Women's Land
Army: How women who served their country will receive their badge of honour
DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (Information
Bulletin ref : 202/08) issued by The Government News Network on 1
July 2008
Defra has today
confirmed how former members of the Women's Land Army and
Women's Timber Corps will receive their long-awaited badge of honour.
A ceremony will be held at No.10 Downing Street on 23rd July for
around fifty Land Girls from across the country representing their
former colleagues. They will meet the Prime Minister and
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, and be presented with their badges.
Land Girls across the country will then be sent their badge and a
certificate in the following weeks, and events will then be held
in every region around the country to celebrate this formal
recognition of the Women's Land Army's role in the war effort.
The design of the badge of honour can now be seen on the Defra
website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/working/wla/index.htm
Over 29,000 applications for the badge have so far been received.
More information on the Women's Land Army and Women's
Timber Corps is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/working/wla/index.htm
Further information
Secretary of State Hilary Benn announced on 6th December 2007
that former members of the Women's Land Army and Women's
Timber Corps would be awarded with a specially designed badge of
honour commemorating their efforts during the Second World War.
Due to the huge number of applications for the badge it has not
been possible to acknowledge every application. However, all
applicants not meeting the eligibility criteria have been advised
in writing. All other applicants will receive a badge.
Those attending the event at No.10 Downing Street have been
selected at random from each region of the UK to represent their
former colleagues. In addition a few Land Girls who have been
instrumental in organising reunions and other events for their
former colleagues over the years have been invited in recognition
of their efforts.
For those wishing to apply for a badge, the application form is
available on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/working/wla/
Requests for application forms can be made by post or telephone to
Mr Dermot McInerney
Defra
5E Millbank
c/o 17 Smith
Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Or via the Defra helpline on 08459 33 55 77
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
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