Womens Land Army Service 1944 to 1946

My maiden name was Kathleen Hilda Goulburn and during my time in the WLA, I was billeted at "Redworth House", Totnes, Devonshire from 2nd September 1944 til 12th August 1946. I was called "Kit" or "Kitty".

There were about 50 to 60 girls billeted at a time in this beautiful big house. All the girls were great. My friend Doris Neale came from "Notty Ash", Liverpool and was bridesmaid at my wedding to my husband, Samuel Toulson, who was with the Royal Navy, stationed at Plymouth. I met him at Totnes.

We were driven every day to our different jobs on the farms and if the weather was too bad for farmwork, some of us worked in the local cider factory, or milk factory. I once worked on a dairy washing and scrubbing the cows etc. It was a very clean dairy but I was scared stiff of the cows. Some Land Girl!

We made our own sandwiches every day, and unlike others who have written of their time in the WLA, I still enjoy cheese and beetroot sandwiches.

Doris, Irene and myself went on a recruiting campaign in 1944. I don't know if anyone ever joined up, but we had a ball. We had to stay overnight at another hostel, and a sailors camp was right next door. I cannot remember the name of the village, but it was not far from Plymouth.

Our warden at the hostel in Totnes was a Mrs. Powell, who ruled with a rod of iron, but was very fair.

Two men came down to the hostel; one was called Peter Roper, the other Mr. Baker. They produced a show for the Red Cross with all the Land Army Girls. They wrote a song for me to sing, which I can remember and sing to this day. I have put it on a C.D. I also sang "Bless this House" and I was in the Minstrel Singing with both Peter Roper and Mr. Baker. I know at the time all the girls enjoyed the singing and dancing and collected a great sum for the Red Cross.

I could go on for hours with stories of that time. I would love to write a book.

I left the Land Army in August 1946 and became a nursemaid at Shelford Manor in Sheffield. My husband and I emigrated to Australia after that and I have lived here ever since. I would welcome any contact from any of the "girls" from Totnes during 1944 - 1946.

Kathleen (Kit) Toulson.
Pheasants Nest, NSW.
Australia.

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