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Thursday 22 September 2022

Women's Land Army in World War II

Recently released records from World War II have allowed historians to see the registration cards for the Women's Land Army for the first time.

The Land Army had a massive responsibility to take on farming activities, and keep the population fed whilst male workers were away at war. The work has hard and physically demanding. By 1944 there were 22,000 women working on the land, often staying in hostels far from their homes.


The following ladies, unsung heroines of the war effort, were listed as recruits to the Women's Land Army in Osmington and the surrounding area.


Miss Kathleen Mabel Watson (married name Chaffey) aged 25.

She was in the land army until November 1944 and lived at 'Melcombe', Stone Lane Osmington.


Her profession was a dog breeder.


Miss Margaret Ellen Parker aged 36.

She was in the land army until February 1940 and lived at the Phoenix in church lane Osmington. 

Her profession was a servant.


Miss Augusta Noreen Bugler aged 33.

She was in the land army from May 1939 until December 1942 and lived at Sunnybrook Poultry farm, Owermoigne.

She was a whole time poultry farmer and looked after 1000 chickens.


Miss Stella Beatrice Hoerter aged 26.

She was in the land army from May 1939 and lived at 1 Cottage, Broadmayne. 

She had no previous farming experience.


Miss Sophia Ella Peck aged 21.

She was in the land army from May 1942 to January 1946 and lived at 41 Littlemoor road, Preston.

No profession listed.


There are a further 981 records for women who were based in the Women's Land army during the war in Dorset (about 70 of which were in Weymouth) and they came from all walks of life, all professions and all age groups.



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