Women's Land Army
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The Women's Land Army (WLA) was an British civilian organization created during the First and Second World Wars to work in agriculture replacing men called up to the military.
In effect the Land Army operated to place women with farms that needed workers, the farmers being their employers.
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[edit] First World War
The Board of Trade organised the Land Army during the Great War starting activities in 1915. Towards the end of 1917 there were over 260,000 women working as farm labourers.
[edit] Second World War
In the Second World War, though under the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, it was given a honorary head - Lady Gertrude Denman. At first it asked for volunteers. This was supplemented by conscription, so that by 1944 it had over 80,000 members. The WLA lasted until 1950.
The Women's Land Army was the subject of the film The Land Girls.
[edit] Influence
During World War II a Women's Land Army was also formed in the United States, lasting from 1943 to 1947, and the Australian Women's Land Army was formed in Australia, lasting from July 27, 1942 until 1945.
[edit] See also
- Women's Timber Corps - a related organization working in forestry
[edit] External links
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