Land Army Timber Corps

Firstly, we went to Thetford for a months training during which we felled small trees using an axe and a cross saw. We had to learn how to identify standing trees and sawn timber. After the practical training I went on the “measuring” course and then had to measure the felled trees in the woods. Some of these we made into pit props, others were used as railway sleepers.
I was posted to Brecon as a Timber Corps land Army Girl. During training we stayed in tin huts — there were up to 20 of us girls sharing. There was an American camp nearby and occasionally we would socialise. We didn’t have land army hats as the Timber Corps wore green berets. I had a photo of me in my uniform taken in my home at Grays, and was told that a shop keeper had it enlarged and put it in his shop window!
In the woods in Wales, there was me and a couple of timber fellers, males, with me measuring the timber, counting the props. After about a year I was transferred to Pandy, near Abergavenny, still doing the work and billeted in the local pub, The Pandy Inn, which was great fun. Pandy village was very much like the Archers on the radio. The work was quite varied, directing things onto lorries - despite the snow I enjoyed being outside. After 6 months I returned to Brecon and able to visit my family in Lydney Gloucestershire, where my father was a P.T. instructor on the Training Ship Exmouth, usually stationed at Grays, but they had all been evacuated to Gloucester. In the timber corps we had lots of songs which we adapted - this one was called “There always be an England.”
There always be an England
While there’s a timber corps
Whenever there’s a gang of girls
All out to win the war
They’re looking in the nurseries
Planting the little seeds
They love to hoe the tidy beds
And rid them all of weeds
They’re working in the forests
Cutting the trees all day
Sawing them into different lengths
To load and send away.
They cut them into pit props
To send into the mines
The sawmill make stout sleepers
To strengthen railway lines
Oh, timber corps, this is worth working for
Surely you’re proud, to work in a crowd
Of glorious trees, our England too
She c n depend on you
To work with a will, in forest or mill
Until after the war
There always be an England
While girls like you remain
To strive with might
To win the fight
And uphold our country’s name

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