Sylvia Gardiner

Sylvia Gardiner (nee Rumble) in her Land Army uniform.

Linda Brown

Land Army girls working for Mr Bradnam.

Linda Brown

Sylvia and John Gardiner on their wedding day in May 1945.

Linda Brown

Recollections of life on the Home Front and service in the Land Army.

Joining the Land Army

In 1938, Sylvia Gardiner (nee Rumble) was 14 years old and had begun work as an Office Junior at Express Dairy in Bexleyheath. It was at Express Dairy that Sylvia met her future husband, John, who in late 1942 had joined the Navy. Sylvia, also called Rum, was employed at Express Dairy until she was conscripted and joined the Women’s Land Army at the age of 19. Sylvia was found work locally in the Kitchen Garden trade and began working for Mr Bradnam at Crook Log, Bexleyheath, with four other girls. Sylvia recalls:

‘We were issued with Land Army gear which comprised of woollen socks up to our knees, breeches, boots, shoes, hat and badge and a lovely woollen coat’.

Marriage

Sylvia got engaged with her boyfriend John early in 1945 and the wedding took place on 16 May the same year. The couple married at Christ Church Bexleyheath. Sylvia carried a large bouquet of roses that were ordered from Mr Bradnam’s nursery.  

Downloads

Sylvia Gardiner (1) (571k)
To read more about Sylvia's wartime experiences in her own words please press the above link.

Sylvia Gardiner (2) (1024k)
To read more about Sylvia's wartime experiences in her own words please press the above link.

Sylvia Gardiner (3) (1124k)
To read more about Sylvia's wartime experiences in her own words please press the above link.