Australian Dress Register

Story by Peggy Williams:

My name is Margaret (known as Peggy) Williams OAM (nee Feast). I was born on 31 May, 1925 in our home at Elizabeth Street, Ashfield, Sydney.

In 1942 the word 'WAR' seemed to be on everybody's mind, a threat to Australia. My Dad was in the Army with this being his second war, and my brother Jack was also in the Army stationed in the Middle East. I was left at home with my Mum, an older brother and a younger brother. I was very restless and wanted to be involved, so I joined a voluntary organisation called the Women's Australian National Service (commonly called the 'WANS'). We bought a teal blue uniform and would meet a couple of nights a week and on weekends to learn First Aid, Black Out Duty and Canteen Work to be prepared for this threat to our country. Army personnel would come to these meetings to recruit girls to join the Armed Services. You had to be 18 years or older. They later came back to recruit girls to go into The Australian Women's Land Army (AWLA); again you had to be 18 years old, however with parental consent you could join if you were as young as 16.

My darling brother George was a severe asthmatic and his many applications to the Army always came back as 'Medically Unfit'. This poor boy was sent a white feather which in those days was a sign of being a coward. He was devastated and I believe never got over this. This gave me the motivation to join The Australian Women's Land Army. I perfected my father's signature, gained a doctor's certificate and at the end of June 1942 I joined the Australian Women's Land Army. Needless to say, my father was very angry and said I wouldn't be able to do land work. He did let me join though, stating 'You will only last a week!'

My brother George would be in charge of the household and would look after our Mum and brother Bill.

Margaret (Peggy) Williams OAM (nee Feast) was born on 31 May, 1925 in the family home at Elizabeth Street, Ashfield, Sydney.

On May 1, 1948 Peggy married Ces Williams. They were soul mates and enjoyed 65 wonderful years of marriage and had four sons who are all returned servicemen.

Ces was patron of the AWLA (Australian Women's Land Army) supporting Peggy in all her endeavours with this association. Ces died on 11 October, 2013 after a battle with melanomas.

Story by Peggy Williams:

After joining the Australian Women's Land Army in 1942, I was sent to Leeton in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area in NSW to work on the fruit and vegetables. We were there to feed the troops because the farmers and their sons had gone away to the war. My first job was picking oranges and I was surprised to see the large heavy bags required and the tall ladders.

When I turned 18, I got my licence and began driving a utility truck working permanently at Yanco near Leeton. I learnt to drive a tractor and manage a horse drawn plough and felt quite proud of myself. The truck I had been driving needed repairs and new parts so I was sent to Griffith for about a month, residing at Mirrool house.

Known as the 'Land Girls' we proudly wore our uniforms when travelling on leave and khaki overalls when working. We were given a great deal of respect from all we met.

During the war and our time in the AWLA, we formed wonderful friendships, living and working together. We watched our friends lose their husbands, brothers, fathers and boyfriends and would counsel and help each other and today those friendships remain. Three years in the Land Army took its toll; old friends were not the same. We are all so very proud of our time in The Australian Women's Land Army.

Story by Peggy Williams:

After the war ended, I lost contact with my Land Army mates until one Anzac Day march at North Ryde RSL. The Land Army had been invited to march behind their banner during the RSL's Anzac Day march. I could not believe my eyes! I found some of my 'Leeton' buddies and became one of them again. I joined the Australian Women's Land Army Association, got myself a cream dress and green blazer, and in no time at all I was on the committee and attending monthly meetings.

The Land Army Girls were able to march behind their banner in the Sydney Anzac Day 'Big March' for the first time in April 1985. This was achieved by the hard work and persistence of Sheila van Emden.

The following September, I became President of the Association and remained in that position for 27 years. During this time we were always the 'underdogs'. We were never considered as Ex-Service Women, being told we were 'Man Powered' into the Land Army. This gave me the reason and motivation to fight for what we deserved. I had a wonderful group of ladies who trusted me; I kept them informed and asked their opinions on everything. Finally we were recognised.

Some time later I met Alf Garland (National President of the RSL) in Canberra and he asked me what he could do for 'My Girls'. My response was: 'Give us the right to join the RSL as Ex-Land Army'. Although it took a while, it did happen. This was followed by a letter inviting us to send in a submission as a Civilian Service Medal was going to be available. A submission was prepared and we were awarded the medal.

Unfortunately we were insulted by a group stating we only worked on farms etc. This inspired me to contact Maxine McKew, member for Benelong, to try to gain recognition for the AWLA in their own right. Maxine took this to Parliament with Senator John Faulkner following it up.

Approximately 18 months later, on 20 August, 2012, surviving AWLA members went to Parliament House, Canberra to be presented with a brooch of Distinction for our Services by Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.

A month later at the Australian Women's Land Army Association's September AGM, the organization disbanded due to age and mobility.

Mrs. Margaret (Peggy) Williams.

Narrow khaki tape ribbon with red embroidered initials A.W.L.A. is worn on both shoulder lapels. The tape is hooked through the lapels at the sleeve join.

The uniform is made of khaki coloured wool gaberdine.  

Lining is made from khaki coloured heavy cotton.

Shirt is made from khaki coloured cotton.

The jacket and skirt are machine stitched. 

Jacket lining is hand finished around the armhole and sleeve hem. Jacket centre back pleat is hand finished.

Some skirt seam allowances are unfinished. Other seams are finished with pinking shears.

Skirt is unlined and has a hand sewn hem.

Jacket label:    V579   Made in 

                      1944   Australia

                      Size 11

                      NSW

The uniform jacket and skirt are cut on the straight grain of the fabric.

The uniform jacket closes with four buttons at the centre front.

The skirt opens on the left side with hooks and eyes and a small silver buckle. A second buckle for adjustment is on the right hand side.

The uniform jacket is lined with khaki coloured heavy cotton, possibly twill.

The jacket is made with shoulder pads.

Skirt is unlined.

The uniform was worn for special occasions and while travelling in the winter months.

A cotton dress was worn in the summer months.

Extract from Senator Faulkners's speech to the Senate seeking recognition for the Australian Women's Land Army:

The Women's Land Army functioned with military style and precision. The women were supervised by land army matrons. They wore uniforms, were rotated around a number of manual tasks, lived in dormitories, were assigned leave passes and were confined to barracks for undisciplined behaviour. An initial six-month probation period determined their capacity to manage often intensely physical tasks. These women never served overseas, nor were they required to wield a weapon, pen or thermometer, but their strenuous physical work was essential to the war effort. If our farms had failed, so too would have our fighting forces. These women made sure that Australians, in and out of uniform, continued to eat.

The stories of the Australian Women's Land Army are inspiring. Members of the Land Army believed it was their patriotic duty to feed the troops, a task more important than the sprained ankles, aching muscles, broken ribs and sheer exhaustion which resulted from their demanding physical labour. Land Army work ranged from fruit picking, vegetable growing and packing, to wheat, sheep and dairy farming. The women, primarily from cities and towns, were never warned about snakes, dust storms, locusts and leeches. They endured hardships they never imagined for the sake of 'doing their bit' for their country and its troops overseas. The women's stories detail wonderful camaraderie, strength, determination and, to be fair, fun. 

During the war, Land Army women received lower wages, fewer concessions and fewer medical benefits than the other women's services. Land Army women were also refused entry into many service clubs and hostels. The end of the war brought demobilisation and the abandonment of the service recognition recommendation for Land Army women. In the years following the war, members of the AWLA campaigned long and hard for specific recognition of their efforts.

The uniform is in excellent condition, including the blouse and hat.

Two small moth holes on the jacket.