Home / War and Conflict / WWII Land Girl's Memories Preserved
WWII Land Girl's Memories Preserved
6 Jan
Summary
- A 99-year-old woman shares her WWII farm work experiences.
- Over 200,000 women served as 'land girls' during the war.
- A family scrapbook preserves her six years of service memories.
A 99-year-old woman's wartime service as a 'land girl' is being remembered through a family-compiled scrapbook. Gwen Raggett, who left her job in a cinema, dedicated six years to the Women's Land Army (WLA) during World War Two. Her efforts were part of a larger mobilization where approximately 200,000 women stepped in to support crucial agricultural work.
The WLA played a vital role in bolstering the nation's food supply, particularly as imports were threatened by wartime blockades. Gwen, then 17, undertook demanding tasks like potato picking and even learned to operate a three-ton lorry. She lived with about 100 other land girls at Redenham House, recalling the demanding work alongside a spirit of camaraderie and fun.
Though the WLA was disbanded in 1950, official recognition for the land girls came much later, with a commemorative badge awarded in 2007. Gwen's daughter-in-law, Heather Raggett, initiated the preservation of Gwen's extensive collection of photographs and documents, recognizing their historical significance and the importance of remembering these women's contributions to the war effort.
