Land Girl dungarees with real pockets, top and head scarf

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When she was off duty,40s styleicon Rita Hayworth embodied androgynous40s fashionwith herhigh waistwide legged trousers worn over mannish button-down shirts, flat brogues and roguishly tilted berets. 40s Ladies FashionSilhouette In this blog post, I explore what these records can tell us about women in the Land Army, and focus on a few of the women we can find in these records. What can these index cards tell us? Take40s ladies fashionfor a modern ride by pairing the unexpected of40s stylewith your modern wardrobe basics for your own unique blend of old and new, main street and high street, haute couture and trendy looks. Complete your Land Girl ensemble with thoughtful accessories. Practicality was always prioritised over fashion, but Land Girls found ways to add personal touches to their uniform. Headscarves were a common accessory as they helped to keep their hair out of the way while working. Consider donning a patterned vintage scarf to add a touch of personality to your look. Additionally, Land Girls would wear wide-brimmed hats for extra protection from the sun or rain. A vintage style basket bag would be the perfect way to carry your belongings.

The index cards in the collection have the potential to include all, or some, of the following information: Sometimes these Land Girls expressed a preference for the type of work they would do, desiring to work particularly with the land, animals or machinery. For other women this type of work would have been entirely new to them. Despite the positive, jolly image of the Land Army we often see portrayed, the work itself was hard and often very physical. The overalls are in very good condition with only limited signs of wear and use. There is some slight loss of stitching to the inside leg near the crotch although this is only one layer of stitching so is not a hole. There are some light marks and signs of washing but all in all, they display very well and would be wearable. The Women's Land Army (WLA) made a significant contribution to boosting Britain's food production during the Second World War.

Mum (23) and Elsie (21) are both smiling and happy atop their vehicle. Mum’s in dungarees that she cut down for dungarees for me, 10 years later. I wonder if Elsie did the same for her kids. Vintage stylein the 1940s focused on a narrow waist worn withfull skirtsthat were pleated, flared or gathered and fell below the knee, with belts emphasizing an hourglass figure. The Land Army was disbanded in 1950. Although the work was hard, conditions were often bad and the pay was low, many women enjoyed the experience, and formed lifelong friendships with fellow Land Girls. Most women serving in the Land Army were believed to be young, single and childless, and this was certainly true of most. But a search of these records shows approximately 2,500 women who were listed as ‘housewives’ and a couple who were listed as having children. Some women have their married name and maiden name listed on a card. If a Land Army member married at the end of their service, then their married name would often also be added to the card. If you are looking for an individual, it is worth trying both their married and maiden name to ensure a thorough search of the records. World War II Women’s Land Army Index Card of Violette Beryl Clifford. Catalogue ref: MAF 421/1 women also adopted the ultra-feminine shape of thetea dressinfloral printsand a fittedhigh waist, worn with wedge heels or oxfords.

This blog has explored just a little of the potential of these records. With these records now being more accessible, we should be able to learn much more about the everyday women who served in the Women’s Land Army. Find the40s styleclothes and accessories in the shapes, prints, fabrics and styles that appeal to you, then wear them with all your current favourites for refreshed day-to-evening looks that never go out of style. The WLA had originally been set up in 1917 but disbanded at the end of the First World War. It reformed in June 1939. Women were initially asked to volunteer to serve in the Land Army and, from December 1941, could also be conscripted into land work. At its peak in 1944, there were more than 80,000 women – often known as 'land girls' – in the WLA. Theland girlof40s fashionput her own spin on her land army uniform, layering playful blouses infloral prints, Peter Pan collars and puffed sleeves under her overalls.

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Land girls did a wide variety of jobs on the land. They worked in all weathers and conditions and could be directed to work anywhere in the country.

