MP for Bishop Auckland, Helen Goodman, is encouraging former wartime Land Girls, who wish to apply for a Land Army badge, to contact her.
Since July 2008, around 35,000 surviving former members of the Women Land Army and Women’s Timber Corps have received a special commemorative badge from the British Government to acknowledge the importance of their work on the Home Front during the Second World War, producing food and timber for the nation.
Helen Goodman is planning to arrange a ceremony for Land Army girls in our area who did such a valuable job in the Second World War.
The government started the Women’s Land Army in June 1939 when the prospect of war became increasingly likely and the government wanted to increase the amount of food grown within Britain.
By 1943 there were 80,000 women in the UK working in every aspect of agriculture to feed the nation. Their work entailed milking cows, digging ditches, sowing seeds and harvesting crops. The majority of the Land Girls already lived in the countryside but more than a third came from London and the industrial towns in the North East.
Helen Goodman MP said, “It is absolutely right that we recognise the selfless efforts these women made to support the nation through World War II. Their hard work, which came in a variety of forms, helped to feed the nation and stave off food shortages.
“Their contribution was vital to our successful war effort.
“This badge is a fitting way to pay tribute to their determination, courage and spirit in the face of adversity.”
The badge itself has been specially designed by the Garter King at Arms and bears the Royal Crown.
It shows a gold wheat sheaf on a white background surrounded by a circlet of pine branches and pine cones to indicate the work of both the Land Army and the Timber Corps.
Helen held an event in Bishop Auckland to present veterans and merchant seaman badges in 2009.
She is also keen to encourage veterans and merchant seaman who have not yet applied for their badges to also contact her office.
Helen’s constituency office can be contacted on 01388 603075, by email at goodmanh@parliament.uk or by writing to her at 1 Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 6EN.