21st April 1943
LAND GIRLS AVAILABLE
Hill Thorpe, Thorpe Audlin, which was
formerly the residence of Mrs Cooke, has been converted to a hostel for
land girls, to serve the needs of farmers in Pontefract and district. It
will be opened shortly, when 30 girls will be in residence, and farmers
will be able to call on them for work on the farm and in the fields.
Owing to the shortages of agricultural labour, the services of the girls
should be welcome.
21st April 1943
AFTER TWELVE MONTHS
After being informed nearly 12 months ago
that her husband, Sergeant Air-Gunner Matthew George Killingbeck, was
missing from an operational flight over Germany, Mrs Killingbeck, of 2
Poplar View, Pontefract, has recently received news that he has been
buried there. Sergeant Killingbeck, who was 30 years old, joined the Air
Force in September 1940. Formerly he worked at the Prince of Wales
Colliery. Well-known in Rugby League Football circles, he had played
rugby for Featherstone Rovers, Dewsbury and Keighley. Besides his widow
he leaves a daughter.
21st April 1943
SERVICE LIFE FOR GIRLS
A small gathering of adults and girls heard
short talks on life in the Womens Land Army, given by three members of
the Land Army at the Municipal Offices, Pontefract, on Tuesday; and in
addition an outline of work in the N.A.A.F.I. and in munitions, by Mrs
N. Bell. The talks were arranged by the Pontefract Youth Council, for
the benefit of those between the ages of 16 and 17. Mrs E. Brown, a
forewomen in the Land Army, spoke on hostel life. She agreed that the
first few weeks were rather difficult, especially for girls who had not
mixed with crowds, but said that they soon became used to it. Miss
Margaret Drake, a journalist before joining the Land Army, spoke about
horticultural work, market gardening and nursery gardening. She could
not honestly say that it was a healthy life, but it was very enjoyable,
and in the nursery branch after the war, there would be a great opening
for girls who have learnt something. Miss Greta Booth said her ambition
was always to be a Land Army Girl. She had served three years in general
farm work, and they had been the most interesting of her life. She
didn't think farming would be a wartime job only, but hoped that after
the war it would be one of the most important societies of British
Industry.
