Two women with an ax to grind, 1918.
During the first World War, between 1915 and 1918, and again during World War II, the Women’s Land Army was an actual organization in Britain. Its main priority was to pair able-bodied women with farms that needed workers because most men were serving in the war. These women became known as the Land Girls.
In this 1918 photo, two Land Girls can be seen sharpening their ax with a treadle powered sharpening stone, in order to continue clearing trees in the area. The work and involvement of such women were essential in maintaining the agriculture industry on tracks during the war.
