Land Girl - Charlotte Leay Molyneux (1906-1984)
Charlotte Leay Molyneux (Lottie) GBWG-T63 was born on 3rd January 1906 in Barton, Downholland, Lancashire to Nancy Whitehead and William Molyneux, a hay trusser (a labourer who made up bundles of hay). According to the 1891 census when Nancy was 18 years old she was a servant for the Sutton family
at Hog’s Hill Farm in Altcar. After their marriage, William and Nancy lived on Mairscough Lane, Downholland with their young family.
Their daughter, Lottie met Thomas Rigby from Lydiate who was a farm labourer for Messrs. T. Silcock, farmers. The young couple were married on 4th April 1931 at St. Peter’s Church in Aintree. When the 1939 Register for England and Wales was taken at the beginning of the Second World War, Lottie and Tom were living in one of Lord Leverhulme’s cottages at Meadow View Farm, Pilling Lane, Lydiate. Tom was a teamsman at that time and by 1942, they had moved to Halsall and were living at Silcock’s Malt Kiln House.
Lottie joined the Women’s Land Army on 27th February 1942. Somewhat unusually for a Land Girl (probably as she had no children), she was a married woman when she signed up and she too worked the land for the Silcock family. Her employment with the Land Army lasted until way after the end of WW2 – her final day was 30th November 1950.
Tom and Lottie lived and worked for many years at Silcock’s Gesterfield Farm. In fact, Tom had been in farming since leaving school and was employed by the Silcocks all his working life. He is remembered as a loyal, hard working man. He passed away in 1979.
Lottie died in her 79th year on 22nd May 1984 at Walton Hospital, Liverpool. Her funeral took place at St. Cuthbert’s church, Halsall and then Southport Crematorium on 25th May 1984. Amongst the mourners were her co-workers and many members of the Silcock family which shows how much she and her husband Tom were thought of.
