Saturday 2 April 2011

Land Girls & Lumber Jills Exhibition at Museum of Costume, Shambellie House

From the BBC Scotland News website

Land Girls exhibition on display at costume museum

An exhibition has opened at the National Museum of Costume near Dumfries recognising the efforts of the Land Girls during both world wars.

Uniforms, tools and medals will be brought to life by personal testimony and audio recordings.

The exhibition was first shown at the National War Museum in Edinburgh and attracted more than 500,000 visitors.

New elements have been added for its time in Dumfries and Galloway, where it stays until 31 October.

The Land Girls and Lumber Jills event explores the history of both organisations which were formed in 1917 and active during both world wars.

Land Girls took on all types of agricultural work while the Women's Timber Corps worked in the forests supplying wood for use in everything from railway sleepers to pit props.

Some volunteered while others were conscripted. By 1941 all women under the age of 60, without children under 14, could be called up for essential war work.

Curator Elaine Edwards said: "These women were the backbone of the war effort on the home front, providing essential wood and home-grown food while their husbands and brothers fought for King and country.

"This exhibition highlights their important contribution to the war effort as well as the reality of their day-to-day lives.

"We hope as many visitors as possible will come along and learn more about the vital role their friends, mothers and grandmothers played."

Former Land Girls and Lumber Jills are being offered free entry to the exhibition
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