During World War I, on
joining the Women's Land Army, I was sent to Blue House Farm at Laindon, near the Essex coast. The
milk was sent to London, so in order to catch the 7 o'clock train we started work at 4.30a.m. We were
billeted some way from the farm, and as we walked across the fields in the winter darkness hurricane
lights from all directions could be seen lighting the others on their way to work. My companion and
I walked in single file eating large slices of bread and jam; one needed the strength of youth, as the
work was heavy and continual.
It was quite unheard of to have a day off. I often dream now that I am not
milking as many cows as I should. We were always tired, and when I made my way to the church which stands
on a steep hill (I think it was St. Nicholas's) to sing in the choir on Sundays I simply could not keep
awake during the sermons. I was generally nudged by the person next to me, to my great embarrassment, being
in full view of the congregation.
The land in parts was free of grazing, being covered with scrub and
bushes. In summer I was given the task of minding the herd. I got to know the cows' gentle art of relaxing
when chewing the cud as, one by one, they rested. I generaly sat down too, and very soon was stretched out
fast asleep. I always awoke to find myself alone, with no sign of the herd anywhere, and panic seized
me. Any onlooker would have seen a frantic figure flying round in circles in a vain search for the cows. I
would feel quite sick with guilt that any minute they could get on the road and I had failed in my duty to look
after them.
During that time there was an article in the daily papers stating that the
world was coming to an end. We were filled with alarm, and believed it to be inevitable. On the morning
question it was very foggy, and as we walked to work in stunned silence everything seemed different. We
assumed that there had been some kind of earthquake. As we came to an unusually tall shadow in the fog we
both stopped in consternation, but on closer observation it was found to be only an extra tall hedge. With
some relief we started to walk again, only to find ourselves before some other strange shadow in the fog. After
a time it cleared slightly, and we found we were merely walking round in circles, and our usual stile was
visible; the world was with us after all!
I have never been back to Laindon, but I know time has brought changes. The Southend
arterial road was built after I left.
I doubt whether Blue House Farm any longer sends a horse and cart racing along the road
at breakneck speed in order to catch the train seen making its way in the distance from Pitsea.
Title: In Women's Land Army at Laindon fifty years ago by Lynette Ashley.
Copyright: © Lynette Ashley, 1967.
Comments: This account was first published in an unknown publication and is reproduced complete and unedited.
The Women's Land Army (W.L.A.) was an organisation founded in January 1917 by (Dame) Meriel Talbot (16/06/1866 – 15/12/1956)
as a branch of the British Board of Agriculture. Agricultural labour had been affected by conscription and with a general food shortage,
particularly imported food, the need to maintain a level of stability within this sector had become critical. A recruitment programme
began in March 1917 and those enroled, known as 'Land Girls', were expected to work full time in 'gangs' from June to October of each
year. The organisation, whose membership was approximately 23,000, was disbanded a year after the war ended in November 1919. In
1939 following the outbreak of World War Two the Women's Land Army was reformed to once again help with the war effort, this time continuing
well beyond the end of hostilities in 1945 to 30th November 1950, when it was finally disbanded. | 
