Q: Wendy from Llandyrnog: "Does anyone remember the Women's Timber Corps? This was an organisation set up during the Second World War. At first it was part of the Women's Land Army but in 1942 it became independent. There was supposedly a base in St Asaph where women prepared timber for pit props and railway sleepers. Apparently part of the uniform consisted of green berets."
Women's Land Army photos
your comments
Ellen from Cornwall
My great aunty Amy was a WTC girl. She was based in Cornwall. I'm hoping somone can help me locate where the girls worked. I know they worked in the saw mills near Bodmin, and also measured the trees at Lerryn. But I can't find any pictures or other locations. I am interested as I am a WTC re-enactor.
Tue Sep 30 08:11:38 2008
Andrew Greig, Cumbernauld, Scotland
My father, James Greig, was in charge of the HGTPD sawmill at Rothiemurchus, Aviemore from 1941 to 1946. He had a dozen WTC girls working for him. During two summer holidays I worked alongside the girls stacking pitprops and made friends. Alas only two names come back to me, Bett Sutherland and Janet McHardy. Does that ring bells anywhere nowadays?
Tue Aug 26 07:51:17 2008
Rosalind Elder from BC Canada
Please see website started in 1997:
www.members.shaw.ca/relder1/
I was a member of the Women's Timber Corps in Scotland 1942-1946.
Thu Feb 28 08:18:04 2008
Isobel White, Edinburgh
My mother was in the Timber Corps from 1941-1945. She was based at the "glen" Innerleithen near Peebles, the "glen" was part of Lord Glenconner's estate. She is now 88 and would like to hear from anyone who was based there - her name then was Annie (Nancy) Reilly.
Wed Feb 13 08:35:30 2008
Shirley Koachway
I am trying to find the location of a Women's Timber Corps site in Scotland, within a few miles of Lockerbie. A friend's mum was there during WWII. I also would like to find a Women's Timber Corps Badge. Thank you for any help you can provide.
Fri Feb 1 07:59:24 2008
Miriam, Manitoba, Canada
Pentredwr sawmill. I had some relatives who worked at the mill. Trevor Lewis, Monica and Rosemary Jones lived right at the mill site. Perhaps Olwen Jones, Southport, can remeber them. 91 years old - you are remarkable!
Mon Dec 31 08:43:39 2007
Keith King from Victoria BC Canada
My working career was forestry and decided to collect Canadian CEF cap badges of the Canadian Forestry Corp. I sooned there were others involved in the forestry work in the Wars effort. I purchased recently a lovely silver badge of the WLATC and did some research and was amazed an delighted to learn the history. I display my badges from WW 1 and WW 11 with the Canadian Forestry contribution but will now certainly include honourable mention of the "girls" and their invaluable contribution. The green beret mentioned must be a very scarce item I would dearly love to have one for my display collection.Well done ladies.
Mon Nov 12 09:47:38 2007
Linda More, Glasgow
Britain's first memorial to the Timber Corps was unveiled by environment minister Michael Russell in October 2007. In the Queen Eliz' Forest Park in Aberfoyle, the life sized bronze sculpture of a "lumberjill" will be a well-deserved lasting tribute.
Tue Oct 16 09:36:28 2007
Jean Raynor from Nottingham
My mum served in the Women's Timber Corp and was based in Emsworth Hampshire during the last War. She previously worked in Players cigarette factory in Nottingham so moving to the country was just wonderful, and she loved every minute of her life in the Timber Corp as hard as it was. She is now 81, and if there is any one out there who remembers her she would love them to make contact.
Mon Oct 15 09:14:50 2007
Olwen Jones. Southport, Lancs
Timber corps worker at Pentredwr sawmill in the Horseshoe Pass and also later in St Asaph. Keen to contact any surviving people who may remember me as I celebrate my 91st birthday this year.
Mon Apr 30 08:42:03 2007
Stuart Antrobus from Bedford
I'm writing the history of the Women's Land Army in Bedfordshire. Did anyone serve in the Timber Corps in Bedfordshire in the 1940s?
If so, please contact me.
Fri Feb 23 16:26:23 2007
Colin Cameron
Message to Barbara Fergus (nee Paterson). Our local Dunoon-based newspaper is looking to do a feature on the WTC in Cowal, but there is very little publicly available information. Can you (or anyone else who was there at the time) help us fill in the blanks from your time at Sandbank?
