THE women who took on the tough work of lumberjacks during the Second World War are being sought for their memories.

The Forestry Commission is gathering information on the contribution made by the lumberjills of the Women’s Timber Corps, which was set up 70 years ago.

They operated in woods such as Dalby and Cropton Forests, near Pickering, and Boltby and Kilburn Forests, between Thirsk and Helmsley, in North Yorkshire.

Women from across the UK carried out tasks that were crucial to the wartime economy, such as felling, measuring logs, loading timber onto trucks and driving vehicles, working long days in often severe weather.

One who has already come forward is Edna Holland, 87.

Now living in Beverley, east Yorkshire, she spent three years on the North York Moors at a lumberjills camp at Boltby, near Thirsk.

She said: “It was very hard work, but we learnt such a lot.

“We started off by learning to fell a tree. Then we were taught how to measure different- sized pit props.

“My goodness, we got muscles everywhere, but it made us feel really good.”

Modern lumberjill Sarah Bell, 20, from Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, said she was full of admiration for her wartime counterparts.

She said: “These days machines do a lot of the backbreaking work, but in the 1940s, forestry was far more labour-intensive.

“The only way to cut down a tree was to use a saw or axe – chainsaws still hadn’t been invented. The girls were made of tough stuff and it’s time their contribution was better known.”

Forestry Commission project officer Petra Young said: “We know that lumberjills served here until the end of the war as we have vintage photographs, but there are many stories waiting to be discovered.”

People with information are asked to call Ms Young on 01751-472771 or email petra.young@forestry.gsi.gov.

uk A similar appeal earlier this year for lumberjills who worked in woods at Chopwell, near Gateshead, proved a success, with several coming forward.