Last year, Kildare reader Jackie Greene got in touch with Irish Country Living to try to trace any surviving Irish land girls or their families who farmed and fed Britain during WWII.

Jackie’s mother Audrey was one of over 80,000 women who donned dungarees in difficult and often dangerous circumstances during the war and whose contribution has finally been recognised with a monument at the national memorial arboretum in Staffordshire in the UK, the unveiling of which Jackie attended in October with her daughter Sharon.

“Known as land girls and lumber Jills, they were the girls who worked the farms and forests during WWI and, to a larger extent, WWII, to keep the nation fed and moving while the menfolk were otherwise occupied in the military forces. Over 100 Irish girls joined up to do their bit,” says Jackie.

“Many have now passed on but a wonderful turnout of over 300 girls attended the day, ranging in age from 85 to 95. Someone even came from as far afield as Australia. From those who were warmly rugged-up in their wheelchairs to other sprightly ladies dressed in their old land girl uniforms, nimbly climbing onto old tractors to pose for the cameras, they all had such fun and enjoyment meeting up with old pals and sharing memories, old photographs and stories.”

The bronze statue by Denise Dutton was unveiled by HRH the Countess of Wessex, with a short service celebrated by the chaplain of the Tower of London. Jackie pays huge credit to the Staffordshire Women’s Food and Farming Union for their hard work and fundraising to make the memorial a reality.

“Denise’s bronze work is stunning in its detail, right down to the traps and dead rat at the feet of the two girls. Incidentally, Izzy Wright, one of the models, was a granddaughter of land girl Mary Wright,” says Jackie.

“Those land girls and lumber Jills, who for many reasons were unable to attend the day, should feel most pleased and proud that their hard work during the wars has been so well commemorated, rightly placed with so many other memorials in this beautiful and peaceful arboretum.”

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