This page contains the beginnings only of a extremely limited, unofficial list of names of young women (therefore, mainly maiden names) who were First World War members of the first British Women’s Land Army.
It is known that there were approximately 23,000 women who served at some point in the three years, 1917, 1918 & 1919.
There are no central records of these names but county record offices sometimes have documents relating to county Women’s War Agricultural Executive Committees where individuals are named when, for example, they are registered or attend training course.
This page is divided into the following sections, containing partial lists of Land Girls working in the First World War:
- A general list populated from various sources
- Land Girls in Bedfordshire
- Land Girls in Essex
The names listed are ones for whom there is documentary evidence. Click here for more information about researching WW1 Land Girls.
This list is continually being added to from people sharing information about their family members or relatives and from information gained from local Archive offices.
If you would like to contribute information, please get in touch.
World War One Land Girls
Bedfordshire Land Girls
The following are just a few known (documented) names of young women who served full-time on farms in Bedfordshire and were members of the first Women’s Land Army [WLA]. It is known that around 550 so-called ‘land girls’ were employed in this county as paid volunteers for varying periods of time in the years 1917, 1918 and 1919.
The majority of the names below were derived from the ‘Results of Efficiency Tests’ [between 1917 & 1919] at Bedfordshire & Luton Archives and Records Service WW1/WA3/1. These tests showed relative skills as a ‘Cowman’, ‘Horseman’, Ploughman’ and ‘General Labourer’. Tests were later devised in ‘Thatching’.
| Surname | First name/s | Tested at
(skill tested, if known) | Approx. dates | Farm/village employed at |
| Adams | Ellen | Blunham House Dairy, Biggleswade(Milking)
8.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Archer | Gladys | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Horsework)
20.12.1918 | 1918 | |
| Arnold | Daisy | Lewsey Farm, Leagrave
(Horse work & Ploughing) 9/10.4.1919) | 1919 | |
| Ashley | Florrie | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Horsework)
20.12.1918 | 1918 | |
| Attwood | Betty | Biggleswade
(Milking) 11.6.1919 | 1919 | |
| Attwood | Lettie | Cooters End Training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919[?] | 1919 | |
| Baker | Helen | Speedwell Farm, Woburn (Milking)
7.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Baker | E | Luton Hoo
[WLA hostel] (Horse work) 29.8.1918 Cooters End Training Centre (Horsework) 19.2.1919 | 1918
1919 | |
| Barbary | Minnie | Box End Farm, Kempston (Milking)
23.4.1918 | 1918 | Mr. Ben Howkins |
| Barnett | Chrissie | Cooters End training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919[?] | ? | |
| Battlebury | L | Luton Hoo Home Farm or Children’s Home Farm (Milking)
19.10.18 | 1918 | |
| Battlebury | M | Luton Hoo Home Farm or Children’s Home Farm (Milking) 19.10.18 | 1918 | |
| Beck | R | Luton Hoo Home Farm (Milking) 19.10.18 | 1918 | |
| Birmingham | Ella | Cooters End training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919[?] | ? | |
| Bradford | Ellen | Children’s Home, Harpenden
[WLA hostel] (Milking) | 1919 | |
| Brookes | F | Cooters End training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Brookes | Flossie | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Milking)
19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Brown | Annie | c1916 | Hinwick | |
| Buckingham | E | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Elementary Horsework & Ploughing)
19.10.1918 | 1918 | |
| Castigue | Blanche | Cooters End training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Champkins | Ethel | Children’s Home, Harpenden
[WLA hostel] (Milking) 9/10.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Chance | Grace | Cooters End Training Centre (Horsework) 29.8.1918 | 1918 | |
| Chandler | Winifred | Wootton
(Horsework) 10/11.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Chieslak | Sophie | Lewsey Farm, Leagrave
(Horsework & advanced ploughing) 9/10.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Clarke | Hilda | Biddenham
(Milking) 10/11.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Cobb | Ada | Biddenham
