badge

This badge was awarded to Mrs Joyce Freebody, a veteran of the Women’s Land Army (WLA) who was posted to Norfolk during World War Two. Initially set up during World War One the WLA was reinstated in 1939 as the government was concerned with shortages of home grown food and labour. By 1943 more than 80,000 ‘Land girls’ and 6,000 ‘Lumber Jills’ of the Women’s Timber Corps (WTC) were engaged in vital work across Britain. The WTC were disbanded in 1946 with the WLA following in 1950. Many women returned to their homes however many remained where they had been posted after marrying local men. In 2007 it was announced all surviving members of the WLA and WTC, and a spouse or family member of a deceased member, would receive these badges in recognition of their efforts.