The inspirational work of the Women's Land Army, as told through the Findmypast Photo Collection

4-5 minute read

By The Findmypast Team | November 1, 2024

As men went to war between 1939 and 1945, women stepped up to keep the home front running. This is their story.

During the First World War, the British government created the Women's Land Army (WLA) to perform vital functions while a large portion of the male population was fighting overseas. The WLA took women from cities into the countryside to provide agricultural labour to keep food on the nation's tables.

In June 1939, with the nation facing yet another global conflict, the Women's Land Army was revived. The government wanted to be prepared for a variety of situations, including men leaving the land for the front and German blockades of British ports creating food shortages.

Uncover your ancestor's stories

In 1942, the government also created the Women's Timber Corps. This civilian organisation put women to work in the forestry industry, refilling the jobs of men fighting overseas. While members of the WLA were known as 'Land Girls', those in the Timber Corps were nicknamed 'Lumber Jills'.

No story left behind

Findmypast is a mission to ensure that no story is forgotten. Whether they volunteered with the WLA, served on the front or acted as an Air Raid Precaution warden, your ancestors' sacrifices deserve to be remembered.

The story of the Women's Land Army illuminates the experiences of thousands of women during the war years - a key chapter in Herstory.

If your ancestor worked for the WLA during the Second World War, their name may appear within our Women's Land Army Service Cards, which span from 1939 to 1950.

The Land Girls at work

Beginning as a voluntary service, the Women's Land Army would later come under the National Service Act, meaning single women and widows without children could be called up to either industry or agriculture.

Land Girls during World War 2, Findmypast Photo Collection.

The WLA consisted of women from all walks of life, with a large number leaving the cities to work on the land for the first time. This often created feelings of homesickness and conflict with locals, which - coupled with low pay and very hard work – meant that many members of the WLA didn't enjoy their time spent in the fields.

Land Army girls in Reading, c.1942.

The hours were long and the work varied and often back-breaking. They included ploughing, milking, caring for livestock and a wide range of other jobs and maintenance that many had no experience in and were expected to learn as they went along.

WLA workers in North Somerset, c. June 1942.

Despite this, many Land Girls enjoyed their time with the WLA. Many farmers realised how important the Land Girls were to their productivity during the war, and the WLA created a camaraderie that in many cases was excellent for morale in trying times.

The WLA hits the headlines

Our Photo Collection isn't the only rich resource that spotlights the experiences of the Women's Land Army. Our newspaper archive - the largest collection of British and Irish newspapers online - can offer a fascinating insight into the women who played vital roles during World War 2.

We turned to the Illustrated London News - a historic title which contains a wealth of photographs spanning hundreds of years - to tell the story of the WLA.

We found an article from the beginning of the WLA's history. From 27 April 1918, we see members of the WLA's Forestry Section marching in a procession through Hyde Park.

Illustrated London News, 27 April 1918.

If we jump forward to World War 2, there are yet more mentions of the Women's Land Army in the newspaper collection.

This article from 23 March 1940 recounts how Queen Elizabeth II (the Queen Mother) met a group of Land Girls at London's Goldsmiths' Hall. The meeting took place on 14 March 1940, and also present were other individuals key to the nation's wartime food production.

Illustrated London News, 23 March 1940.

This wasn't the only occasion that the Land Girls received recognition from the Royal family. On 20 October 1945, Princess Elizabeth visited a rally of 100 Somerset WLA members in Bath.

Illustrated London News, 27 October 1945.

As the Illustrated London News indicates, 'the Princess visited the Roman bath and then took the salute, from the Guildhall, at a march-past of the Land Girls'.

The work performed by Land Girls was tough and varied. It continued to run after the end of the Second World War in 1945 - this article from 26 June 1948 shows a Land Girl in Kent, spraying a beetle-infested potato crop with pesticide.