Royal Watch News

Prince Charles pays tribute to Women's Land Army

Oct 10, 2012, 11:01 GMT

Prince Charles

Britain's Prince Charles has paid tribute to the 'truly remarkable' work of the Women's Land Army (WLA) in Scotland.

The royal - who is known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland - unveiled a memorial sculpture yesterday (09.10.12) to recognise the Land Girls - young women who left their homes to work on farms and help feed the nation during World War II.

Charles said: 'It gives me enormous pride to be able to join you on this exposed hilltop to pay a small tribute of my own to all the remarkable Land Girls who did so much during the years when the country was under threat.

'There are still several hundred Land Girls left, the only problem is that it's taken nearly 70 years or something in order to ensure there was a memorial.'

Former National Farmers Union Scotland President Jim McLaren, whose mother Katherine was a Land Girl, was behind the creation of the memorial and Charles admits an 'enormous debt of gratitude' is owed to him.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead explained: 'The Women's Land Army played a crucial role in helping to feed the nation and maintain our agricultural land during the dark years of World War II.

'Their dedication and drive was truly remarkable - and the fact we have such well-based agricultural and forestry industries in Scotland is a testament to all that they achieved.

'The splendid sculpture in Moray is a fitting tribute, which shows the appreciation we all have for the Women's Land Army and ensures their extraordinary story is preserved forever.'

Another tribute to the WLA - which was established in 1917 and had more than 80,000 members in its peak - is also being planned for the National Arboretum in Staffordshire, central England.