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LAND ARMY LIFE CAN BE GAY AND INTERESTINGEnglish Bride Tells Of War ExperiencesyHAT life on the lend n a member of the Women'* Land Army can be a* attractive and interesting a* it ia essential to the war effort wai made abundantly clear in an interesting address to a record attendance at Mackay Rotary Club yesterday by Mrs. Storrar Galletly, wife of Flying-Oflker Galletly. A Sheffield girl, Mrs. Galletly recently came to join her husband in Maclcay.My first experience was on the Sunday night of September 3, 1930, when the sirens went at Sheffield. Mrs. Galletly began.We had had a hectic day pinning up old blankets, cardboard*nything we could hand* on to black-out the win down. No one knew what to ex pect. For weeks each rattle ofletler-box had brought pamphlets of every description on »lr-rald precautions. • first aid Inthe home, and how to Identify different gases, etc. There seemed so much to remember, but In spite of all one had the feeling '•This can’t happen to us. and In any case the war will be over by Christmas-it cant last more than 13 months at the most.”FALSE ALARMSAbout 1 a.m. the sirens went. I remember thinking Jerry doesn'waste much time. I then grabbed my gas mask iwhich Incidentally I had carefully placed by the side of my bed* putting It on. thentrying to get into my clothes snd having the greatest difficulty In getting them over my head, gasto get up! But don't put lights for I have n candle.” Having sorted myself out I lit „ic candle and made my way along the corridor to arouRe the rest of the household. Walking wasn't so easy when my knees were knocking together and my hand was so unsteady that theandle fell out of the holder and doused itself at my feet. The next few minutes were spenthands and knees scanning for the unfortunate candle. I was joined by the rest of the family ind when we finally found it the ‘nil clear .sounded and, with a ilgh of relief, we returned to our beds.That was the first of a series of raise alarms, as we called them. The sirens would go just about • same time every night; we got used to them we took it nil as i matter of course. Perhaps they wouldti t bomb iu* everyone predicted! Still, everyone went ahcud rt caul ton By the next year we had shelters of nil ■;e3rri]-t!ons, cellars were reln-’orced and emergency outletsqueenly cow, falling head first Into a large panchlon of pig swill, being nin out of the varaswill, being by a fierce looking boar, then being knocked over by three hungry calves eager to get at thethree buckets I happened to bo carrying.Yes. In spite of It all at the end of the fourth week we were posted to our lob down south as fully trained land girls. We were given a day's leave, during which we irpriaed everyone once more bytelling them that we liked work ing on the land. So off we went arid the next day found ua down on the farm amongst the ducks and the geese. Up In the momlng early. 5.30 'never knew such an hour existed); fl a.m. and in the cowshed with a row of hefty-looklng cows to be washed, fedcoat.bucket, one stool and We're off. Ah. milking Is improving. I believe. Not such a transparent stream and find I can play quite a tune In the bucket and I see quite a froth on the top. Oh. if only mother couldnow?WHAT. EGGS FOR BREAKFAST!Milking over, utenslla scrubbedand sterilised—now for breakfast.lovely breakfast awaiting us— porridge, bacon and egg—an egg —what a treat—I haven’t seen one for months.At 8.30. back to work, for there's lota to be done. Mucking out the cowshed, feeding the calves and young heifers mid a hundred and one other Jobs, then with a break for lunch, this takes up to milking time at 3 o'clock.all windows covered with rls8-crosscd strips of patter to prevent flying .splinters of glaiAfter milking, the ...bedded up and left for the night. But in the summer they are turned out to grass for tho night, and we, after a hurried tea. Joined the fellows at the haymaking. This took us up to dusk 'which was quite often up to 11 pjn.) when we returned with the lent load very weary and dusty and thankful to Jump Into our beds where we slept like a couple oflogshad here In Mackay.were told to make