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This story has been written onto the ´óÏó´«Ã½ People’s War site by CSV Storygatherer Lucy Thomas of Callington U3A on behalf of Amy Buckingham’s son John Buckingham. They fully understand the terms and conditions of the site.

AMY BUCKINGHAM IN THE LAND ARMY

During the 1939 — 45 war young women had to chose how they wanted to serve their country, to join the armed forces (Navy, Army or Air Force), to work in a munitions factory or to join the Land Army to work on the land, which was my choice.

Mr Medland and his brother farmed at Pitt Farm, Stokeclimsland, Cornwall which was mainly a dairy farm with a milk delivery round plus some mixed farming. I lived at Bray Shop with John Medland and his wife, this being about a mile from Pitt; another land girl helped with the milk delivery round and lived at Pitt.

On joining the Land Army we were issued with the following: 2 green jerseys, 2 pairs of breeches, 2 overalls, 2 pairs of dungarees, 6 pairs of stockings, 3 skirts, 1 pair of boots with leggings, 1 pair of shoes, 1 pair of gumboots (Wellingtons), 1 oilskin, 1 hat, 1 overcoat with shoulder titles, a green armlet and a metal badge. For this we had to surrender clothing coupons. Mrs Dingley, a local lady called a representative, looked after the welfare of all the girls in the area. She would visit the various farms periodically and her question was always ‘Are you happy in your work?’

Our normal working day started about 6am. on going to the farm to start the morning’s milking. I was joined by the other land girl and a man who worked there. After the milking was finished the milk was taken to the cooler house to be bottled and loaded into the van for delivery. I then returned to Bray Shop for breakfast, this being our first chance of anything to eat or drink. On a cold morning this was most welcome.

After breakfast and a wash, we went back to the farm to light the fire for heating the water that sterilized the equipment, and later to wash and sterilize the empty bottles from the milk round. As well as this I had to find time to clean out the shippon where the cows had been milked — very heavy work for someone of only 5 feet 2 inches. Next it was back again to Bray Shop for a midday meal, and then on to the afternoon’s work.

Often I was needed in the afternoon to do field work, which according to the season included planting potatoes, baling hay, harvesting potatoes, stacking sheaves of corn into stooks. These sheaves stayed in the field until they were dry, then collected on to a wagon and taken to the barn to await threshing day, one of the highlights of the year. The threshing machine would be pulled into the farmyard by a traction engine with clouds of smoke coming out of its funnel. We all had our own jobs. I had to catch the sheaf tossed from the barn and pass it on to the man feeding it into the machine which separated the straw from the grain.

In the springtime one pleasant task on the way back to breakfast was to check and count the new born — lambs. The farmer also rented fields at Downhouse where the sheep were kept in the winter. After a very heavy snowfall these sheep had to be brought nearer the farm for shelter, and I was elected to bring them back. After difficulty I managed to get to Downhouse riding pillion on the back of a motor cycle: then with the help of Chummy the dog, the sheep and I walked almost 4 miles through the snow, luckily arriving safely without any mishap.

Being a local girl I was able to cycle from Bray Shop to my home on my days off a distance of about five miles. For working 48 hours in winter, and 50 hours in summer, land girls received a weekly cash wage of 22s. 6d (£1.12½ in new money) this was after deductions to cover board and lodging provided by our employers.

Life in the Womens Land Army was very hard work, but very satisfying and interesting. I had repeated attacks of sciatica, eased by pain killers, so unfortunately I was invalided out.

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