FORMER Land Girls met to share a lunch and their memories.

The women were given a special meal to celebrate their achievements during the Second World War.

And some 266 Kirklees women who served in the Women’s Land Army turned out despite the snow for the reception at Dewsbury Town Hall on Saturday (Feb 7).

The event was hosted by the Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Karam Hussain, who gave a speech about the importance of the Land Girls during World War II.

As well as an afternoon tea, the reception featured a display of photographs of Land Army members working.

There was also memorabilia from the Second World War era, including posters and postcards produced by Holmfirth company Bamforths.

Quotes from Land Girls about their experiences formed part of the exhibition and members of Kirklees Museums and Galleries staff dressed up in Land Girl uniform at the event.

Sally Greenwood, of the Mayor’s office, said: "We hope that the event provoked some old memories and possibly even led to some reunions between Kirklees land girls who hadn’t met for years."

The reception was held to mark the fact that the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs officially recognised the Land Girls’ contribution to the war effort by issuing service badges last year.

Kirklees Council wanted to celebrate local women who had been in the Land Army.

But they had to wait until before Christmas for the full list of Kirklees Land Girls, so they could invite every single one to the reception.

FACTFILE

The Women’s Land Army was established during the First World War, with huge numbers of men volunteering to fight, the country was desperately short of labour.

During the first six months of the Second World War, more than 30,000 men previously working in agriculture had joined the forces.

The government re-formed it and by 1944 there were 80,000 women volunteers working on the land.

About a third of the volunteers moved to the countryside from Britain’s industrial towns and cities.

The ‘Land Girls’ wore green jerseys, brown breeches and brown felt hats.

They did a wide range of jobs from milking, looking after animals, ploughing, digging potatoes, harvesting crops, and hoed for up to 50 hours a week in the summer.

The Women’s Land Army was established during the First World War. With huge numbers of men volunteering to fight, the country was desperately short of labour.

During the first six months of the Second World War, more than 30,000 men previously working in agriculture had joined the forces.

The government re-formed it and by 1944 there were 80,000 women volunteers working on the land.

About a third of the volunteers moved to the countryside from Britain’s industrial towns and cities.

The ‘Land Girls’ wore green jerseys, brown breeches and brown felt hats.

They did a wide range of jobs from milking, looking after animals, ploughing, digging potatoes, harvesting crops, and hoed for up to 50 hours a week in the summer.