Reporting for Duty, page 18
‘Grab your irons, Sandy, if we can find the mess then I reckon we’ll be in time to get some scoff.’
They took the stairs at the double, almost colliding with two girls who were coming in. After laughing apologies were exchanged, these two told them that they’d forgotten to take their irons and had had to come back.
‘The mess is the second turning on the left, you can’t miss it,’ one of them said as she vanished up the stairs.
‘Ta, we was about to go looking for it,’ Minnie yelled after them. She grinned at Sandy. ‘I suppose I shouldn’t be yelling but minding me Ps and Qs.’
‘You be yourself, Minnie, don’t let the army knock your spirit out of you.’
They’d automatically fallen into step and were marching side by side, following the directions they’d been given. They weren’t too late as there was still a queue waiting to be served at the counter.
‘Like the NAAFI, we don’t get served here like what we do at home,’ Minnie said.
‘Home? It didn’t take you long to settle in, did it?’ Sandy said as they joined the end of the line.
Minnie introduced herself and Sandy to the eight other girls already seated at the table allocated to them in the large NCOs’ mess. ‘Has anyone had a dekko at the itinerary? How long have we got to eat before the first thing on the list?’
‘We’ve got precisely thirty minutes to eat tea. I think they should have provided a map of this place as it’s vast,’ one of the girls at the far end said.
‘If we stick together then we’ll be late or lost together and they can hardly put all of us on a charge, can they?’ Sandy said as she tucked into her dinner.
The last two, the girls who’d forgotten their eating utensils, arrived just as they were about to shut the serving hatch.
‘Glad that weren’t us, Sandy, I’ve seen at least two sergeants taking notice.’
‘I saw that too. We need to be on top form if we’re going to do well.’
‘It’s going to be exciting learning all this new stuff. I’m a bit nervous but looking forward to it.’
The first meeting was to introduce the two regimental sergeant majors, one of them was an ATS RSM, which surprised Minnie as she didn’t know any women had been promoted to this rank. She was RSM Culley and the man was RSM Munson. They both seemed all right, and Minnie was looking forward to starting her training in earnest the next morning.
They now had the remainder of the day to familiarise themselves with the barracks. The ablutions block and latrines were spotless, which was only to be expected on an army base. She and Sandy explored their environment and were suitably impressed. This wasn’t just a place to train new recruits like Great Baddow but somewhere that active servicemen lived and trained.
They heard the regular drumming of boots as a platoon approached at the double and hastily stepped to one side to let them pass. Twenty or so fit-looking soldiers ran past in their singlets and shorts, glazed with sweat, but none of them seemed out of breath or particularly red in the face from the effort.
‘Blimey, what a difference that lot are to them blokes we’ve got. I’d like to be able to run like that whilst keeping in step – do you think we’re going to be trained to do it?’
‘I don’t see why not,’ Sandy said. ‘I begin to see why all of us, including those like me, need to get to grips with all aspects of drill. Being part of the team is what being a soldier is all about, isn’t it?’
‘King and country – that’s who we all serve, it don’t matter if we’re men or women, do it?’ Minnie was impressed. ‘I reckon we’ve passed several dozen ATS so there must be a lot based here.’
‘I think we’ve also saluted a dozen officers – there could be as many as a thousand servicemen living here,’ Sandy said.
They naturally gravitated towards the NAAFI, which was twice the size of the one they were used to, but here there were three serving hatches – one for officers, one for other ranks and the third for ATS.
‘I’m still stuffed, but I never say no to a cuppa,’ Minnie said as she dipped into her pocket for her loose change.
‘I’ll get these. Don’t be offended, Minnie, if you were the wealthy one you would do the same for me.’
There were tables and chairs outside and as the blue haze from those smoking made Minnie’s eyes water, they didn’t remain inside.
‘This is going to be a doddle after the past four weeks, even with all the lectures and that.’