(Mkilking) 10/1.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Coker | Elsie | Children’s Home, Harpenden
[WLA hostel] (Milking) 9/10.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Cole | Daisy | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Horsework)
20.12.1918 | 1918 | |
| Coleman | Cissie | Blunham House Dairy, Biggleswade (Milking)
8.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Conway | E | Cooters End training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Conway | Elizabeth | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Milking)
19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Corby | Helen | Wootton
(Horsework & Advanced Ploughing) & Lewsey Farm, Leagrave (Milking)/10.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Cousins | Mabel | Knotting
(Horse work) 9//10.4.1919 | 1919 | Mr. Campion’s farm, Sharnbrook |
| Dearle | Margaret | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Horsework)
20.12.1918 | 1918 | |
| Dearman | Jessie | Speedwell Farm, Woburn (Milking)
7.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Egdell | Alice | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Horsework)
20.12.1918 | 1918 | |
| Esworthy | Frances | Cooters End training Centre (Milking) 10.5.1919[?] | ? | |
| Fearon | Winifred | Box End Farm, Kempston (Milking)
23.4.1918 | 1918 | Sir Philip Payne |
| Gardner | Barbara | Souldrop
(Milking) 10/11.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Garrett | Emily | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Milking)
20.12.1918 | 1918 | |
| Gibson | A | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Ploughing) 19.10.18 | 1918 | |
| Godeanus | Mary | Cooters End Training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Godfrey | Leah | Luton Hoo
[WLA hostel] (Horse work) 29.8.1918 | 1918 | |
| Grafton | Hilda | Alfred Inskip’s farm, Clifton (Horsework)
23.4.1918 | 1918 | |
| Grant | Ethel | Felmersham | 1919 | |
| Grant | Florence | Felmersham (Milking)
10/11.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Grant | Rose | Luton Hoo
[WLA hostel] (Milking) 29.8.1918 | 1918 | |
| Hancock | Ellen | Box End Farm, Kempston (Milking)
23.4.1918 | 1918 | Mr. Ben Howkins |
| Handicott | Edith | Speedwell Farm, Woburn (Milking)
7.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Hartop | Florence | Biggleswade
(Milking) 11.6.1919 | 1919 | |
| Higgs | Florence | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Milking)
20.12.1918 | 1918 | |
| Hodge | L | Cooters End training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Hodge | L | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Milking)
19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Hull | Kathleen | c1914 | Bridge Farm, Great Barford | |
| Hull | May | c1916 | Great Barford | |
| Hyde | Annie | Box End Farm, Kempston (Milking)
23.4.1918 | 1918 | Speedwell Farm, Woburn |
| Ireland | M | Luton Hoo Home Farm or Children’s Home Farm (Milking) 19.10.1918 | 1918 | |
| Keen | L | Luton Hoo
[WLA hostel] (Milking) 29.8.1918 | 1918 | |
| King | Jessie | Box End Farm, Kempston (Milking)
23.4.1918 | 1918 | Mr. Howes, Marston |
| King | Lily | Cooters End Training Centre (Milking) 29.8.1918 | 1918 | |
| Lane | Ethel | Blunham House Dairy, Biggleswade (Milking)
8.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Lloyd | Hazel | Children’s Home, Harpenden
[WLA hostel] (Milking) 9/10.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Long | Rose | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Horsework)
20.12.1918 | 1918 | |
| Lunn | Edith | Children’s Home, Harpenden
[WLA hostel] (Milking) 9/10.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Marshall | Edith | Blunham House Dairy, Biggleswade (Milking) Green End, Great Barford (Horsework) 8.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Maulden | Mabel | Lewsey House, Leagrave (Horsework & Ploughing) | 1919 | |
| Maymon | Francis | Cooters End Training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Miller | Caroline | Speedwell Farm, Woburn (Milking),
7.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Mitchell | Edith | Cooters End Training Centre (Horsework)
29.8.1918 | 1918 | |
| Moorcroft | Kathleen | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Milking)
19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Morcroft | E | Cooters End training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Moulder | Mabel | Leagrave