la with friends or relatives that in the event of being bombedwould house the oth' all hud suitcases packed and ready for such an emergency.These were to be taken along to the nlr-rald shelter.FIRST OF THE BOMBSNineteen hundred and forty brought, the Battle ol Britain—the blitzes on Coventry, Binning, hum and on December 12 Sheffield. What a nlghtl At 7 p.m.usual, the sirens sounded e on the alert this time, for Birmingham had sufferedheavy pounding the night before, and who knows, it may be our turn next. Sure enough it was. Within 10 minules wo heard the planes overhead, and then thewhistle of the first boinb. The iloslon was intern, Ingicd with of the anti-aircraft gu.ml It rounded like hell lei loose, u fact, two hells let loose. The doors bulged as If they would burst In upon us. Still they came.after another. Crowds _____caught at the theatres and all hustled Into shelters. Wlth-,'ew moments the streets were cleared. For nine hours bombers overhead unleashed death and destruction. We hought it would never end. The nln« hours .;eem*Ki a lifetime, and if we did survive what were we to ace? How help-We enjoyed the life and thrived. We put on so much weight we Just about lived In our uniforms for nothing else would fit ua.After 11 months first leave of seven days. We found the towns far too noisy andhow ignorant folks _____seem to think milk comes in bottles and were so shocked at vivid descriptions of howcalved Phylllda the cow. Seven days' leave was quite sufficient. What a relief to get back to the farm I No footlights or limelight here, bui plenty of fresh air, exercise, and eggs, and ®omc-thing to do that was really woithwhile.of tne Land Girl who alter very hectic night out tell 10 sleep milking the next morningand Daisy the ______ ... seeing herplight and feeling sympathetic turned round lo her and suld: Never mind. Deane. Just hang tight and I'll jump uo anddown.Well, besides ll.b milking etcetera, we had of course vurl-olhcr Jobs to do. In thesummer months the haymaking. It wns very thirsty ar.n warm work ami meant working past our usual bedtime. 111011, of course, the harvesting, whichless c■ fell!About 4 a.m. the hum of planes seemed to die away, leaving behind them a city In flames. It really was an impressive sight, though heart-br-nklng. In a few hours I set off 'or work, wondering what I was going to And. I picked my way throughthe gathering In of crops, and later on this involved the threshing and. althoughdirty job anr. we dreaded it. it eI wavs amazed me that a machine, so large and whichseemed to be suffering from _____vuL'.ions. could be responsible for separating the grain from thebroken glass and debris. I looked for the familiar landmarks and found them a heap of rubble and twisted stone. I found myself anderlng round in a completedaze which felt like a horrible nightmare. I could never have imagined such devastation, twice as un-nerving tothan experiencing the actual raid. Emergency services worked .»keand giving first aid where they possibly could and In spite of Jt re still highworts apokitruer ...Winston Churchillthe damage done bythe enemy attacks, bat I also see, side by side with the devastation, and amid the ruins, quiet, confident, bright and smiling eyes, beamingWe hear of many raid” storiesspent nine hours on a nard shelter seat and coming out to see the horrors around himr looked up at his mother, and said,Ee Moorn. me booms noomb Well, after a time in the city where I was taking up a stagecareer. I announced my intention of Joining the Women's Land Army, much to everyone's amuseIn the world to work on tne land, and did I realise what I was doing I NeverthelessI went along for an Interview, all dressed for the part, and much to my surprise and Joy I was accepted. Within _ a coupemonths X was called up forthe etceteras, then parcelled off to an agricultural college. Well, never has so much happened to me In such a short space of time. I was well and truly broken In.ONE BIG ACHE The first week was gruellhig as the new type of work brought a lot of new muscles Into play, and life was one big ache. The second week was a little better as far as the urhcs wore concerned and by the third week my mate