Hard work lands Jane with thanks from PM

Published on Tuesday 26 July 2011 11:17

Leither Jane Pollock has received a letter from the Prime Minister thanking her for her work as a Land Girl during the Second World War.

Mrs Pollock, 87, was born and raised in Leith. She attended Bonnington Road School and left at the age of 14. After working in various jobs, she joined the Land Army in 1940, at the age of 17.

She said: "I was dying to get away and spread my wings. I went in to Edinburgh to join the WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force]. My friend was supposed to come too but she never turned up so I went alone and I ended up walking into the wrong office. Before I knew it I was in the Land Army."

Mrs Pollock was one of thousands of women who either volunteered or were called up to join the Land Army and work on the farms of Britain during the Second World War.

She was initially sent to work at Singlie's Farm in Selkirk, but also worked at farms in Hawick and Clovenfords during her time as a Land Girl. Her duties included driving horses, milking the cows and forestry work.

She also spent a period of time tree-sowing with Italian prisoners and even received a proposal from one of them, which she says she politely turned down.

Speaking of her time as a Land Girl, Mrs Pollock described how much fun she had and said that she was grateful to have walked into the wrong office on the day that she joined up. She said: "I thoroughly enjoyed it. We were young and enthusiastic, it was absolutely wonderful."

Mrs Pollock left the Land Army in 1945 after five years' service.

She returned to Leith, married in that same year and had one daughter in 1947.

After raising her daughter, she took a job at Gray's hardware store on George Street and worked there for 30 years before retiring at 62. She still lives in Leith and has two grandsons.

She received her letter from David Cameron a few days ago, 66 years after she left the Land Army, which expressed the government's gratitude for her service as a Land Girl. A certificate and a badge were also included with the letter.

"I was delighted to receive the badge and letter because I really thought that the Land Army had been forgotten about," Mrs Pollock said. She also said that she had already written a letter of response to Mr Cameron thanking him for taking the time to write her the letter.

She said: "I really appreciate it because I know he is a very busy man."

Mrs Pollock remembers her time as a Land Girl fondly and treasures her mementoes, including a picture of herself and around 20 of the other Selkirk Land Girls. She also has another picture of herself, dressed in her uniform, which hangs on the wall of her Edinburgh home.