The contribution of women who kept the agricultural life of Essex up and running during the Second World War has been recognised.
Countless women worked in the fields, farms and orchards of Britain while the men of the country were away fighting.
A diamond-shaped bed of white roses and stone plaque were unveiled in Colchester Castle Park during a special dedication ceremony.
Cash was raised for the permanent tribute by the Colchester and District Women's Land Army, thanks to donations from the Normandy and Dunkirk veterans' associations, the Reme and Royal Army Service Corps.
The service was carried out by Rev John Fall from Mersea, while fellow islander Tony Clifton read the lesson - his mother was a land army girl.
Two former members of the Women's Land Army have a place in the royal box to watch the Queen Mother's 100th birthday pageant today (Wednesday) in London.
Doris Northwood, of Strood Close, West Mersea, and Peggy Rogers, of Mersea Road, Colchester, were overjoyed to receive the invitation.
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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