Z1205/206

Female. Women's Land Army girl in Bedfordshire, 1942-49. Father built the brickworks at Kempston Hardwick. b. 91.10.1924

14 February 2003

From: 1920 To: 2003

SIDE A (00 mins)Family came from Fulham, London. All but one children given biblical Christian names, following the conversion to Christianity of their father. Father was a consultant mechanical engineer. He was a manager for Eastwoods brick company and was commissioned to build the brickworks at Kempston Hardwick for Bedford Bricks, later called Coronation Brickyard. He named the public house nearby Chimney Corner. When the company was bought out by London Brick Company her Father left and moved to work in Essex. During the Second World War he worked for the Ministry of Supply in London but the family lived in Bedford. She and her sister worked as shop assistants in Shenfield. German planes sometimes machine-gunned people on their way back to German after air raids. (05 mins)She was 15 at the beginning of the war. Late worked in Woolworth's shop in Bedford. (10 mins)Had to do firewatching after hours, at night, at work, to deal with any firebombs that might drop on the premises. Took turns on a rota. When she was nearly 18 she joined the Women's Land Army. (15 mins)First farm she was placed at was in Felmersham. Had meals with farmer and his wife but slept in the servants' quarters. No electric light or piped water. Oil lamps. 5 cows to milk by hand. (20 mins)Shared alternate weekend work with the horse keeper. He looked after the 3 horses on the farm. Long hours harvesting, often until 10pm at night. Did initial training at a farm in Great Barford where her sister was a Land Girl. Extra Land Girls were hired from hostels when needed for harvesting. (25 mins)Used to attend village dances in Sharnbrook. Remembers playing rounders on the village green with local youths. Had good food on the farm. Attended dances for the armed forces in the Corn Exchange, Bedford and at the RAF camp at Shortstown. (32 mins)End of Side A Side B (00 mins)Her sister's boy friend was killed during the war. Stayed at Felmersham for 2 1/2 years. Moved to a poultry farm at Box End so that she could live at home. Her two brothers were married. Father wanted them all to move to Australia but her Mother did not. After the war, her Father had a stroke and only lived 4 more years. The last family house they had at Kempston Hardwick was a moated house, Askern House, belonging to the brickworks. Egg incubation. (10 mins)Disliked having to kill the hens. Left that farm because the farmer was behaving illegally with regard to food regulations and it preyed on her mind. Moved to Oakley to a horticultural market garden. Did hoeing. (15 mins)Delivered potatoes to restaurants including the Granada Cinema. Used to eat moorhen's eggs. (20 mins)She ad Fred got married after he was demobbed from the RAF and started work on her farm. Honeymoon in Jersey. (25 mins)Looked after Mother until she died. Hr husband joined Unilever, aged 60, to work on crop science tests. She has good memories of her period in the Land Army. She took part in the Land Army parade in Bedford in February 1946, when Princess Elizabeth took the salute. Stayed on in Land Army until 1949. (30 mins)Served from 7 Sept. 1942 to 7 May 1949. Has letter from Mr. Eugster at the county office wishing her success and happiness for the future. Mrs. Sharman and Mrs. Truman used to accompany Land Girls to chaperone them when attending dances (at the American air bases). 35 mins)End of Side B ORIGINAL INTERVIEW 60 mins.

English

item

Eastwood Flettons Brick Company,
Woolworths

engineers, mechanical engineer, women's history, Kempston Hardwick Chimney Corner, World War Two, air raids, Land Army, cattle, horses, RAF, dancing, DEATH, market gardeners, American Army, Kempston Hardwick, Fulham, FELMERSHAM, SHARNBROOK, OAKLEY