Object number
96/76/4
Exhibition
Description
WLA service armband, belonged to Miss P. Genever, who was a member of the WLA 1942-1950. Given after eight years of service in the WLA.
One of a series of service armbands in different colours and made of felt, which were worn as part of the uniform of the Women's Land Army (WLA). This armband is yellow with a green middle and red edges, and bears a raised crown and eight diamonds. It was given after eight years of service in the WLA. The armband belonged to the donor's half sister, Miss P. Genever, who was a member of the WLA 1942-1950.
Physical description
1 W. L. A. armband: felt; good condition
Label Text
'Women’s Land Army armband // I was awarded special armbands to show how long I had been a Land Girl. // I joined the Land Army during the war and did important jobs like milking, harvesting crops, tractor driving, and even chopping down trees! // I enjoyed doing my bit for the war effort and continued to work at the farm when the war ended. // I served for eight years and received my last yellow armband in 1950. // I used to wear the armband around the arm of my great coat – the only parts of my uniform I was allowed to keep. // Label written by Juliet Wilson (Ancient History and Archaeology)'.
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'Standard museum name: ARMBAND // Accession number: 96/76/1-4 // Classification: PERSONAL Clothing accessory // Negative number: 60/16569 // Acquisition method: GIFT // Acquired from: Mr N. F. KEW ... // Date: Summer 1996 // Store: [insert] small object [end insert] // Condition: good // Recorder: JMB // Date: 17.4.97 // Description: 4 W.L.A. Service armbands made of felt and fastened by two buttons: (1) Yellow with green edges. Crown & 6 diamonds + WLA in green [insert] 6 years service [end insert] // (2) Red band with crown and 4 diamonds + WLA in green [insert] 4 years service [end insert] // (3) Dark green band with red edges. Crown & 2 diamonds + WLA in red. // (4) Yellow band with green middle. This has red edges plus a raised crown. The figure 8 & WLA in gold [insert] 8 years service? [end insert] // Dimensions: Length: 36.0 cm Width (1)-(3) 7.5 cm (4) 9.0 cm // Associated information: see 96/75 [insert] - This reads 'Part of a collection of WLA badges and papers belonging to Miss P. GENEVER who was a member of the W.L.A. from 1942 to 1950. Miss genever was half-sister of the donor. The papers that came with these objects 96/75-79 are accessioned in the archive catalogue mark D DX232.' [end insert] // References:', Letter, Jill Betts to Mr N. F. Kew, 21 January 1998 – '...Dear Mr. Kew, // On behalf of the Rural History Centre I would like to thank you for donating the Womens' Land Army badges and papers to us. // They are a valuable addition to our collections and have been accessioned with the following numbers. Badges: 96/75-79 and the papers: D DX 232. // Yours sincerely // Mrs J M Betts', MERL OLIB database note – 'Each armband signifies the following number of years service in the WLA: 1) six years service; 2) four years service; 3) two years service; 4) eight years service(?).'
Production date
1939-09-01 - 1945-09-02
Production period
Second World War
Object name
Material
Technique
Dimensions
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\96_76_1-4_doc_01.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\96_76_1-4_doc_02.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_16569.tif - High resolution image
