大象传媒

My name was Kathleen Worthington and I was 19 years old on May 3rd 1941.
My fianc茅, who was in the army and was given forty eight hours embarkation leave, arrived at my home at 6.30pm. We went to see the vicar who very kindly arranged for a special licence so that we could be married next day in church. I then became Kathleen Booth.
Only my mother, my sister in law and my fianc茅s father were able to attend as all my friends and family were in the armed services.
A neighbour who worked in a restaurant arranged for a wedding breakfast for six. It just shows what can be done in twenty four hours! I even had a new two piece suit, hurriedly shopped for that morning.
I had volunteered for the Womens Land Army and was due to report to a farm on May 6th. The result was a very brief honeymoon. I saw my husband once more for two days when he came to the farm then did not see him again for nearly three years.
It was a shock to my system on the first morning to be woken at 6am to go to a cowshed and be taught how to milk a cow into a bucket whilst being hit in the face with a smelly tail. Whilst training I was paid ten shillings {50p} a week. As I was only 12 miles from my home I was able to cycle home for lunch with my mother (Sun only) between milkings .
During the next two years I learned to work in the fields in all weathers. I learned to dip sheep, lay hedges, bring piglets into the world and rear them. On my 21 S` birthday the farmer gave me a half day off, and a pair of bookends. So I went to see my mother for a few hours with some fresh eggs.
After two years I wanted a change and was sent to the Lake District and here received another shock to my system. I thought by then I was tough but conditions were quite harsh and I was exploited. One night, I was seen by the local policeman still at work at 10.45 pm having started at 5.45am. He reported this to the local representative and I was moved to Suffolk. The farmer lost the right to use Land Army girls.
Another different lifestyle, this time with five other Land Army girls on a large agricultural estate, whereas before I had been the only girl.
I was this time to deliver calves and was paid seven shillings and six pence {38p} for each one born, a big bonus, and was paid thirty five shillings {拢1.75} for my weeks work. From this I had to pay eighteen shillings {90p} for food and lodgings
One of the most exciting things that happened to me during my service was dealing with a rampaging bull. It was my job to walk the one ton animal each morning. For this I had a long pole with a hook on one end, which hooked onto the ring in the bulls nose. One morning when we were on the verge along the road a convoy of American GIs came past and whistled to me and waved. This and the noise of the trucks unsettled the bull and in the end I had to let go the pole as he was pushing me backwards. The GIs boxed him in with their trucks I and jumped over a high fence, {how I shall never know}, collected a halter and cow and lead her to the bull. He meekly followed us back to the pen where I fastened him in. I never saw the Americans go.
The farm manager said he was very proud of me and as I was rather shaken gave me some brandy, something I had not had before and did not like much. The Land Army mentioned me in dispatches.
One of the treats of working on the estate was for us girls to take our sandwiches at lunch time and sit outside the front gate to eat them. Americans from the airfield opposite would come across and talk. They were so far from their loved ones as we were from ours. Sometimes they would bring us bananas or lemons or candy {sweets}.
The four years I was in the Land Army were hard as so many others found but built character. It made me strong and independent and I believe a better person. I made great friends and the camaraderie during the bombing and hardship were shared.
I'm glad that I did not miss it all.

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