and I beginning to enjoy life Instraw. Cooking at it in motion. It was a hive of industry all round. From the top where it fed. sheaf by sheaf, byof the Land Girls. at either cud. one where the grain bellowed forth into sacks, and the othet, where the straw was automatically baled and dropped already wired.wav out-—kicking up ......dust like somo herresome animal. Yes. It was all very interestingto watch.So much for the life of a Land Girl. We were prepared to takeiy Job. for the average farmer expects quite a lot of his Land Girls, believe me. We pulled through and were proud to think that we were doing h Job we never dreamed we could do.TRANFORMATIONI would like to quote SackvllleArmyIt Is seldom that the Land Girl emerges into the streets of great cities; when she appears invery nature of her occupation shedresser, a ballet-dancer, nequln. or a saleswoman. Sht silk stockings and high-hours, snd then at the end of the das has returned to her persoha! life amongst friends or Jamlly,changed all that: instead of her silks and georgettea she wears wool and corduroy and clumpingboots: her working hours never definitely to end. for on t land there may always besudden urgent call.Many or ua found area* upheaval from our usual ways of life, bat how gratifyingto know that It has all been worthLINCOLN’S RELIGIONhad not church membership fol-The President replied that It 'In Demlng’s words) because he found difficulty in giving assent, without mental reservation, to the long, complicated statements ofChristian doctrine, which characterised their Articles of Belief and Confessions or Faith.” Then Darning quoted Mr. Lincoln:When any church will inscribeIts altar, as Its sole qualification for membership, the Saviour’s condensed statement of the substance of both law and Goapel: Thou shall love the I/ord thv God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.’ and thy neighbor as thyself.” that church will I Join with all my heart and all my aqul.-Ralph O. Llndstrtmw* in •Christian Sclenoe Monitor,)ON THE AIR'ownivtllv, and 4QS ITHURSDAY. JULY 6,Is; 6.45. new* and Canberra ary; 7.7. dally doren; 7.4 S. regional new*; S.IS. hoipltgarten; 10, devotloiuservice; 10.18.and commentary; 1. 1; 1.12. Lllv Pone; I 15. talk; news- 2. for the muilc lover; French for schools; 3.20, what’s In swing. 3.30. hits of yesterday.! newsreel; 4.45, famous regl-inl bands; 5, American letter by 1 Wllmot Bemls. 8.10.^ Ught^muelc,children’s session:Kirby; 9. BBCconcert for Troops.nntierrn summary;4MK MACKAY WEDNESDAY. JULY chimes: 6.92. Pralrls Melodies.s/vlce by courlesy of 'DailyAunt Jenny’s Real Life Btorlea.anberra statement:12.45. Josephine’Home; 2. afternoon musicals;. feootnerang”; 630*51d Crusty; 6.45, “Martin’s Comer” Canberra statement; 7 3. oversea*Cashmere 8oult;US. M’Whlrter staken from the 'London Daily Mall':—If you con keep yourself fromAt‘?u”WS you are toM to do:When Hitler sends along his air attackers With Bqulbs and bomhs to try and frighten you If you can hear the hellish Banshee warning Without a sinking feeling in ;breast, .If you can sleep In dug-out till the morning And never feel you oughtha vlt;rest.laugh at every blackout Mumble.Nor murmur when you cannot find h pub.If you can eat your rations not grumble About the wicked price you pay for grub:If you ran keep depression downtoAnd view 11 all as Just a bit ofRICH vrhVITAMINSScott’s Emulsion contain! vitamin! A and D that strengthen the whole body and protect you against winter's ilia. It is very palatable to take and so easily digested that 30 minutes after taking, every drop is nourishing the starved cells and building resistance.SCOTT'SEmulsionOVERWORKED TIRED NERVEScannot gel cuffldant BleepNothing •wif to go right a___tho sufferer become* dinooursged anddenpondcnt U you are Ilka this, you ihould try to ceeae worrying and strengthen yow nervaa by giving them all the nourUh-ment oonwble This. ol course, done through -our blood nreemre«tore the normal quanUly elcorpiudas and
Newspaper Details
Mackay Daily Mercury
Mackay, Queensland, AU
Wed, Jul 04, 1945
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Elissa S.
AU 22 Apr 2024
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