大象传媒

My mother, Sheila Molony, was a member of the Women's Land Army from 26th January 1943 to 25th January 1947.
She was living with her mother and father in Ryde on the Isle of Wight and worked along with a friend on a local farm.
Both girls were 18 years of age when they started their WLA service and had the 'luxury' of living at home instead of living in a hostel.
They walked the miles to and from their farm work in all weathers.
My mother worked with the farm cattle and was involved in all aspects of their care.
She entered several Agricultural Society Shows where her animals were awarded prizes.
Her friend was interested in working with the machinery on the farm.....
Two weeks later the friend died after the tractor she was driving over-turned and crushed her.
Neither girls had received any training for the work they were expected to do and my mother had the legacy of lifelong spinal problems from heaving around large bales of hay and straw.
On the whole she enjoyed her work and after the war was over should have taken up a place at Agricultural College - but had to go out to work instead.
No army medals or an army pension to look forward to - just a 'Release Certificate' (4.5x3.5ins) which 'acknowledges with appreciation the services given by....and has this day been granted a willing release'
- and also a certificate with a 'personal message' from the Queen expressing appreciation of her loyal and devoted service as a member of the WLA : 'Your unsparing efforts at a time when the victory of our cause depepnded on the utmost use of the resources of our land .....'
Vita Sackville-West was commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to write an account of the WLA whiich was published in 1944 - a rather different publication from that written by Nicola Tyrer and published in 1996

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