Gwendoline Bairstow
Women’s Land Army
Early Life:
Gwendoline was born on the 27th July 1917 and her birth registered in Keighley. Her parents were William and Ethel Bairstow (nee Cooke) and along with her brother Ronald they were living at 17 Worth Street in Keighley.
In the 1939 Register William is a joiner and carpenter, Ethel and Gwendoline are burler and menders at a woollen and worsted mill; whilst Ronald was a painter and decorator.
War Service:
Gwendoline joined the Women’s Land Army on the 26th December in 1941. She was transferred to the Holland and Kesteven area in Lincolnshire on the 14th April 1942 but by the 30th April she had been transferred back to Yorkshire.
In 1943 Gwendoline resigned from the list on the 31st March as she had applied to join the WAAF. Her service record shows that she was awarded the War Medal and Star.
Later Life:
There is very little information about Gwendoline’s later life. She died aged 72 years on the 6th July 1989 in Silsden, Keighley, her death is registered in the 3rd quarter of 1989.
Source information:
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995. (accessed https://www.ancestry.co.uk)
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 [database on-line].(accessed https://www.ancestry.co.uk)
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007 [database on-line].(accessed https://www.ancestry.co.uk)
Womens Land Army Records 1941 – 1945. (accessed https://www.ancestry.co.uk)
West Yorkshire England Electoral Registers 1840 -1962. (accessed https://www.ancestry.co.uk)
England & Wales 1939 Register.(accessed https://www.ancestry.co.uk)
Royal Air Force Nominal Index of Airmen and Airwomen 1918 to 1975 (accessed https://uk.forceswarrecords.com)
