Page 1 - Life in Langham 1914-1919
P. 1

Women’s Role in Agriculture





               Women were encouraged to step in to fill the places of the men who

               had enlisted. The Marchioness of Londonderry, whose country house

               was Springfield, near Oakham was the founder of the

               Women’s Legion, later to become the Women’s Land Army. The aim

               was to train women in every aspect of agriculture. 23,000 were

               recruited to work full-time on the land in: Agriculture (including

               market gardening), Forage to produce horse feed, Timber Cutting.


                                                                              The women were given the following


                                                                              advice by the Government: You are

                                                                              doing a man’s work and so you are dressed


                                                                              rather like a man; but remember that

                                                                              because you wear a smock and trousers you


                                                                              should take care to behave like an English

                                                                              girl who expects chivalry and respect from


                                                                              everyone she meets.


                                                                              In Rutland, the commandant was

                                                                              Miss Sylvia Brocklebank. She was

                                                                              responsible for training and

                                                                              placing women workers with
                                                                              employers, some of whom were


                                                                              prejudiced against female farm
                                                                              workers. Miss Brocklebank also

                                                                              proposed the procurement of

                                                                              tractors for farmers who had lost

                                                                              men and horses to the war.




               In September 1917 agricultural

               competitions were held at

               Springfield and attended by

               Princess Helena Victoria.
               There were over 200 entries in

               classes such as: butter making,

               milking, ploughing, hedge

               trimming, straw pitching and

               loading, driving and riding.

               Miss Rosetta Fawkes of Langham                                          Women’s Legion Agricultural Competition 1917

               received a special prize as the Rutland

               competitor with the highest number of points.


               The role of the Women’s Institute, formed in 1915, was to encourage

               women to produce more food and show them how to preserve it.
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