RECOGNITION for 'doing her bit for King and country' is deservedly being given to a Yelverton woman, who served as a land girl during the second world war.

Beatrice Pyle, now aged 94, was one of more than 80,000 young women in Britain who worked on the land during the 1939-45 war.

She was called up at the age of 25, when she lived on River's Bridge Farm near Dartmouth.

There she served cream teas to cadets from the nearby Royal Naval Britannia College — she even met the Prince of Spain when he came to milk a cow on the farm.

During this time her family got to know a rear admiral at the college.

Admiral Spencer asked young Beatrice to become his driver, as she had just passed her test.

Beatrice worked for him for two and a half years, including a visit to Plymouth at the height of the Blitz.

'If I thought about it I know I would not have done it, but at the time I just had to get on with it,' said Beatrice.

One day Admiral Spencer, visiting River's Bridge, asked Beatrice's mother — also called Beatrice — if he could have some lucky white heather from the farm, which she was pleased to give to him. 

Unfortunately, the heather proved far from 'lucky'.

He said he would return to the farm but he never did — shortly after, the ship he was aboard blew up off Start Point and he was killed.

Following his death Beatrice was called up for the Land Army.

'I could have gone into the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps or the women's forces, but because I was a farmer's daughter I went into the land army,' she said.

Beatrice drove tractors and dug potatoes and did other arduous manual labour around the farm. 

'I do remember that there was not much food, it was hard work and long hours — from 8 o'clock in the morning until 8 o'clock at night,' she said.

Beatrice has received a certificate from Prime Minister Gordon Brown, on behalf of the nation, as a token of thanks for her services as a Land Girl during the war.

It read: 'The Government wishes to express to you its profound gratitude for your unsparing effort as a loyal and devoted member of the Women's Land Army/Women's Timber Corps at a time when our country depended upon you for its survival.' 

Beatrice is looking forward to attending a special celebratory tea party on Saturday, November 22, at Clinton Hall in Merton, where West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox and the Lord Lieutenant of Devon will be in attendance.

She is especially looking forward to  meeting fellow land army girls and 'Lumber Jills' who served during the war.

Mr Cox will be presenting Beatrice with a commemorative badge, on behalf of DEFRA, for her efforts during the war.

Her daughter Marianne said: 'I feel that people of her generation should be honoured and recognised because if was not for them we would not be here today.

'We have a lot to thank them for.  I love my mum very much and I am very proud of her and especially what she did during the war.' 

• The MP has sent out invitations to about 120 residents in West Devon and Torridge  who were in the land army — any such land girl or 'Lumber Jill' who has not received an invitation and would like to attend is asked to call 01237 459001.