Whitchurch Memories: Phyllis Barnett receives a Land Army medal

By Whitchurch Herald on Jul 16, 09 12:50 PM in 1900-1999

THE war years were a demanding yet rewarding time for a former land girl who has been awarded a medal for her contribution.

Phyllis Barnett, now a resident at Weston House residential home, Whitchurch, has received a Land Army medal for services to her country.

Staff at the home realised she was eligible for the award and applied on her behalf.
Mrs Barnett was born in 1921 at The Grove, Coton, and worked as a housemaid - work which she hated.

When war was declared in 1939 she was called up to work in a munitions factory in Hereford.

After three years she left the factory with TNT poisoning and joined the Land Army in 1942.

Mrs Barnett worked on a farm owned by Mr Hopley, who also owned a seed factory producing vital cereal seed for the UK.

Here she carried out general farm work with another girl, Doris Wainwright.
They worked with cows - milking by hand - and she recalls being kicked by a particularly difficult Ayrshire cow.

She also worked with pigs and sheep and enjoyed it very much, especially the lambing season.

Americans based at Prees Heath airfield were billeted in the farmhouse, she recalled.
When the war ended Mrs Barnett continued to work on the land for some time before marrying.

She is now a widow and has four children, grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, and said she was very proud to receive her award.