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ProvidingNewsandViewsformorethan30yearsPage36ThequarterlymagazineispurchasableatJWalsh(Newsagents),HOLMERGREEN%u2019SWOMEN%u2019SLANDARMYINWW2TheWomen%u2019sLandArmywasoriginallyestablishedbythegovernmentduringtheFirstWorld War to work on farms to boost food production, and in forestry.This nationalcivilian organisation was reestablished once more in June 1939 to help replace farmersandforesterswhowerefightingforthefreedomthatweenjoytoday.The%u2019LandGirls%u2019oftenworeagreentieandtheWLA(Women%u2019sLandArmy) badge, featuring a wheat sheaf symbolising their agricultural work.SincetheWomen%u2019sLandArmywasnotamilitaryorganisation,wearingthe uniform was not mandatory.The clothing had to be made with minimal fabric while remaining warm, weatherproof,anddurabletowithstandtherigorsofthejob.Thecompleteuniformissuedincludedthefollowingitems:LandArmyGirlsbadgeTwopairsofbrowncorduroybreeches,Twopairsof dungareesTwo short sleeve shirts, One long sleeve shirt, One dark green pullover,Twooverallcoats,Sixpairsofstockings,Twopairsof slipper socksOnepairbrownleathershoes,Onepairblackleatherboots.Onepairrubbergumboots,OilskinorMacintosh,Overcoatanda Brown felt hat.Landgirlswerepaiddirectlybythefarmerswhoemployedthem.The minimum wage was 28s per week and from this, 14s was deducted for board and lodging.The average wage for male agricultural workers was 38s per week.At its peak in 1944 there were more than 80,000 women in the WLA. Land girls could be directed to work anywhere in the country and at one point could be conscripted.Thebasic working weekfor land girls was forty-eighthours in winter andfiftyinsummer.Initiallytherewerenoholidays%u2013paidorunpaid, just a free travel pass after six months.However, conditions improved after 1943 with the introduction of the 'Land Girl%u2019sCharter'.Thisintroducedoneweek'sholidayperyearandraisedtheminimumwage.Holmer Green had an enviable record in raising money for many WW2 projects whether funds for war planes or warships, and so it should not come as a surprise where the village womanhood is concerned.Theyjoined theWomen%u2019sLandArmyindroves.Theywerecentredinatented campon land at Copners.Aseparatebranchof theWLAwasthatof the%u2018Timber Jills%u2019 whosejobitwastousethesaw and the axe to fell timber in our local woodlands for thewar effort, muchofit for riffle butts and pit props for the coalmines.LandarmygirlsatCopnerscamp,drivenbyaGermanPOWStuartKingJohnKingwithlandgirlsworkinginPennWoods