大象传媒

This contribution to WW2 People鈥檚 War was received by the Action Desk at 大象传媒 Radio Norfolk. The story has been written and submitted to the website by Tim Edwards (Volunteer Story Gatherer) with the full permission and on behalf of Mrs Esther Watson (nee Cohen).

These are the continuing stories of Esther Watson (nee Cohen) who, as we rejoin her story is based in Dorset, working with a gang of Land Army Girls. They are all staying in Rothesay House and work at various farms around the local area.

My most frightening experience on the farm occurred during one lunchtime. As usual, the farmer would bring us a large jug of hot tea and the girls and I would be allowed to drink it in the shelter of the farmyard shed. 鈥淪hut the farm gate as you enter鈥�, he鈥檇 shout, 鈥淚鈥檝e got a boar tied up at the back of that shed.鈥� The first day that we had tea in the shed all went well; however on the second day I was holding the jug of precious hot tea as we entered the yard. The girls had their overcoats over their arms as we crossed the farmyard. Just as we reached the middle of the yard the boar came charging out of the shed. Everyone screamed and, throwing their overcoats to the ground, the girls ran as fast as they could, opened the gate and slammed it shut behind them. I was left in the middle of the yard, still holding the jug of tea. I could see the boar tearing the overcoats to pieces with his tusks. I found myself up against the hedge crying out in fear 鈥淢ummy, Mummy, Mummy!鈥� and finally managed to roll over the hedge out of harms way, still holding the jug of hot tea. By then the girls had calmed down but were now laughing their heads off saying, 鈥淚t鈥檚 no use you calling your Mum, she鈥檚 in London!鈥� What a day that was, all new overcoats were issued, but one can imagine what would have happened if the boar had caught us. It was during these days that I was invited to lead a contingent of Land Army Girls from across Dorset in a parade in Dorchester; just as we approached the assembled dignitaries a gust of wind blew my hat off (never a dull moment).

We had our good times singing the old Land Army songs on our way to work in the old meat lorry. We鈥檇 finish work about 5.30 with the evenings and weekends free. Most evenings we would go dancing at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester, even after a tiring day in the fields we would still have the energy for dancing. Often we鈥檇 all be invited to camps, with transport provided, such as Lullworth Cove, Bovington and Piddlehinton. It was at the Paratroopers dance at Piddlehinton that I first met my husband to be, they often say 鈥楲ove at first sight鈥� well this was true in my case. We had a dance together but it wasn鈥檛 until, by chance, at the dancehall in Weymouth that we both caught sight of one another again, so we started courting and in the Plaza Caf茅 in Dorchester he proposed to me and I accepted. By 1946 my future husband, Geoffrey, was demobbed from the Paratroopers and he came all the way from Norfolk back to Dorchester to collect me. We were allowed to leave the Land Army as the war was over, so we married and now have a lovely family and Grandchildren and have always been very happy. We often say that if it hadn鈥檛 been for the Land Army we would never have met. We recently celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary.

I still keep in contact with Land Army friends, some in London, and one in Lyme Regis and another in Dorchester. I still like beetroot sandwiches which I made to supplement my work lunch. Working outdoors gave me a big appetite and now when I occasionally have these to eat, my husband looks at me and laughing, says, 鈥淭ypical Land Army Girl鈥�.

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