Our online talk from researcher Joanna Foat in February taught us lots about the Lumberjills and the fabulous women who ditched their aprons and donned their work boots to join the Timber Corps across the UK.
Within Sherwood Forest, groups of women were working to fell trees and prepare the timber for use by the mining industry, railways and ammunition boxes. Around 15000 women joined teams of prisoners of war and conscientious objectors to .meet the growing demand for timber due to the disruption to importation. Before the war, the majority of timber was imported as home-grown timber had been used heavily during the First World War. Because of this, trees which were mature enough to use were not properly mapped so one job of the Timber Corps was to find and measure usable patches of trees. Once located, a team would be billeted nearby and the trees felled and processed before moving on to the next area. Lumberjills often moved around the country with some women working at several sites during their time with the Timber Corps.
At first the Lumberjills were met with suspicion and disregard by the civilian women they were billeted with and by the men they worked along side. They were strong, hard working, with a uniform which was more suited to the work they were participating in rather than to a lady. Wool jumpers, breeches, dungarees, work boots and shirts made for a practical rather than delicate look which was unheard of before the war. The women often personalised their uniforms, such as cutting their trousers to make shorts, making them appear all the more unruly to those unused to seeing women out of skirts and dresses. Despite being paid 45% less than their male counterparts, the women proved their worth time and again by matching if not beating the men's work rate and lifting timber which may have appeared far beyond their capabilities at first sight. They also proved themselves as capable mathematicians and engineers, often being promoted above their male team mates to measurers and supervisors.
The Lumberjills' work was arduous and dangerous with many accidents resulting in losing fingers and thumbs. Using band saws without guards, lifting tree trunks onto stacks, and wielding axes were all carried out with little regard for health and safety!
Kathleen Hutchby was billeted to Epperstone Park, from where she worked at Carburton, Calverton and Woodbrough. She recalls that "we all enjoyed it, especially disappearing off to the dances at the local RAF base and coming back at 1 in the morning, cycling down the country lanes".
Joan Hawkins started work in the Land Army, but swapped to the Timber Corps and trained as a measurer. She worked in Thieves Wood for 18 months, saying "it was absolutely brilliant, a marvellous time!"
Joyce Earling worked at Elkesley felling and trimming fir trees for use as pit props. She remembers the training being minimal to say the least! "Training? You must be joking, we were shown the saw and then just got on with it". She recalls that "we were out in the woods all the while. Happy times".
It seems incredibly unjust that these amazing women were unrecognised for their efforts after the war by the government and War Office. There are no real records of those who joined up or the service they gave to their country. At the end of their service, the women were given their last week's pay, their greatcoat if they dyed it blue, a letter from the Queen thanking them for their efforts, an armband and 20 clothing coupons in return for their uniform.
It was not until 2007 that Lumberjills received an official badge and certificate thanking them for their services. In 2007 a memorial sculpture was installed at Queen Elizabeth Park near Aberfoyle in Scotland, in 2013 a second sculpture was unveiled in Yorkshire, and in 2014 they were memorialised along side the Land Army at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
These women not only actively helped the war effort through supplying essential materials, they also paved the way for equality and recognition that women can participate in physical roles and should not be underestimated or assumed to be weaker or less able than men. Certainly worthy of recognition and our thanks on International Women's Day!
With thanks to Joanna Foat, author of Lumberjills: Britain's Forgotten Army https://thelumberjills.uk/
Information and pictures from https://www.womenslandarmy.co.uk