Identifier | EERC/DG/DG10/9 |
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Interviewer | Robertson, Kirsty |
Dates | interview: 2012-08-24 coverage: 20th century |
Extent | 1 digital audio file(s), 1 papers |
Subject | Languages, World War, 1939-1945, Working life, Domestic Life, Foodways, Community Life, Newton Stewart, Kirkinner |
Interview summary | Biographical interview with May Taylor (aged 89) who moved to Newton Stewart, from Airdire, when she joined the Land Army at 18. She said that she fell in love with Newton Stewart as soon as she arrived and knew she would make her home here. Recalling her Land Army days, May talks about the first farm she went to, the excitement of getting her uniform (which she describes in detail) and the farm tasks she did. This included milking the cows, thinning potatoes and helping with the hay. Regarding food and rationing, May recalled that when she arrived at the farm where she was first posted, she was met by the smell of bacon and a table spread with food and thought she was in heaven. May describes the farmhouse and facilities and the marathon journey she had to take to make visits home to Airdrie. By the end of the war she had met her future husband and chose to marry him rather than go to Canada where some of her family had already settled and secured a job for her. They would often send parcels of food to Airdre, including fresh apples. She talks a little about her married life and her first home, which had neither electricity nor mains water. When both of these were installed, by which time May had two children, she said her troubles were over. Towards the end of the interview, May reflects on change within the community and recalls that she was once a very active member of the Rural. |
Access | Open |
Usage Statement | We give permission for the re-use of our collections material for non-commercial purposes under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International Licence. |
Audio links and images | |
Transcript |