Before becoming a Lumberjill, Linda Newbery worked as a secretary. Linda’s daughter Jacquetta Gomes, remembers finding out about her mother’s amazing achievement of serving as a Lumberjill during World War II when she was a child.

Jacquetta said: “I think she would have found being separated from her family and my father hard but a learning opportunity. She said she loved her role as a Lumberjill.”

Jacquetta shared this wonderful photograph of her mother in her work gear at Grizedale Forest. This photo was included in an exhibition entitled ‘Women in Forestry, The Lumberjills’ Story’. 

Following the exhibition, Jaquetta was given the framed photograph of her mother, which now sits proudly in her living room, where she can see it every single day.

By her daughter, Sue Joblin

“Growing up we were always very close to Mum. She loved the outdoors and encouraged us to go for long walks. She was a very practical and down-to-earth person with a can-do attitude. One memory we have was when a very large branch fell into our garden from an overhanging evergreen oak tree and we saw Mum at one end of the two-man saw helping Dad saw the branch into smaller logs.”

“I don't remember a specific time when we knew Mum had been a lumberjill, but she always talked about it when we were growing up. She loved to reminisce, but it wasn't until after her death in 2007, when we found the letters she had written to her family, that we fully appreciated what she had done.  

“I always think of her when I visit Painshill Park in Cobham, which is near where I live, as this is one of the estates where she spent time as a lumberjill.” 

Evelyn Taylor was a London girl

Enjoying life that was one big whirl

Then along came World War 2

Of that we know to be true

Then call-up became the norm

They needed women to step-up and work on farms

Evelyn hoped she would come to no harm

As she was conscripted to the Women's Land Army

It was the first time away from home

It was a new chance for her to roam

Sharing rooms with other girls

A new kind of experience was a bit of a thrill 

Assigned to the Women's Timber Corp

She became known as a Lumberjill

Learning how to chop down trees

No doubt kept going with cups of tea

Driving tractors and hauling logs

It was certainly a day long slog

Then to Bristol Evelyn went

To work the land in Ashton Gate

Lots of logging taking place

She had to work at quite a rate

Lodging at a home in old Smythe Road

Enjoying downtime off she strode

To a pub called The London Inn

Here with friends to spend an evening...

By her daughter Fiona Holland

"She was bright, passed the exam for grammar school, but hadn’t been allowed to go, so saw this as an opportunity to ‘escape’. She’d been working in the local chippie!

"She joined the Women's Timber Corps because she didn’t want her work in the ammunitions factory like her elder sister. It was the formative experience of her life & I suspect nothing after ever quite matched up.

"She resented the lack of awareness or recognition of the effort they had made. She went back to the life she might have had without the war, but with perhaps a real insight, and a little sadness, of how life could be, which I think drove her to encourage us to be braver & take our opportunities.

"Most importantly she carried a love of the outdoors & an appreciation of the value of friendship. Here below is a picture of the front page of her copy of ‘Meet The Members’ with the signatures of everyone who was at Boltby Camp when it was issued. She’d want her contribution to be a memory of the friends she made."

By her son Paul Evans

“I know she was waiting for a bus once when she was arrested for being a German spy because she was tall, 5 ft 7 in and blonde. The officer in charge had to go to the police station to verify her identity but she spent the night in jail.

"Mum and Dad were married in Manchester and spent their first night married under the kitchen table as there was an air raid. Mum was a Lumberjill until she was pregnant and was unable to keep working in the Timber Corps."

"Once the war was over, my Dad got a position in Blackpool in the Government Pension department and that is where they stayed until we moved to Canada, as Mum and Dad did not see a future in England at the time.”

By her daughter Sheena Paterson

“Mum joined the Lumberjills at the age of 18 after previously being an apprentice in the needlework department of a Department store in Dundee.

"She was sent home to the West Highlands of Scotland after contracting mumps, and whilst recovering, she heard about the Timber Corps and immediately signed up.

"Despite her tiny frame, she helped to fell trees, clear brushwood and measure the felled timber to ascertain the volumes which she and the other girls loaded onto lorries to be shipped by rail to coalmines throughout the country to be used as pit props.

"I learned from her stories about the harsh conditions they had to endure but despite this, she so enjoyed the camaraderie and fun with the other Lumberjills in the short spare time they were given.

"The women have been a great inspiration to me and will continue to be for future generations because of their determination and sheer physical hard work they did for the War effort.”