(Horse work) | ? | |
| Neale | Ethel | Blunham House Dairy, Biggleswade (Milking)
8.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Page | Gertrude | Middle Farm, Souldrop
(Milking) 10/11.4.1919 | 1919 | Mr Lloyd’s Middle Farm, Souldrop |
| Pamphlete | M | Luton Hoo Home Farm or Children’s Home Farm (Ploughing) 19.10.18 | 1918 | |
| Parratt | V | Luton Hoo Home Farm (Milking) 19.10.18 | 1918 | |
| Partridge | Carrie | c1916 | Town Farm, Riseley | |
| Pollard | Eva | Felmersham
(Milking) 10/11.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Porter | Alice | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Milking)
20.12.1918 | 1918 | |
| Porter | Edith | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Milking)
20.12.1918 | 1918 | |
| Prigmore | Gladys | Herbert Inskip’s Farm, Stanford
(Hortsework) 23.4.1918 | 1918 | |
| Reade | Tamar | Children’s Home, Harpenden
[WLA hostel] (Milking) 9/10.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Robinson | Florence | Blunham House Dairy, Biggleswade(Milking)
8.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| odgers | D | Cooters End Training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Rogers | Dorothy | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Milking)
19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Russell | ? (Mrs) | Home Farm, Southill Estate (Milking)
8.9.1919 | 1919 | |
| Salter | L | Speedwell Farm, Woburn (Milking)
7.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Scoby | Ethel | Speedwell Farm, Woburn (Milking)
7.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Scott | Ethel | Biddenham
(Milking) 10/11.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Selway | M | Home Farm, Southill Estate (Milking) 8.9.1919 | ||
| Selway | Margaret | Box End Farm, Kempston (Milking)
23.4.1918 | 1918 | Mr. Ibbott, Oakley |
| Shelton | Winifred | Box End Farm, Kempston (Milking)
23.4.1918 | 1918 | Major Deans, Goldington |
| Skinner | Emma, Mrs | Box End Farm, Kempston (Milking)
23.4.1918 | 1918 | |
| Skinner | Emma | Box End Farm, Kempston (Milking)
23.4.1918 | 1918 | Speedwell Farm, Woburn |
| Smith | Eva | c1916 | Great Brickhill | |
| Smith | Amy | Felmersham | ? | |
| Sooky | Ethel | Home Farm, Southill Estate (Milking)
8.9.1919 | 1919 | |
| Stokes | Nellie | Biggleswade
(Milking) 11.6.1919 | 1919 | |
| Stone | R. Ethel | Alfred Inskip’s farm, Clifton (Horsework)
23.4.1918 | 1918 | |
| Summer | M | Cooters End Training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Summerford | Norah | Blunham House Dairy, Biggleswade(Milking)
& Green End, Great Barford (Horsework) 8.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Sunter | Amy | Felmersham or Middle Farm, Souldrop
(Milking) 10/11 April 1919 | 1919 | |
| Sumner | M | Home Farm, Southill Estate (Milking)
8.9.1919 | ||
| Sumner | Mabel | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Milking)
19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Talbot | Agnes | Herbert Inskip’s Farm, Stanford
(Horsework) 23.4.1918 | 1918 | |
| Thornton | Sybil | Green End, Great Barford (Horse work)
8.4.1919 | 1919 | Mr Pedley’s Green End Farm, Great Barford |
| Titchener | J | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Ploughing) 19.10.18 | 1918 | |
| Tizard | R | Luton Hoo
[WLA hostel] (Milking) 29.8.1918 | 1918 | |
| Tizard | Rose | Cooters End Training Centre (Milking) 29.8.1918 | 1918 | |
| Trafford | Lilian | Luton Hoo Training Centre (Milking)
20.12.1918 | 1918 | |
| Trevellion | D | Luton Hoo
[WLA hostel] (Horse work) 29.8.1918 | 1918 | |
| Trevelyan | Doris | Cooters End Training Centre (Horsework) 19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Watts | Kate | Wootton
(Horsework) 10/11.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Webb | M | Cooters End Training Centre (Horsework) 19.2.1919 | 1919 | |
| Wheatley | Mabel | Biddenham
(Milking) 10/11.4.1919 | 1919 | |
| Wicken | E | Luton Hoo
[WLA hostel] (Milking) 29.8.1918 | 1918 | |
| Wickens | Edith | Cooters End Training Centre (Milking) 29.8.1918 | 1918 | |
| Wilson | P | Cooters End Training Centre (Milking) 19.2.1919 | 1919 |
Essex Land Girls
For a list of some of Land Girls who worked in Essex in the First World War, see the list of those women who passed efficiency tests, taken from the Essex Land Army Supplement published in June 1919.
