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.