This film is part of Free

Notts Women's Great War Rally

The capable women doing men's work on Nottinghamshire's farms attract a crowd - and perhaps some new recruits

Non-Fiction 1918 1 mins

Overview

"Women, Wheat & Victory" reads the banner as Nottinghamshire Land Girls march through the streets to drum up new members. Horses and hay carts evoke the rural charm of working the land, while the Duke of Portland adds a touch of military prestige as he inspects a lineup of smartly uniformed women.

The Women's Land Army was founded in 1915 to make up for the agricultural labour lost when men were sent to the front. The 6th Duke of Portland, William Cavendish-Bentinck, had an impressive military record and his family owned a large estate in Nottinghamshire.