The Women’s Land Army

The Women’s Land Army was a unique phenomenon that originated during the Great War, which basically meant that women replaced men to do agricultural and other work. Due to the demand of the armed forces, many men enlisted, leaving  land abandoned and food production decreasing. In 1915, Aberystwyth experienced a poor harvest, which was exacerbated by the German unrestricted submarine warfare. Hence the problem of food production and supply attracted considerable attention from the government. 

With the establishment of the Women’s War Agriculture Commitment in October 1915, the program of engaging more women labourers in agriculture was put into progress. When conscription was introduced in 1916, the demand for men for the front increased considerably and consequently this opened up greater opportunities for women to enter the workforce.  During 1917, the engagement of and demands for women in agricultural services increased tremendously and the system of the Women’s Land Army gradually evolved and became much more effective. 

Image courtesy of the Cambrian News

There are three items in the Cambrian News of 1917 that reflect the enthusiasm and efficiency of women to work on the land:

On 11th May, the newspaper recorded that, considering that in some places women had not been accustomed to farm work, the organizers came up with a strategy for setting up working groups and 'gangs'. The mechanism of this system was that, firstly, a number of women with organizing capability and some practical knowledge of agriculture was needed, then these forewomen would lead and train the rest of the women. The Cambrian News relates the story of two potential land army 'recruits':

"WAR AGRICULTURAL SERVICE.—Two young women residents recently volunteered for service on the land and were interviewed by a lady who had travelled first class from Newtown. No place was available, it is said, for one of the young women. The other, who is an accomplished pianist but did hard farm work last summer under the agricultural gang system, was sent to a Cardiganshire farm, as she understood, to do milking, take the milk into a town, and attend the cattle. She returned home in less than a week, alleging as one reason that she had to work from six in the morning until after seven at night."

In addition to the increase of work efficiency, the job of publicity was not ignored. On 8th June, a group of women wearing picturesque uniforms were distributing leaflets and encouraging other women to join them, and this scene attracted lots of attention. In spite of the expanding woman gangs and continuing publicity, there was still a great demand for women labourers, however. On 19th October, the Cambrian News reported that the Ministry of Labour urgently required 70,000 women to fill the work positions of men, reflecting the huge importance of and demand for women.

Besides these facts showing what women did in an agricultural aspect during the Great War, it is also significant to analyze the implications and influence behind this behavior. The Great War has been called ‘the women over the top’, and such enhancement in the position of women is evident in the Women Land Army. It can be said that the Women's Land Army  contributed significantly to improving the social status and impressions of women, and promoting gender equality. It is recorded that during agricultural work, women wore the utilitarian uniform of khaki breeches, green v-neck sweater, overcoat and hat. 

The changes in attire reveals the improvement of gender equality with men who wore uniforms in military service, and changed the old norm of women seldom wearing pants.  Furthermore, the Women’s Land Army contributed to moving the stereotypical impression of women, from leisure and subservience to one of action and influence, and this again helped to raise their social status. 

Finally, the respect and recognition can also be noticed from the name Women’s Land Army itself, because it can be argued that women’s engagement in food production had the same importance as the army fighting in the war. The only difference is that men were fighting for their country in the frontline whereas women were fighting for their country on the land.

Blog by Meixi Lei, project volunteer

Sources:

Cambrian News

C.G. Wygant, Cultivating Victory: The Women’s Land Army and the Victory Garden Movement, University of Pittsburgh Press, 2013.

W. Troughton, Aberystwyth and The Great War, Amberley Publishing, 2015.