2003/12

These breeches were issued to Margaret Edmunds (nee Roberts) during her time with the Women's Land Army in WWII. They are made of beige-coloured corduroy. The bottom of each leg is lace-tied, the waist is buttoned at each side with three buttons, and there is a front pocket on each side. Mrs Edmunds worked in Berkshire and later around the entire country as part of her work for the WLA and War Agriculture Committee.

1 pair of W. L. A. breeches: corduroy; good condition - slight staining

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'BREECHES, WOMEN'S LAND ARMY // Description // 1 pair of Women's Land Army breeches. // Beige-coloured corduroy. Bottom of each leg lace-tied. Waist is buttoned at each side by three buttons. Front pocket at each side. // Yellow spotted stains on the corduroy. // Dimensions // LENGTH: 100cm // Associated information // Issued during WWII to Margaret Roberts, the wife of the depositor. // See 2003/11 Accession Form.', MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) [2003/11] – 'JUMPER, WOMEN'S LAND ARMY // ... Associated information // Issued during WWII to Margaret Roberts, the wife of the depositor. // A number of photographs, certificates and associated material relating to Margaret Roberts' time in the WLA was deposited at the same time as the uniform. These items can be located in MERLs Archives under the Accession Number DX1397. // See Also 2003/12 and 2003/13 (W.L.A. Breeches and Tie)', Letter, C. Edmunds to MERL, 18 June 2002 - 'Margaret was born in 1916... // ... In 1940 while staying with a friend who was in the Headquarters for the Women's Land Army Margaret decided to enrol. She took a break from her studies and entrolled [sic] in the Women's Land Army in January 1940. // Margaret started at a low grade and was sent to Forest Lodge, Windsor Great Park. She was kitted out with hat, great coat, corderoy breeches, woollen socks and hob nail boots. // Margaret's day started at 7am and finished when it was dark. She was only permitted to work in food provision and not the ornamental gardens. All the produce went to the hospitals and nursing homes. // Eventually she was transferred to Silwood Park which consisted of three large gardens. It was opposite the 'Golden Gate' at the end of the Ascot Race Track. Customers called to collect their own produce including members of the American Forces whose camp was close by. // In November 1944 Margaret was transferred to the War Agriculture Committee and sent to Mortimer to be trained as a supervisor to manage a hostel and after training she went to Chievely where she supervised 45 girls. Her weekly wage was £3. 13s 6d.! // Eventually Margaret was in charge of a total of thirteen hostels and elevated to county supervisor with a roving commission to report on work undertaken by the Women's Land Army throughout the country. Her wages were increased to £7. 1s. 0d! // This involved getting the right number of girls to the right location at the right time, and then being willing to take over on a tractor or under a cow when other girls were not available. // It also involved driving a lot of different vehicles from before dawn to after dusk. This she explained was why she preferred a car "which hits you in the back when you press the accelerator // Her work also involved working with prisoners of war, teaching them the use of tools, hedging, ditching, thatching and hoeing and measuring work completed. // She also worked with displaced persons mainly Yugoslavians. As well as holiday volunteers who came in to help with potato and fruit picking. // It was also Margaret's responsibility to make contracts with farmers for labout [sic] etc. // At the end of the war Margaret resumed her studies...'

1939 - 1945

Edmunds (née Roberts), Margaret Isabel (Agent)
Women's Land Army (Great Britain)