Page 55 - Life in Langham 1914-1919

Women and Children Help

When it came to the shortage of farmhands with the men away, the

Women’s Legion provided a very practical solution by setting up a

local training centre for women ‘...at the Cottesmore Hunt Kennels [Ashwell]

near Oakham (Rutlandshire),which has been converted into a comfortable hostel,

affording accommodation for thirty women.

The training consists of a three months’ course... A more light-

hearted, healthy-looking contingent of young women than that

to which introduction was made one evening, in their

recreation hall at Cottesmore, one could not imagine...There

had been no time to change, and the students were still in

working garb - the trim well cut drill breeches and coat,

serviceable boots, and becoming hat of the Women's Land

uniform. By 9 o'clock the weary workers began to retire.’
Dominion, Vol.12, issue 29 - 29 October 1918 Womens’ Legion badge

Women who worked for their living, such as the school teacher, found

their roles more difficult for a variety of reasons. Miss Hubbard noted

in the School log book during the summer of 1915 that attendance
was very poor, due to children working on the land. There were also

epidemics of measles, whooping cough and influenza, and a shortage

of assistants to help with the running of all the classes.

Langham School Logbook

On a lighter note, the following advertisement

promised ‘restful abandonment’ to any

hard-working woman who could afford to buy

silk pyjamas. It is unlikely that many villagers

were able take advantage of the idea.

Home Notes Magazine Advert 1917

The Things They Left Behind Them

Clean all the plated parts of

the cycle and then smear

them with vaseline

Home Notes 8 July 1916