Andrew Humphries

Land girls in South Westmoorland

The work of land girls in the locality involved working to lead and supervise POW's. What is now the animal health centre on the A6 was built as a POW camp for Italian prisoners. The land army in WW2 was more organised and effective than the WW1 effort from which lessons were learned. Many of the land girls came from Towns and Cities.
 
Nationally, POWs were a significant source of labour, especially after 1942, when large numbers of Italians were captured in North Africa.  In 1945, 130 prisoners were brought South Westmorland at turnip thinning time.
 
 
Land Army Trainees Newton Rigg Farm School 1939
 

Land Army girls with ferrets prepare for a rat hunt

 
Rudi, a German POW.

 
Photos from ‘Guardians of Eden’ Penrith Agricultural Society. Andrew Humphries.