You contact the newspaper at editorial@dunoon-observer.co.uk
Wed Jan 24 09:29:35 2007
Barbara Fergus (nee Paterson)
I was in the Timber Corps at Bryant and Mays Estate, near Sandbank, Dunoon. Very happy days indeed. Moved to Women's Land Army when the rest of the girls went to Crieff. WLA was based in Wellington Square, Ayr. Good memories of all the girls I met in both places and the good times we had together as well as the enjoyable work outdoors.
Mon Nov 13 08:25:42 2006
Alison Dockree from Norfolk
My mum was a member of the timber corps and was based at Thetford, Norfolk. What makes it surprising is that she was only 4' 7" and a tiny slip of a thing, how she wielded axes and moved timber is amazing. It must have done her good as she is still here and remembers her time with laughter as well as sadness.
Mon Mar 13 11:07:38 2006
Sonya Dench, Kent
My sister in law is 82 and was in the timber corps stationed at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, during WW2. Does anyone remember Bunty?
Fri Mar 3 09:12:36 2006
Carol Twinch from Suffolk
I have two chapters on the Women's Timber Corps in my book, WOMEN ON THE LAND: THEIR STORY IN TWO WORLD WARS. It is published by Lutterworth Press ISBN 0718828143 or, perhaps, available from your library.
Tue Nov 15 15:38:11 2005
Jane Harvey [Berkshire]
I would be interested to hear of any memories or anecdotes relating to The Women's Timber Corps or the Women's Forestry Service, or any information at all. I am planning to write a book which will ensure wider appreciation of their work. Thank you
Mon Nov 14 07:59:57 2005
Rosalind Elder -BC Canada
Website http://www.womenstimbercorps.com Lumberjill from Glasgow Scotland served during WW11 1942 -1946. Still activly persuing recognition for all members of W.L.A.T.C.
Tue May 3 08:07:36 2005
Valerie McClellan from Dallas, TX
My mother - Molly Sloan - was a member of the Timber Corps in Scotland based in Bridge of Orchy. She married John Emslie in March 1944 in Tyndrum. She always talked about the wonderful times and friends she made while in the Corps. She passed away in 1993. I would love to hear from anyone who knew her back then.
Fri Apr 29 15:25:46 2005
Roy Brown from Glasgow
My cousin Christine Brown was serving in the Women's Timber Corps near Moniaive, Dumfries-shire in July 1944. During that month she married Nils Lorentz Nilsen, a Norwegian serviceman based in the same area. After the end of the war she went to Norway but the marriage did not last long. I once went with Nils to shoot a couple of rabbits for the dinner. The Estate gamekeeper took exception to this activity and tried to apprehend Nils - who responded with a threat to shoot the keeper!
Thu Apr 7 13:20:57 2005
Sally from Norfolk
My mother, Phylis Maureen Staves (maiden name) was in the Timber Corps c1942/3 and was based at Thetford Forest in Norfolk. A Yorkshire lass, she married in late 1943 and then lived on the north Norfolk coast. She often talked of her days in the Timber Corps with her two friends: Audrey and Jean. It's a shame there is no record of the names of the ladies who served in the Timber Corps (apparently the Government destroyed them). There were approx. 80,000 Womens' Land Army members and only around 6,000 Timber Corps members. Mum passed away in 2003 - we had the Timber Corps badge engraved on her headstone and treasured her badges. She was so proud to have been a 'Timberjill' and often spoke of those days with pride (that women were doing what was considered very much a man's job) and humour at the things her colleagues and she got up to!
Mon Apr 4 10:07:19 2005
Emma from Lancaster University
The Women's Timber Corps began in 1942 after the Battle of the Atlantic. Timber supplies were so desperately low that the Ministry of Supply were forced to resurrect the Women's Forestry Service, which had felled timber in the First World War. The WTC were loosely linked to the Women's Land Army but were governed by the Home Timber Production Department and the Ministry of Supply. The WTC effectively revolutionised timber production. They matched and even surpassed the efforts of their male counterparts. And yes they wore the same uniform as the WLA apart from a green beret and a special badge: a fir tree surmounted by a royal crown.
Thu Sep 23 10:38:59 2004
