VE Day 80 - Land Girls on the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man issued a set of six stamps to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day.

I was especially struck by the image on the 90p stamp depicting girls of the Women's Land Army. The Women's Land Army (WLA) on the Isle of Man, like its counterparts in other parts of the UK, played a crucial role during both World Wars by supporting agricultural production. The WLA was established to address labour shortages in farming as many men were enlisted in the military.

On the Isle of Man, members of the Women's Land Army, often referred to as "Land Girls," took on various roles traditionally held by men. These roles included ploughing fields, planting and harvesting crops, tending to livestock, and maintaining farm equipment. Their work was essential in ensuring a steady supply of food during the war years.

Culture Vannin (Supporting, promoting & celebrating Manx culture | Culture Vannin | Isle of Man) recorded a series of interviews with young women who signed up to the Land Army during the Second world war.

In an Interview with Laura Briggs, Mrs Briggs discussed her experiences in the Women’s Land Army during World War II on the Isle of Man:

1. Women’s Land Army Recruitment and Challenges

• Mrs. Laura Briggs joined the Women’s Land Army at the age of 16 in September 1941, recruited by Mr. George Howie, the Agricultural Organiser, who faced significant challenges in recruiting members for the Land Army.
• Recruitment began in May 1941, but by September, only five girls had joined, highlighting the difficulty in attracting participants.
• A parade was organized to promote the Women’s Land Army, but it was poorly attended due to bad weather and timing, with the band refusing to play to protect their instruments.
• Some girls were conscripted into the Land Army later in the war, with court cases and fines imposed on those who refused to join, including fines of £5 per day for non-compliance.

2. Work and Living Conditions for Land Girls

• Mrs. Briggs worked on various farms, including Knockaloe and Ballamona, performing tasks such as milking cows, mucking out, feeding livestock, thinning kale and turnips, and handling heavy machinery like hammer mills.
• She lived on the farms and was treated as part of the family, with accommodations provided but no running water or electricity, relying on lanterns for light.
• Workdays started as early as 5:45 AM and included long hours in challenging conditions, such as wet weather and itchy hay seeds during haymaking.
• She earned 18 shillings per week, with an allowance of 22 shillings for her keep, and could earn extra money by thinning crops at rates of sixpence per 100 yards for turnips and sevenpence for kale.

3. Introduction of Milking Machines and Farm Innovations

• Initially, milking was done by hand, which Mrs. Briggs preferred due to the bond it created with the cows, often singing to them to improve milk yield.
• The farm later introduced the Alpha Levall milking machine, which saved time but did not affect milk yield, as long as the milker was skilled.
• Other farm innovations included threshing grass for seeds and crushing grain using a hammer mill, though some tasks were too physically demanding for Mrs. Briggs.

4. Entertainment and Social Activities

• Social activities included Sunday School picnics, Girls Friendly Society events, dances, concerts, and plays, which were organized to raise funds for prisoners of war and the Red Cross.
• Mrs. Briggs enjoyed going to the cinema in Peel, though one memorable night was disrupted by a riot at Knockaloe Camp, involving internees and requiring Metropolitan Police intervention.

5. Uniforms and Clothing for Land Girls

• Land Girls received uniforms in 1942, including brown leather boots, woolly socks, riding breeches, aertex shirts, green pullovers, and khaki dungarees for summer.
• Mrs. Briggs initially wore her father’s cut-down overalls before uniforms were issued, and replacements were provided annually by the supervisor, Miss Teare.
• Despite the uniforms, no wet weather gear was provided, and Land Girls had to rely on their own clothing for additional protection.

6. End of the Women’s Land Army and Post-War Reflections

• The Women’s Land Army was disbanded prematurely, according to Mr. Howie, as men returning from military service were not sufficient to meet agricultural needs.
• Mrs. Briggs suffered a hernia from heavy lifting and received no gratuities upon leaving the Land Army, except for ten extra clothing coupons.
• Unlike their counterparts in England, Manx Land Girls did not receive certificates of appreciation signed by Queen Elizabeth, leaving them feeling unacknowledged for their contributions.
• Despite the hardships, Mrs. Briggs expressed pride in her work and stated she would not have chosen a different path, as the experience shaped her life and career in farming.