Interview with Joyce 'Joy' Case, nee Senior

  • Women's Voices and Life Writing
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Title
Interview with Joyce 'Joy' Case, nee Senior
Interviewee
  • Case, Joyce
Interviewer
Antrobus, Stuart
Document Type
  • Oral history Recording
Date
17 Apr 2003
Interview Date
17 Apr 2003
Biography
Joyce was born 15th May 1924, in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. She worked for Bedfordshire Women’s Land Army from 16th May 1944 to 19th March 1946. Served at Milton Ernest Hostel trained at Ravensden WLA 144469. She would start her day at 6.30 a.m. Started work at aged fourteen as a weaver. Her father was her boss at Fentons & Son, Batley Carr. She was fifteen when the Second World War began. She recalls, one day in 1940, an unexploded bomb dropped at the mill. They had to evacuate while it was defused. They then had an anthrax scare and had to stay in the mill overnight, to see if the person who was ill had this disease. She was responsible for 4 looms and she recalls that it was very hard work. She tried to get away from the mill by joining the Army, Navy or Air Force but the mill was a reserved occupation. Furthermore, her father would not give his consent. She had even tried nursing, even though she faints at the sight of blood. She was earning a lot of money, more than her father. She got an application form to join the Women’s Land Army and her father was so fed up of her pestering him, he signed. She recalls doctors examinations and preparing to travel to Bedford. She recalls moments during her time there, such as collecting German prisoners of war from Tilbury Docks, the first time she took a lorry out delivering land girls to Oakley and Turvey, and sports and festival events. She reflects on her days at Women’s Land Army.
Length (minutes)
60
Copyright and Source Archive
Material sourced from Bedfordshire Archives and Records Service