The Lumberjills: Stronger Together is a moving novel of courage, friendship, romance and overcoming adversity during the Second World War. It is inspired by the heroic true stories of the Women’s Timber Corps, a branch of the Women’s Land Army, which was formed 80 years ago this year.
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A bit of history first
It has been a long time since the end of World War 2 but the effects it had on the world are still felt. I am a big believer in looking into the past so that we don’t repeat the mistakes our parents made. One of the best ways to get the messages from the past across is through stories which are real and inspired by true events. This book was published in time for Remembrance Day and the year marks the 80th Anniversary of the Women’s Timber Corps. After the war, the Lumberjills received no recognition for their effort and they were not allowed to attend Remembrance Day parades for more than 50 years. This is a historical fiction book about a remarkable group of women who set aside their differences to help the war effort, doing “men’s work” such as felling and transporting trees, and proving that they are up to the tough challenge. They were unsung heroes. At the end of the war the Women’s Timber Corps received no recognition, grants or gratuities and the director of the Women’s Land Army, Lady Gertrude Denman, resigned in protest. They were not even allowed to keep their uniforms or attend Remembrance Day parades.
The Plot
When war breaks out, three spirited women must set aside their differences to help Britain win the war. Fighting from the forests, they find new depths of courage, strength and love. But – when war threatens everything – would you risk your life to save a friend? When feisty, bohemian Keeva signs up for war work in the forest, she’s already learnt the hard way that people can’t be trusted. For Rosie, a factory girl from London’s East End, the forest is an escape – but she can’t stop her big mouth getting her into trouble. And Beatrice, a wealthy debutante, wants to use her brain, not ruin her fine hands felling trees. Meanwhile, Lady Denman, director of the Women’s Land Army, battles with bureaucrats in Whitehall to defend the Lumberjills.
As these strong women struggle to survive in a tough men’s world, it seems they really may succeed in their dangerous war work… when a terrible disaster strikes and threatens everything they have achieved.
About the Author
Joanna Foat is the author of Lumberjills: Britain’s Forgotten Army, the definitive history of the Women’s Timber Corps in WWII, published by The History Press in 2019. She spent ten years researching and interviewing members of the Women’s Timber Corps – the basis of this book, her first work of fiction. Lumberjills: Britain’s Forgotten Army, the definitive history of the Women’s Timber Corps in WWII. She first learned about the Lumberjills when she worked for the Forestry Commission (now Forestry England). Like most people, she had previously never heard of the women who took on tough ‘men’s work’ foresting and logging during WW2. Since she has interviewed and corresponded with over 60 women who served as Lumberjills.
Joanna grew up in Woking in Surrey always loved the outdoors, forests, wildlife – climbing trees, helping Dad work on the car, tinker in the shed, mow the lawn and make bonfires. She also loved chopping up wood for the fire and one year her father bought her an axe for Christmas. She studied Psychology at Hull University and has an Msc. in Occupational and Organisational Psychology from Surrey University. She now works in communications and public relations for environmental organisations and lives in the Guildford area.
Thoughts on the book
If there is one thing that I love, it is a good history book (maybe I am bias) but I love the amount of research that has gone into this story. There are so many unsung heroes of the war effort. Although this story focuses on WW2, this is only a small section of the people who had to step up and support the effort but received nothing in return. I would go as far as saying that many of them will be erased from history if people like Joanna and myself don’t keep digging into the past. Lumberjills: Stronger Together might be a work of fiction, but it is based on real events that could have been lost to history.
My mum decided to read the book too (she loves a good historical woman focused story) and thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, she enjoyed it so much, she still has my copy and has no intention of returning it!
The Lumberjills: Stronger Together is published by Merrow Downs Press and is available in paperback