Lumberjills:
Britain's Forgotten Army
by Joanna Foat
The definitive history book about the
Women's Timber Corps
On the eve of the Second World War, with only seven months supply of timber stockpiled, Britain was in trouble. Timber was critical to the war effort: it was needed for everything from aircraft and shipbuilding to communications and coal mining. Lacking in both men and timber, the government made a choice. Reluctantly, they opened lumber work for women to apply – and apply they did. Enter the Lumberjills.
The Women’s Timber Corps had thousands of members who would prove themselves as strong and as smart as any man: they felled and crosscut trees by hand, operated sawmills, and ran whole forestry sites. They may not have been on the front line, but they fought their own battles on the home front for respect and equality. And in the midst of wartime, all weathers and heavy labour, they lived an exciting life in the forest.
Many a firm friend was made around a campfire while doing each other’s hair for an evening dance. They discovered a new found freedom, nomadic existence, romance and even soulmates. In Lumberjills, researcher Joanna Foat tells their story for the first time, and gives them the recognition they so truly deserve.
The Lumberjills books by Joanna Foat are available to licence for adaptations into television series, films, theatre productions, musicals, podcasts, radio dramas, and more. If you are interested in discussing dramatisation, documentary, or other media rights please email: joannafoat@thelumberjills.uk
From December 1939, as many as 1,200 women who joined the Women's Land Army worked in forestry. But the success and growth of an all female forestry corps was thwarted as it was not acceptable to the authorities. The women were ridiculed and faced prejudice until they proved they could do the job.
A cohort of highly skilled and experienced senior staff from the Women's Timber Corps went out to Germany to requisition timber from German forests to rebuild Britain. One woman took a swim in the Mohne Dam. It had been repaired after the bombing during the war.
“It's wonderful to read these stories of the women who contributed so much to the war effort but were then forgotten about.
Thanks to Joanna's perseverance and determination, they are now being rightly honoured and remembered.”
"The hardback photo book is a beautiful gift and its wonderful photos truly bring stories about these incredible Lumberjills to life. Thank you for putting this photographic record together, Jo, and ensuring this part of history will be remembered for generations to come."
“Joanna Foat’s characters
are brilliantly drawn and so
wonderfully written, readers will end up missing them when they turn the last page.
Written with style, flair and heart, this evocative, entertaining and gloriously readable historical novel is a delight from beginning to end and I look forward to reading more books from Joanna Foat.”
© Copyright Joanna Foat 2025
