Southampton former Land Girl Dolly Johnson dies aged 95

Dolly Johnson was a member of the Women's Land Army (WLA), who helped the country feed itself by replacing male farm workers who had joined the armed forces.

Dolly, who has died aged 95, always felt that WLA members failed to receive the recognition they deserved.

In 1998 she criticised a newly-released war film called The Land Girls, starring Catherine McCormack, Rachel Weisz, and Anna Friel as three Land Girls who are sent to a Dorset farm in 1941.

They are shown milking cows, tossing hay in sunlit fields, and enjoying romantic encounters.

Land Girls hard at work in a Hampshire field during the Second World War (Image: Supplied)

In a more sombre moment, they watch the night sky glow red as a result of fires started during a bombing raid on Southampton.

Speaking at the time Dolly said: "If it wasn't for the Land Girls this country would have fallen.

"The film makes out that all they did was frolic in the hay and have nookie with the farmer's son. People might think as a result of that we had a gay old time, but in fact it is a disgrace to the WLA."

READ MORE: Former Land Girls to be honoured for their efforts on the home front during Second World War

Dolly was one of more than 80,000 Land Girls who toiled in the fields to ensure the British people had enough to eat.

"You got girls from a mix of backgrounds," Dolly said.

"Some were from the country and others were from the city who were used to office or housework.

"They were afraid of animals and some would try and avoid them, especially when it came to the mucky work."

During the Second World War, Land Girls took the place of male farm workers who had joined the armed forces (Image: Supplied)

Land Girls had to contend with homesickness, strange new work, and the attitude shown by farmers and other workers.

"There were ructions between them and us. It was usually along the lines of 'You girls can't do that'. But that just made us more determined.

"Other girls feel like I do, not just about the recent film but about recognition."

Dolly and her late husband Alfred used to visit the D-Day beaches to salute the courage of those who fought and died there.

READ MORE: Photographs show hundreds of Land Girls parading through Southampton in 1946

In later life she loved knitting hats, jumpers, and socks. She was also an ardent admirer of the Royal Family and amassed a large collection of memorabilia.

Dolly lived at Redhill Way in Southampton for many years but died at St Anne's Nursing Home in Lawn Road, Portswood.

Her funeral will be held in the West Chapel at Southampton Crematorium on Tuesday, October 29. The Last Post will be played.