Memories of one LumberJill

Memories of one LumberJill 1943-45

It was July 1941, my school career had really finished and I sat alone, gazing across the playing fields from my classroom window, towards the tower of a new factory that had been taken over by the government to manufacture parts for Lancaster and Halifax Bombers. I had been for an interview and test at the factory for a position as a Clerk/Typist in the wages department. It was my first interview and I had been one of the successful candidates. Several friends from my class had also gained positions. I would be starting on the following Monday morning, earning the princely sum of 1 pound and 5 shillings. It would be divided. One Pound, for my Mum and 5 shillings, all for me. A fortune after my pocket money of one shilling a week, from which I had to buy my own Make-up and Stockings.

My thoughts were interrupted by my Form Mistress, asking if I really wanted to leave? And now the time had come I did not. I gathered my pencils etc into my satchel put it over my shoulder and left. I had been a great school, teaching commercial subjects and one could Matriculate and obtain a post in the Civil Service, but the war caused that examination or qualification to be cancelled.

I had to travel around 5 miles to work, and even though there were Air Raids, I cycled each day, this saved at least 2/6d (30p). I soon settle into the routine of a working day. Typing all the long wages sheets for the Manual Workers. I remember that a Panel Beater was paid 1/4d per hour (7p). Later the Personnel Department asked if I could be transferred to their office, and there I became responsible for the taking up of references and dealing with the Clock Cards, sending the details of the sickness, and attendance for the local Employment Office. The Council Office was a brick shelter within the Factory itself and with artificial lighting all day I yearned for open spaces.

In 1943 I read an advertisement in The Evening Standard calling for volunteers to join the Timber Corp, a new section of the Women’s Land Army. I wrote off for an interview.
Being an only child my parents were upset at first, but they did realise that sooner or later I would have to do something for the War effort. Although I suspect that I would have been protected in the job that I was doing.
I recall going to Oxford Street and being interviewed for The Timber Corp. Someone asked if I would Home Sick to which I was able to reply that I had been evacuated earlier in the War. I said that I would like to be a Tractor Driver. The Interviewer omitted to tell me that I would have to be 19 for that job. They explained that if accepted (Subject to Medical) I would go to a Training Camp for a month before being posted into the Countryside, somewhere.
Being a very healthy specimen I passed the medical, and a few days later a large parcel arrived, containing my Uniform. Corduroy Breeches, Green Jumper, Thick Socks, Overcoat and Shoes. The Working Uniform would be issued later.
By this time my mother, who was in fact very strict, became rather upset, and suddenly decided that she would buy me a Piano and lessons if I would reconsider. (This was something that I had always longed for) I did not waiver, I was determined to be a Lumber Jill.

A Railway Warrant arrived and we had to meet at Liverpool Street Station, the Training Camp was at Culford Nr Brandon, Suffolk. We were taken by lorry to the camp and allocated dome shaped Nissen Huts, which contained lines of little iron bedsteads; this was to be our home for the next four weeks.

The following morning we assembled after breakfast to receive our overalls, Bib and Brace Dungarees, Milking Jacket, Black Leather Boots and Wellingtons. You just had to wear the thick green jumper underneath in the chill of the early mornings. I soon realised that we would be able to wear our own clothes in the evenings, so sent an urgent letter home to mother to post me a couple of things.

The first lesson to be learnt was how to swing a 4lb axe, and the next morning the whole hut echoed to moans and groans as we tried to get up from the hard little beds, all limbs aching and sore hands.
We had to cut a fall in the base of the tree, level with the ground so that not an inch of the timber was wasted. We worked on softwoods, Pine, Firs etc and the smell was beautiful as the resin seeped out after being cut. One knelt down and pulled the Cross cut in turn with one’s partner, and then when you were just an inch or so from the fall you had cut previously, there was creaking and tree fell into the correct position and we yelled ‘Timber’ The tree would then be trimmed with a Billhook of all its branches, and they would be piled high for the a lovely bonfire later.
The tree would be measured fro the base upwards and cut into relevant sized Pit Props and stacked ready for the measurer to come along and calculate how much work you had done. Our hands were always sticky and black with the resin mixed with dirt. I decided that gloves were in order. My father worked for London Transport and all lost odd gloves could be purchased very cheaply, so consequently the girls were kept provided with odd gloves.
Burning the branches was great, the crackle of the pine needles and spitting of sparks, and the billycan boiling for the well earned cuppa at break times.
The next thing was finding scarves to wind around the head in a turban to protect our hair, and so we all learned to improvise.
In the dining hall one evening it was announced that there would be a draw for a number of tickets for a Dance at the Corn Exchange, Bury St Edmunds, and yes I was one of the lucky ones. It was to be filmed as part of an Information Film for the Ministry of Supply; the film was going to be shown in Canada, where they were contemplating starting their own Timber Corp. They had filmed during the day; we had to wear our best uniform and the new green berets, which had been issued instead of the old style Land Army Hat. this would later distinguish us (Timber Corp) from the Farm Girls.
My partner and I were crosscutting a tree into large pit props, when I spied out of the corner of my eye the cameraman approaching. I told her to put her leg onto the tree opposite mine and carry on cutting as we were being filmed. Later a book was published called ‘Meet the Members’, several still shots were taken from the film and placed in the book. We purchased a copy for 2/6d. (12p). I treasured mine for many years, but sadly lost it during one of my many moves. However I have since seen a copy and another ex-member kindly sent me a photocopy.

