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I was living, with my parents and brother, at Croxley Green in Hertfordshire. In May 1940, as soon as I reached the age of seventeen, I volunteered to join the women’s land army. However this was before it was properly organised by Lady Denman.
I was sent, with my school friend Joan to Burloes Farm, just outside Royston also in Hertforshire. We were to live with the cowman and his wife in their small house. I must say that the food was atrocious — very little of it. I remember quite often, only a very small meat pie (costing two old pence!) on the plate, with no vegetables, and only skimmed milk all the time we were there.

All the young men farm worker had already been ‘called up’ with the exception of Billy, who trained us for one week before he too had to go.

My job was to look after the pigs and the chickens which I loved. But twice a week I had to first of all catch two chickens out of about 500 running free in a field and then wring their necks! I then had to pluck them and finally prepare them for the table.

The first time my friend and I made a dreadful mess of trying to wring this poor animal’s neck. In the end, after appealing to the heavily pregnant farm manager’s wife, we advised to put its head on the block and chop it off! Poor thing - I can see it now with blood everywhere.

Looking after the pigs was a little better, mixing their food and mucking out. The baby piglets were adorable but when they had to be killed (I can’t remember who did this, possibly the man who bought them and collected then to take to market) it was heartbreaking. We were also expected to help generally on the farm. I remember the back breaking task of planting acres of potatoes by hand and another time when the sheep escaped out of their field and we had to help round them up.

For all that it was a great, healthy experience.

This story was entered onto the People's War website by Kairen Kemp on behalf of Margaret 'Peggy' Snashall who fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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