The WLA came under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture, but its head was the formidable Lady Denman. Married to the former Governor General of Australia, Lady Denman was a leading figure in the Women's Institute movement, and also had a close interest in rural affairs. Her home, Balcombe Place in Sussex, became the WLA headquarters. Each district had its own WLA representative, who was expected to ensure the Land Girls were being treated well and were working effectively. And mow – our Women on the Land.’ From the Women’s Land Army Handbook containing the Land Army Song. Catalogue ref: MAF 59/2 Land Girls were expected to work long hours for the war effort with very little free time. Some had one day off per week but others might only get one weekend off per month. It was not until 1943 that Land Girls had the legal right to one week’s paid holiday time per year. In their very limited leisure time, Land Girls were encouraged to do whatever they could for the war effort with many of them putting on events as a fun way of fundraising. This included dances, quizzes, tea parties, whist drives, sports tournaments, stage productions and craft fairs. During these events many Land Girls would continue to wear their uniforms but some would opt for tea dresses or two-piece skirt suits. Our very appropriately named Lumber Jill dress would be a perfect example of the kind of dress they would wear outside of work. ladies fashionwould not be complete without the iconic hair styles of1940s women. Hair was worn long and curly, tied up during the day for practical work, then styled elaborately for evening events.The Land Girls did a wide range of jobs, including milking cows, lambing, managing poultry, ploughing, gathering crops, digging ditches, catching rats and carrying out farm maintenance work. Some 6,000 women worked in the Timber Corps, chopping down trees and running sawmills. Amelia ended up joining the Hampshire branch from 1943, working at Frith Farm inFareham until 1944. Her index card suggests she then moved to the London and Middlesex branch, before eventually being dismissed on medical grounds. To the rear of the overalls is clear evidence of where the original issue label was originally affixed. Sadly it is no longer present but there is a clear outline of stitching where it once was. There are no other markings to the overalls but the original owner has marked her name and number to the interior in ink which reads 'Daphne Hedges 139301'. She has also included the years shewas in service as 1944 - 1950. Small annotations on the records can help you learn about an individual’s wider life. For example, there might be a comment to suggest someone was discharged for medical or compassionate reasons. At times it might say dismissed for not following regulations. On the card of MrsBeryl Holmes it was noted that she left the service as she was ‘setting up home for husband’. Many women left the service when they got married or became pregnant. World War II Women’s Land Army Index Card of Amy Rosina Hope. Catalogue ref: MAF 421/1 Vera Nancy Horn The Land Girls were known for their instantly recognisable uniform which included practical breeches or dungarees, green jumpers and brown felt hats. They also often wore a green tie and the WLA badge which depicted a wheat sheaf as a symbol of their agricultural work. As the Women’s Land Army wasn’t a military force, the uniform was not compulsory to wear. Authorities often waited before issuing kit as women’s bodies changed dramatically with the heavy manual labour. Garments needed to be made using the least amount of cloth but still be able to keep up with the amount of work the girls were doing. Their clothing needed to be warm, weatherproof and durable. The full uniform issue was as follows:

Being able to research the records in this way is great. Now I can put an identity to a familiar name. They grew up only 40 miles apart. I can go to Elsie’s old home in Preston and stand outside, wondering, in a kind of homage to this lovely friendship they had. I’ll celebrate Elsie’s birthday next year: 22 Aug 1919, a year and a few days after mum. An original pair of Women's Land Army Dungarees dating from the Second World War and in good condition. Vera Nancy Horn was, on the surface, an average Land Girl just trying to contribute towards the war effort. Vera served with the West Suffolk branch of the Land Army, having previously lived in Hemel Hempstead, as her index card shows. Vera had served in the Land Army for several years when, at the age of 28, she became involved in something unexpected – when a USAAF Fortress Bomber aircraft crashed in a meadow at Rougham, Suffolk on 24 December 1944. World War II Civil Defence Gallantry Awards, 1940-1949. Case Number: 2273C. Name: Vera Nancy Horn. Catalogue ref: HO 250/103/2273C Theland girlwould also swap out her regulation40s stylegreen sweater for a bobble-embellished or popcorn knit confection in bubble gum pink or sky blue, layered over her sensible brown overalls. Although the Women’s Land Army is often associated with the Second World War, it was first formed in 1917 by the Board of Agriculture, and then disbanded until June 1939. The government initially asked for volunteers, but later moved to conscripting women. The Land Army was to be disbanded for the final time in 1950. Women’s Land Army girls practicing milking. Catalogue ref: MAF 59/154There was a Land Army uniform of green jumpers, brown breeches or dungarees, brown felt hats and khaki overcoats. As the Land Army was not a military force, however, uniform was not compulsory. The WLA badge depicted a wheat sheaf as a symbol of their agricultural work. There was also an official magazine The Land Girl, and a special song: The Women’s Land Army was established in January 1917 to help increase the amount of food grown within Britain. It was wound up in 1919 and then re-established shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War in June 1939. At first it asked for volunteers. This was supplemented by conscription and at its peak in 1944 over 80,000 women worked as Land Girls. They replaced the male farm workers who had gone to war and made agriculture their wartime profession to ensure that the nation didn’t starve. womenwere expert dress makers themselves and excelled at reworking their existing wardrobes into au courant40s ladies fashiontrends. It was all about “make do and mend”!