Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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Women's Land Army: How women who served their country will receive their badge of honour

Women's Land Army: How women who served their country will receive their badge of honour

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (Information Bulletin ref : 202/08) issued by The Government News Network on 1 July 2008

Defra has today confirmed how former members of the Women's Land Army and Women's Timber Corps will receive their long-awaited badge of honour.

A ceremony will be held at No.10 Downing Street on 23rd July for around fifty Land Girls from across the country representing their former colleagues. They will meet the Prime Minister and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, and be presented with their badges.

Land Girls across the country will then be sent their badge and a certificate in the following weeks, and events will then be held in every region around the country to celebrate this formal recognition of the Women's Land Army's role in the war effort.

The design of the badge of honour can now be seen on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/working/wla/index.htm

Over 29,000 applications for the badge have so far been received.

More information on the Women's Land Army and Women's Timber Corps is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/working/wla/index.htm

Further information

Secretary of State Hilary Benn announced on 6th December 2007 that former members of the Women's Land Army and Women's Timber Corps would be awarded with a specially designed badge of honour commemorating their efforts during the Second World War.

Due to the huge number of applications for the badge it has not been possible to acknowledge every application. However, all applicants not meeting the eligibility criteria have been advised in writing. All other applicants will receive a badge.

Those attending the event at No.10 Downing Street have been selected at random from each region of the UK to represent their former colleagues. In addition a few Land Girls who have been instrumental in organising reunions and other events for their former colleagues over the years have been invited in recognition of their efforts.

For those wishing to apply for a badge, the application form is available on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/working/wla/

Requests for application forms can be made by post or telephone to

Mr Dermot McInerney
Defra
5E Millbank
c/o 17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR

Or via the Defra helpline on 08459 33 55 77

Public enquiries 08459 335577;

Press notices are available on our website http://www.defra.gov.uk

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