Olive Massey (née Clough)
General Information
First Name(s): Olive
Unmarried Surname: Clough
Married Surname: Massey
Date of Birth: 2.9.1921
Place of Birth: Rossendale
Date joined the WLA: 10.4.1942
Date left the WLA: 26.1.1946
WLA number: 73532
Reasons for joining: To help her country.
Family’s reaction to joining: Her father has been in World War One. Had shell shock. Died of a stroke aged 48 in 1936. Olive only 14/15 years.
Reasons for leaving: End of war.
Employment
Worked for a private farmer who was known as Daddy Watkins.
Type of work undertaken: Driving tractor, ploughing, feeding animals, pest prevention etc.
Work liked most and least: All done without complaint.
Best and worst memories of time: Farmer never helped my Mum Olive to get the tractor going in cold mornings. When she asked why, he said he knew she would get the job done. It was a compliment. She never forgot it.
Opportunities to meet other Land Girls: They all had bikes. They would cycle to the local dances. She always looked back with fond memories.
Treatment by farmers: She stayed with a farm family. She took me/her family back decades after to meet remaining people from farm.
Life after the war
What was their post-war occupation? Olive worked in the cotton industry.
How did work in the WLA effect their life? She had nine other siblings. This gave her confidence. She became her own person, instead of one of ten.
Any other comments: My Mum Olive also stayed in Buckinghamshire with a lady called Mrs Endel. She had a beautiful thatch house at the time. My Mum had the room overlooking the back garden.
Contributor Information
Pauline Taylor, daughter.
