The Women's Land Army was re-formed in 1939 (having also operated in the first world war) to help farmers face the challenge of producing more food with a smaller workforce as the men went to fight. By 1943, about 87,000 women had joined the Land Army. being a Land Girl was tough: Pay was low, they worked long hours and they only got 7 days leave per year. Some Land Girls worked in gangs travelling from farm to farm and living in hostels. The majority were employed on one farm where they were also lodged (like Ruth). The Women's Timber Corps, officially part of the WLA, worked in all aspects of Forestry, and were deployed in mobile units travelling from job to job.