‘I know, no exercise first thing, just a leisurely breakfast and then drill for two hours from nine o’clock until eleven. I’m not too keen on doing five-mile marches, but I suppose it will make a change from hours and hours of lectures.’
‘At least we’ve a spare uniform if we get wet,’ Minnie said. ‘Even so, I can’t think what all them lectures are going to be about. Surely there can’t be that much to learn just to go up to corporal?’
‘We’ve got to learn how to give orders and what will now be expected of us. We’ll be dealing with sergeants and senior NCOs as well as officers and it’s important to understand the protocols. In your case, you’ve got to know how to train recruits as that’s what you’re going to be doing. I don’t understand why those of us who are going onto something else need to do that part of the course,’ Sandy said.
Minnie clambered into bed that night more than happy with how things were going in her life. She didn’t understand why she was so drawn to Sandy, why they’d become such close friends in just a few hours, but she was delighted to have found someone like her. It wasn’t quite the same as her friendship with Eileen, but that didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to think about anything else but this training and intended to enjoy the next three weeks and make sure that she passed out with her corporal’s stripes.
19
Ben was having second thoughts about his offer to help Eileen with her redecorating. Even if she was a civilian, she was still out of bounds because she was married. It wasn’t like the affair he’d had with Lydia – Eileen was a churchgoer and breaking her marriage vows was something he wouldn’t put her in a position of wanting to do.
The next morning, he arrived in his office slightly on edge, still not sure how to restore things to the way they should have been in the first place. Eileen had obviously come to the same decision.
She greeted him by snapping to attention and saluting, he returned the gesture as formally as she.
‘Good morning, Ruffel, what’s planned for this morning?’
‘You have a meeting with the adjutant about the new intake of ATS at nine o’clock. It appears that there might be some problem with the accommodation as the platoons they are replacing will still be in situ, sir.’
‘How the hell did that happen?’
‘I don’t know, sir, but I’m sure somebody’s head will roll.’
His had been a rhetorical question but she’d responded, being the epitome of an efficient secretary, not a trace of the Eileen that he’d begun to enjoy the company of rather too much.
‘I’ve filled in your diary for today, sir, and it’s on your desk. Would you like me to fetch you a tea or coffee before I return to my desk and get on with my other secretarial duties?’
‘Coffee would be splendid. What other duties do you have apart from running this office?’
‘The major has asked me to check the finances of several departments. There appear to be discrepancies and I have a bookkeeping and accountancy qualification.’ Eileen looked directly at him for the first time.
‘I thought you should know, sir, that I’m not going to resign from the ATS until my husband’s actually discharged. Therefore, I’ll be here to act as your secretary for the next few weeks.’
‘Weeks? I thought the major was only going to be gone for two weeks. Is this something else that he didn’t tell me?’
‘He hasn’t taken any time off for a year so is taking all his entitlement now – that’s the next six weeks.’
‘He neglected to tell me that. I apologise for occupying your time and you must get on with the work that our commanding officer requires. If I need you for anything, I’ll come and find you.’
She half-smiled and saluted again – this time he didn’t respond. Her look of relief made him feel uncomfortable. He should never have put her in such a difficult position. He was twenty-three years of age, for God’s sake, high time that he grew up and started behaving responsibly.
Eileen had been married for four years, was about to embark on a lifetime of drudgery with a man she didn’t love and was the same age as him. He admired her stoicism and was determined from now on things between them would be strictly professional. He would willingly change this but wasn’t going to make things more difficult for her.
There was obviously no need to retract his offer to help with the decorating as she’d made it abundantly clear that in future he was to behave as her officer and not her friend.
She sent one of the other girls in with his coffee and biscuits and he completed the tasks in his diary without needing to speak to her again. He and the adjutant had managed to solve the problem with the new intake by sending the ones that were currently here away a day early to their permanent postings or training.
At five he was finished and stopped by to tell Eileen – he couldn’t think of her as Ruffel – that she could go, but her desk was empty. She’d already left.
