Remembering Sheila MacDonald Nicholls , a Lumber Jill at wartime Powderham Estate, Devon.
Sheila Nicholls was born in 1922 in Enfield, Middlesex.
And in 1943, aged just 21, her life took an unexpected turn; wartime recruitment saw Sheila sign up to the Women’s Timber Corps until the end of WW II in 1945.
These women proved vital to wartime roles whilst the men were fighting and became affectionately known as the “Lumber Jills”.
Sheila spent much of her time as a Lumber Jill on the Powderham Estate in Devon, working for the County War Agriculture Committee.
The Lumber Jills’ lives were forgotten in the glory of war history. But one author, Joanne Foat, has recorded their stories and finally an English memorial to their efforts was installed at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire in October 2014.
The Women’s Timber Corps was a separate branch of the Women’s Land Army and was started in 1942, due to the German occupation of Norway causing a shortage of imported timber.
Prior to the war, Britain had been the world’s largest importer of timber. Just seven months’ wood supply was held in reserve. And the Government knew there would be massive need for wood for the likes of ship and aircraft building , telegraph poles, coal mining and even coffins.
Sheila Nicholls’ early career was as a Bank Clerk. She followed up a WTC recruitment drive through the Ministry of Supply , “wanting to help where needed”. And so Sheila signed up , passed her medical, and headed to Culford in Suffolk to receive her training. In Suffolk the women had to be taught tree felling skills, how to load timber onto a lorry and measuring the trees for requirements. They also learnt sawmill skills and working with horses.
Initially the women met with criticism and judgement from people in the timber trade and locals – and their lodgings and training were meagre. Naively, people were unwilling to lend accommodation to the women , seeing them as dirty! But the girls showed great grit and determination to get the job done, often working in all weathers with endless stamina and skill. Over 8000 Lumber Jills were recruited. And since it was a mobile force, the women could be posted and moved anywhere.
The WTC had its own uniform, but featured a beret, rather than hat and a different arm band to the Women’s Land Army . And the Corps’ emblem featured a Fir tree design. Uniforms were the familiar riding breeches and dungarees, green jerseys and overcoats. But many women wore what was comfortable to work in.
Sheila’s particular role was measuring the felled timber, earning around 50 shillings a week. She recorded the stocks and arranged dispatch onto local railway and road. The Earl of Devon, owner of Powderham Estate, donated half of his trees to the war effort.
In total the Lumber Jills produced hundreds of thousands of tonnes of timber during the war.
For Sheila, summertime was great – working outside on different parts of the Powderham Estate. But Devon winters proved cold and wet. The girls had to work in all weathers – it was even snowy in those winters.
The Lumber Jills formed strong friendship groups on the estate and with neighbouring forestry estates; they were achieving success against the odds and isolation. These women became friends for life and stayed in touch long after the war had ended, let alone social and weekend trips whilst they were seconded.
And , in Sheila’s words, she learnt independence and gained confidence.
When the war ended , the Lumber Jills were stood down . There was no recognition , they couldn’t take part in Remembrance Days as they weren’t part of the fighting divisions. They even had to hand their uniforms back. ( In 2000 , members of the WTC were finally allowed to take part in the Remembrance Sunday parade in London)
Sheila went on to teach British Children in Germany , before returning to Southend on the 1960s and becoming a head teacher.
It was in 2008 that Sheila received a certificate from then Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, recognising her contribution to the Women’s Timber Corps “when our country depended on you for its survival”.
And also in 2008 , each Lumber Jill received a badge for their efforts and tea with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
In 2012, the Forestry Commission marked a 70th Anniversary tribute to the WTC with a programme made for Remembrance Sunday broadcast on BBC Countryfile.