Description
Object description
British land girl worked with Women's Land Army in Darlington, GB, 1941-1949
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Gateshead, GB, 1922-1939: family; living conditions; weekly routine; family discipline; washing day routine; food; Christmas celebrations; entertainment; leisure activities; clothing; Sunday routine; relations with neighbours; presence of Salvation Army; industry in area; childhood games.
REEL 2 Continues: religion; memories of Roman Catholic priest; education; school discipline; school uniform; leaving school; employment as cashier at Carrick's Imperial Restaurant; wages; social life; membership of Girl Guides Assocation; relations between Protestants and Catholics; father's employment; expectations of war; parent's service during First World War.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as civilian in Gateshead, GB, 1939-1941: attitude towards the Germans; expectations of war; preparations for war; older brother's service with Merchant Navy; evacuation of younger sister; declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; precautions against bombing; memories of soldiers returning from Dunkirk Evacuation, 6/1940; morale; rationing; black market; coping with blackout.
REEL 4 Continues: precautions against air raids; German Air Force raids and use of air raid shelters; German Air Force bombing of industrial buildings; impact of German Air Force raids on life in area; morale; conscription of women for war work; deciding which service to volunteer for. Aspects of enlistment and training with Women's Land Army in GB, 1941: reasons for joining Women's Land Army; lack of agricultural experience; interview.
REEL 5 Continues: oath to serve King and Country; attitude towards leaving home; arrival at Women's Land Army hostel in Consett. Recollections of period as land girl with Women's Land Army in Darlington, GB, 1941-1949: posting to Darlington; reception on arrival; accommodation in hostel; issue of uniform and kit; living conditions; relations with room mates; hostel rules and regulations; discipline; working hours; evening meal; rations.
REEL 6 Continues: rules regarding visitors to hostel; social life; attitude of local canteens towards land girls; pay; uniform; washing facilities at hostel; difference between Women's Land Army in Northern England and Southern England; rations; relations between land girls and local population; relations between land girls living in hostel; receiving mail from home; leave; Christmas celebrations; health.
REEL 7 Continues: visitors to hostel; lack of training; travelling to farm; opinion of farmer and his family; presence of male agricultural workers on farm; training whilst working; duties feeding animals; daily break times; assignment to general farm and dairy duties; physical nature of work; learning to use turnip cutter; attitude towards mucking out; memories of shire horses.
REEL 8 Continues: seasonal duties; story of leading cows to summer pasture; milking duties; method of cleaning milk; using milking machine; cleaning duties; hoeing duties; haymaking duties; increased duties at hay making time and harvest time.
REEL 9 Continues: harvesting hay; harvesting vegetables; coping with weather conditions; decision to stay with farm throughout war; friend who applied for transfer to Women's Auxiliary Air Force; attitude of land girls towards work; decision to live and continue to work on farm when war ended; working hours; daily routine; pay; rations; attitude towards slaughter of pigs; lack of official recognition of work of Women's Land Army.