Campaign to honour forgotten female war heroes

The Suffolk Women’s Land Army Memorial Trust wants to honour the legacy of the county's Land Girls

Historians are hoping to raise £100,000 for a permanent memorial to honour the legacy of Suffolk’s female war heroes.

Nicky Reynolds and Vicky Abbott are the co-founders of the Suffolk Women’s Land Army Memorial Trust which they set up alongside two other trustees.

The campaign seeks to create a lasting shrine in the county to celebrate those who served in the Women's Land Army and Women's Timber Corps during World War Two.

The two civilian organisations are heralded for their work in the agriculture and forestry industries, respectively, helping to feed the nation throughout the conflict.

Nicky Reynolds has been collecting Women's Land Army memorabilia for 30 years

As well as a physical monument, the trust also wants to establish an online roll of honour featuring the names of the inspiring women who served in the county.

“Suffolk was very significant during the war but the women who served were known as the Forgotten Army but they did amazing things with very quiet grace,” Nicky said.

“So, it is really important we actually have something which establishes we understand and know the important role those women played.

“Without them feeding the nation we would not have won the war and we would certainly be in a very different place to where we are now.

“As well as helping to win the war they changed the face of British agriculture.”

The 57-year-old has been collecting Women’s Land Army memorabilia and trinkets for 30 years and in 2019 started a project called Soiled Sisters with Suffolk Archives.

The Ipswich historian then organised an exhibition in 2021 before deciding to kick-start the trust after receiving positive feedback and interest from museum-goers.

Suffolk's Land Girls helped feed the nation during World War Two

Suffolk war hero Paddy Reed, who served in the Women's Land Army, will attend the fundraiser on Sunday

Nicky said: “I am a Suffolk girl and have always lived in Suffolk and my great aunty was in the Land Army so there is a family connection but I just have a passion for it.

“We know there were about 2,500 women in Suffolk who served and they have always been my inspiration.

“We want to ensure their stories, memories and lived experienced are captured for generations to come.”

The trust is now looking to raise £100,000 in order to fund its statue tribute to the war heroes, starting with a fundraising afternoon tea event at Saxham Hall this Sunday.

“This is our first event and we actually sold out our tickets four weeks ago which is incredible,” she added.

“It is in a superb setting, we have our three Suffolk Land Girls coming, an amazing 1940s-style tea, a vintage tractor, and all kinds of displays and historians.”

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