Page 1 - Life in Langham 1914-1919

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.