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This story was submitted to the People's War site by Pam Vincent of Age Concern Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on behalf of Beryl Page and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

When I went into the Land Army we were billeted in Stratford-upon-Avon. A broadcaster there gave up his mansion to house the Land Army. I think his name was Alvar Lidell. There was a beautiful staircase, but we were not allowed to use it. The house was supposed to be haunted and I felt a bit frightened. I have been back there since, but it was overgrown and hard to recognise, except for the two lions at the front. It looked as if they were going to make it into flats.

Being in the Land Army was hard work. We had to make our own sandwiches in the evening. The pick-up was about half six of a morning. We used to potato pick and do the threshing and barley. When you did anything with barley all the ears would stick to your clothing. The bales had to be stacked in a barn for cattle feed in the winter. We had an hour’s dinner. We used to have to eat our sandwiches in a barn. The Italian prisoners who worked on the farm used to have a hot meal at midday in the farmer’s kitchen. We could drink milk but the Italians used to have the cider. They used to try and chat us up and some of the girls fraternised with them.

We would pick sprouts in the winter when the frost was on the ground — that was the best time to pick them. Apples and fruit picking were done in the summer. We used to walk behind the plough when they were cultivating the ground and plant potatoes or whatever for the next harvest.

We worked Monday to Friday and then we were allowed home at the weekend. There were no buses really and we used to have to hitch a lift into Birmingham. We always got one, although there was not much transport about. Anyone with transport was obliged to pick anybody up in uniform. I travelled back to Birmingham in an open lorry.

I made friends with an Eileen Teague and we used to go to the cinema in Evesham together. In the Land Army we all had a nickname and my nickname was Dimples, Smiler, Happy or Giggling Kate. I was always laughing, happy and smiling. The other girls in the Land Army were friendly because we all came from Birmingham, but my special friend was Eileen Teague. I’d like to know if she is still around and would love to hear from her again.

I also went to Salford Priors, near Bideford, which was great. I used to get the weekends off. We did apple picking, spud-bashing and thrashing. Sometimes we had to do the worst jobs out.

I caught cattle line ring and had to go to the doctor, but there was no treatment. I went back home for about six weeks. I returned to a farm where I had to milk a cow on the first day back. I sang to her and got thumped by her. I hadn’t been given any training on how to milk a cow!

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