The hard work became easier and soon we progressed to 7lb axes which we could swing with ease and cut the timber smoothly. The training over we were paired off, my original partner Hilda, who came from Bethnal Green. She had left her boyfriend Ruben, who hadn’t wanted her to join up and had sent her, a letter written (so he said) in his own blood, declaring his love so she decided to go home. We all had that option during the training period. She invited me to visit her on my first leave which I did. She eventually married Ruben and sadly we lost touch. I used to think that she was very daring, wearing gold cross earrings and a green cord in her hat! My new partner was named Doreen, 17 years old, the age as my self. She had long blonde hair and a fringe and seemed much older than I as she was already married. Her fiancé was in the Fleet Air Arm and was being posted to India. He begged her to get married before he left. She could go out and enjoy herself as long as she wrote to him. I was fascinated to say the least, she seemed different being married.
We were sent off to Holkam Hall, Wells, Norfolk, by train, how we walked up that long drive, (I have since driven up it) I do not know. I remember being taken into a large lounge with a window seat, where we sat looking out across the grounds and the other girls were playing an Ann Shelton record. We were not there very long before we were told it was all a mistake, we should have been sent to Watton. We were despatched by train and lodged in a very nice cottage. We had to walk a very long way that day in our new boots and both had blisters like shillings on our heels. We arrived at a kind of Heath land; there were, what seemed to us two very old men, who scoffed when we said that we had been sent to help them. They would not let us use their tools and we sat all day with nothing to do.
The next move was to Holt and then down to Cley-next-The-Sea. Billeted with a very pregnant sergeant’s wife, who cried all night for her husband, and moaned so loudly, that we thought sure she was having the baby.
By this time we had been supplied with bicycles, and were deducted one shilling per week from our wages. Fortunately our wages covered 25 shillings for the Landlady and 21 shillings for ourselves. From which we had to pay for Laundry and extra clothing to keep warm. Food was in short supply due to strict rationing, so we had just four small sandwiches in a box to last all day. Of course these were eaten during the first Tea Break at around 10:00am. We first worked at the Saw Mill, trimming the trees ready to be sawn for Boards etc. I managed to put the axe right through my boot and into the arch of my foot, cutting it quite badly, but there was no First Aid available so you just had to carry on, but it didn’t stop me dancing.

During the day our venue was changed from the Sawmill to a wooded area adjacent to a large farming area, where we had to clear and burn a copse. Cutting the large pieces of hardwood for cordon wood. Doreen and I were working alone without a watch and only our stomachs to guide us to meal times, which was very little. We could see a farm worker across the valley working on the sugar beet with a hoe. We used to call out to him”whats the time?” and he would respond, his voice echoing across the valley. He soon came over to join us around our fire which we lit just inside the barbed wire fence and sat on our Macs. He would bring his big Alsatian dog with him and he always had a huge box of sandwiches and fruit cake. He usually gave the dog the fruit cake whilst we drooled. No need to diet in those days.

I lost touch with all the friends that I made. Many years later when I was living in Essex a few ex Land Army and Timber Corps girls (women) started getting together to share our memories.

August 31st 1946 the Women’s Timber Corp came to an end. The last four hundred and fifty members who were engaged on the operations of the Home Timber Production Dept remained members of the Woman’s Land Army until the operations were finished, although no longer part of a separate Corps.

From the beginning of the War, there were members of the Land Army doing Forestry work and in 1942 the Women’s Timber Corps was established as a special section of the WLA with its own badge and its enviable green beret. At its peak there were over 6000 members in England. Wales and Scotland.

During the War, members of the WTC tackled every sort of job connected with the Woods and Trees. They drove Tractors and locomotives, hauling loads of Timber up and down steep gradients. They steered motor boats, towed rafts of logs across Lochs. They measured tress and cut them down, sliced them up and sent them off to be used as Telegraph poles and Pit props. Railway Sleepers. Packing cases and Charcoal for munitions.

I will 80 in January 2006, but I hope that some of my friends and colleagues will read this and I hope that it brings back some fond memories.

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