Medal for Land of Hope and Glory Girl

25/06/2008

 Six decades since serving in the Women’s Land Army one determined 82-year-old is finally receiving the recognition she deserves.

 

Chris Caygill, a Waterloo Housing Association resident from Knight Court retirement housing scheme in Wolverley, Kidderminster, played a very important role in the Second World War.

 

Along with thousands of other former Land Girls, she is now being awarded a medal for her efforts to keep the nation fed during wartime.

 

The pensioner, who has lived at her Waterloo home for over two years, was one of the many women who responded to the call from the Women’s Land Army to work the land at home.

 

The heroes of the Second World War are greatly documented with countless biographies and major Hollywood movies. Yet many argue that the Women’s Land Army has long been overlooked.

 

“I was only 18 when I decided to volunteer and at the time I was earning just a shilling a week so I wanted to volunteer to help support my family,” said Chris.

 

“With the men away at war, there was a shortage of labour on farms and this was one way that the women could help at home.”

 

In 1944, 80,000 dedicated and determined women volunteered to work in the Land Army.

 

“We did a variety of jobs that included looking after animals, ploughing the fields, digging up potatoes, harvesting crops, killing rats and cutting down trees,” she added.

 

Chris, who has also been featured in the book All Muck and No Medals by Joan Mant, met her husband in her first year as a Land Girl.

 

“After a hard week of hand milking and haymaking we would look forward to the dance on a Saturday evening,” said Chris.

 

“I first saw Roy across a crowded dance hall. He smiled at me, gave me a cheeky wink and I just knew he was for me - we were married for 47 years.”

 

Chris added: “I’m very proud to finally be awarded a medal for serving my country during the war.

 

“Our hard work has been overlooked for a long time and now it’s nice to know it was appreciated!”

 

Chris, who lived in Mexico for ten years before moving back to the UK, is looking forward to receiving her medal later in the year.

 

She said: “It’s good to be back home and becoming a Waterloo resident has really taken me back to my original English roots. It certainly brought back many memories.”