining part of the war. With this in mind I was even more determined to join the ‘Land Girls’ as it was commonly called.  My first assignment was at a farm in Robertsbridge in East Sussex and I was to be billeted with a family who worked on the farm.  The farm itself was run by a gentleman called Mr. West who did his best to try and train me in the ways of farm life.

Good intentions – disastrous results
Unfortunately I was not the best of students and often put the cows after milking back in the wrong field, once with disastrous results when I put them back in the field with the bull!  I never did get the hang of milking!  Many a time I left the gates open, only to have to collect sheep at the dead of night who had wondered out on to the main road.  I was the only Land army Girl on the farm and eventually I was reassigned to another farm (Broomfield Farm) in Portslade.  Much to the relief of Mr. West I’m sure!

RAF dog fights over the Downs
Finally I ended up working in Peacehaven working in the fields owned for Grant-Currie picking sprouts in the freezing cold, the north wind chilling us to the bone.  The only consolation was the nearby café where the girls used to congregate to drink mugs of hot tea, toast and marmite at the end of a long hard day.  Many a time whilst working in the fields we would just stand and stare at the clear winter skies above as the RAF fought dog fights high above our heads over the South Downs.

Origins of the Women’s Land Army
Often reffered to as ‘The Forgotten Army’, the Women’s Land Army was actually formed in 1917 by Roland Prothero, the then Minister for Agriculture. The Great War had seen food supplies dwindle and saw the creation of the Women’s Land Army (WLA).  The WLA was reformed in June 1939 first asking for volunteers and later by conscription with numbers totaling 80,000 by 1944.

DEFRA-2008

DEFRA (The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) has issue a statement that it intends to honour any surviving ‘Women’s Land Army’ members and ‘ Women’s Timber Corps’ with a badge specially designed by the Garter King of Arms.  The badge will bear the Royal Crown to commemorate their service and acknowledging the debt that the country owes to them.

Comments about this page

  • This country certainly owes a debt of gratitude to these very special women. A well deserved award.

    By Jimbo (03/03/2008)
  • I am so glad my sister will get a medal for her part in the Land Army, the women deserve it and it has been a long time coming.

    By Evelyn Collett(Bailey) (03/03/2008)
  • This award has most certaintly been given to a very special lady indeed (my Mother). She is a kindhearted, caring and loving person, has always been there for me and the family. We all love you Mum.

    By Jozef Kis (16/09/2008)
  • My nanna, Veronica Rattray, has written her memoirs from her time in the Women’s Land Army during World War II. You can read about her published work at http://snowie.ca/my-land-girl-years   I have also assembled a comprehensive resource listing for the Women’s Land Army at http://www.squidoo.com/womenslandarmy

    By Christina Habberjam (30/05/2010)
  • My Late Mother in Law Vera originally from Liverpool. Her maiden name was Peden. She was in the Land Army in Peacehaven. She had some happy memories of her times in the Land Army. She married a local lad, Maurice Green, after the war and lived there for many years.

    By Christina Green (05/04/2019)
  • Hi Christina, My Mum worked for Grant Currie and in 2006 I bought a property in Peacehaven .. I belong to an old club in Peacehaven and I’m sure someone would know your name .. My mum passed away October 19th 2019 … Jozef.

    By Jozef Kis (03/04/2020)

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