The Women’s Land Army with German Prisoners, 1918, by Randolph Schwabe. Image courtesy of Imperial War Museum

At its peak in 1943 there were 80,000 Land Girls working on the land from dawn till dusk to provide food for the nation during the war.

The nationally significant exhibition at St Barbe Art Gallery in Lymington provides an insightful look into the work of the Land Girls and celebrates that of the artists who portrayed them.

Original paintings and drawings created for the War Artists’ Advisory Committee explains how much about Land Girls were perceived, and how they became an iconic image symbolising Britain’s success in winning the domestic battle to raise food production.

Land Girls carting oats at Southminster, Essex, 1941, by Mona Moore. Image courtesy of Imperial War Museum

These iconic works will be displayed among posters, prints and other paintings by the likes of James Bateman, Norma Bull, Mona Moore and Walter West, loaned from galleries across the UK including the Imperial War Museum. Many of which haven’t been exhibited since the war years.

Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mrs Mary Fagan JP and Mayor of Lymington and Pennington, Martina Humber, paid tribute to Land Girls living in and around Hampshire during a visit to the art gallery this month.

And each ex-Land Girl arrived wearing the badge of honour, which was presented to them earlier this year by Defra in recognition of their important role during both World Wars.

		Image courtesy of St. Barbe Museum & Art Gallery.

(Above) Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mrs Mary Fagan JP and Mayor of Lymington and Pennington, Martina Humber with the Land Girls in the gallery.

There will also be a Land Girl’s afternoon on November 20 2008, to coincide with the exhibition, giving people a chance to see the exhibition and meet ex-Land Girls.

Admission is free for Land Girls and carers but places are limited so booking is essential. For further information and to book a place, contact the museum on 01590 676969.