Papers of Norma Marjoram re the Women's Land Army

The archive consists of papers relating to Norma Marjorie Marjoram's time as a 'Land Girl' in the Women's Land Army (WLA) during the Second World War. It includes certificates of achievement, a letter from Queen Elizabeth II, and a badge and purse that Marjoram used during her work for the WLA.

Norma Marjorie Marjoram (nee Skipper) was born on 19 Aug 1921, in Willesden, London, and was the eldest of four children. Throughout her childhood she lived on various Royal Air Force (RAF) stations, as her family followed her father's various postings in the army - one being in Leuchars, Scotland. Her family moved from Leuchars to Feltham, Middlesex, where Norma would travel to work at Pears Soap in Isleworth. Here, she did some fire-watching until volunteering for the Women's Land Army (WLA) in 1942. She was stationed at a large farm in Beccles, Suffolk, where she enjoyed every aspect of her work: delivering calves, milking cows, ploughing and other heavy tasks. A town-bred girl with no previous farming experience, she took readily to working with Suffolk Punch horses and formed a lifelong attachment to the wide skies and spaces of East Anglia. When her fiancé returned from the desert war, she married and reluctantly left the WLA. She and her husband lived in Lowestoft, Beccles, Chelmsford, Ingatestone, and finally retired to Wivenhoe in Essex. She was a keen motorcyclist and camper, and was a member of the Women's Institute (WI) and of The Embroiderers' Guild in Colchester. Norma died on 19 Apr 2007 in Colchester.

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.

Donated by Mrs Marjoram's sister.

The Women's Library Catalogue

Held by Mrs Marjoram in her home until her death.

Also held at The Women's Library are two scrapbooks of press cuttings relating to women during the Second World War (Ref: 10/24 & 10/25). Further material relating to the Women's Land Army is held at the Imperial War Museum, London and in regional record offices.