Here’s an important one I’ve decided to run this morning, as hopefully Sunday is the day when readers of the blog are most likely to see grandmothers or older female relatives, who may have served in the Women’s Land Army during the Second World War (or in the years following).

The Mayor of Walsall Angela Underhill is hoping to get in touch with former members of the Women’s Land Army in Walsall, so why not ask if anyone in your family served?

The story of this unique agricultural force is wonderful, and deserves preserving and recording – so if you know someone who served, please get in touch with the Mayor’s office using the contact details below.

Walsall Council Wrote:

The Women’s Land Army knew that food was just as important a weapon of war as ammunition. Image from Walsall Council.

Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Angela Underhill wants to meet any former Land Girls in the Borough, so she can personally thank them from her Mayoral Parlour for the vital work they did during World War Two.

The Women’s Land Army (WLA) played a very important civilian role as the war progressed. Britain needed to produce much more of its own food to counter U-boat attacks in the Atlantic, which were stopping supplies from reaching Britain. With so many men fighting overseas, women wanted to do their bit. Some 90,000 land girls stepped in – working for 50 hours a week, to manage farms, livestock and harvest crops all across the country.

Although we were rationed at this time, a home grown food supply meant that nobody would starve. The sheer volume of food that was needed to keep the to the keep nation fed and working through out the war and for a signifact time afterwards was provided largely due to the WLA.

Walsall women who joined the WLA were posted to regions where they were most needed and often found themselves stationed on farms in counties that were a long way from home.

The Mayor of Walsall said ‘I would love to invite any former Land Girls to the Mayoral Parlour, to personally thank them for the enormous contribution they made during the war. It was a heavy, hard work load, both physically and mentally but their strength and determination helped carry us through the war.

‘If people bought and ate home grown produce in Walsall during that time – chances are it was our land girls who produced it. Their legacy in the region does them proud.’

If you are a former Land Girl, know someone who is, or have a special connection to the Walsall Women’s Land Army and would like to meet the Mayor, please contact:

Verity Edwards
Mayor’s Personal Assistant
The Council House
Lichfield Street
Walsall WS1 1TP
Tel: 01922 652072
email: verity.edwards@walsall.gov.uk