One of the other clerks saw him coming out of her office. ‘Private Ruffel left to catch the bus half an hour ago, sir. She worked through her lunch hour so she’s not leaving early.’
‘Thank you. If anything urgent crops up, I’ll be in the NAAFI.’
He hadn’t realised how much he was looking forward to spending more time with Eileen until this possibility had been so summarily removed. Of course, they had to spend some time together but that would have to be strictly formal and professional.
Eileen had never been so glad to leave her place of work as she was that day. Being so close to Ben – she could only think of him by his first name now – without being able to exchange friendly chat, having to pretend that he was only the officer she was working for, had been all but impossible.
The prospect of being with him every day was going to be torment for both of them. She was sure she hadn’t imagined the connection between them but like the gentleman he was, he’d realised they’d both overstepped the mark and had made it so much easier for her to slip back into the role she should never have left.
She was going to see Danny, tell him about the house, explain what she had planned for them both and also speak to his doctors and see when they thought he would be ready to be released. She was dreading that day, but the sooner it came, the better it would be for both her and Ben. If she kept praying for the strength to ignore her growing feelings for him then maybe she’d be able to stay a faithful wife.
The hospital was bustling with visitors, and she threaded her way through to the rear of the building where the servicemen were being nursed. The other beds in this larger ward were occupied and most appeared to have someone with a patient. Danny’s bed was closest to the nurses’ station and the first as you entered.
He was sitting up in bed watching the door and didn’t look at all pleased to see her. Her stomach lurched. Why was he being so difficult? She pinned on a happy smile and crossed the ward to greet him.
‘You look so much better, Danny, I expect they’ll have you on crutches soon.’ She leaned across and kissed the air beside his cheek, making sure her lips didn’t touch him.
He didn’t smile but snarled at her. ‘I was the only one without a visitor yesterday. Why didn’t you come and see me?’
‘I’m in the army, Danny, I can’t just come and go as I please. I’m here now so make the most of it, as I won’t be able to come again until the weekend.’ She hadn’t meant to contradict him so sharply, but his question had upset her.
‘That’s right, rub it in, why don’t you? I know I’m on the rubbish heap now, a cripple and no use to anybody. It’s a good thing we’re married, and I’ve got you to take care of me.’ He scowled at her, no affection, and certainly no love in his expression. ‘I want you out of the ATS right now and that’s my final word. It’s not right that you should be working when you could be getting a home ready for me like a proper wife.’
She collected the chair placed at the end of the bed for his visitor, smoothed her skirt under her bottom and sat down, giving her a few minutes to gather her thoughts. She put her gas mask on the floor beside her and then looked at the man she’d married so readily four years ago and now disliked.
How could she ever have found this man attractive? He was bad tempered and selfish. He’d always been a bully but until now she’d accepted this and never answered back. Far too late, she understood that she’d made the most disastrous error by marrying him.
‘I’m sorry, Danny, but I’m staying in the army until you’re discharged. I’ve already got the matter of our home in hand as I found us the perfect house in Chelmsford. It has…’
He interrupted her. ‘Chelmsford? I’ve got a perfectly good house in St Albans. We’ll go back there.’
Eileen took a deep breath. ‘No, we won’t. I think you’re forgetting that it’s my house, in my name, and bought with my money. The tenants have a three-year lease and I’ve no intention of evicting them.’ Her hands were clenched, her heart pounding, but she wasn’t going to give in to his intimidation. ‘Now, do you want to hear about the house we’re going to be living in or not?’
‘No, I bloody well do not. We live where I say we’ll live and I’ll hear no more of your nonsense, woman. Being in the ATS has changed you. I never raised a hand to you but if you don’t mend your ways when I get out, you’ll feel the back of my hand if you dare to speak to me like that again.’
Instead of recoiling, apologising and smoothing things over, Eileen did the opposite and spoke what was in her heart. ‘Your behaviour makes what I’m going to say so much easier. I won’t be living with you anywhere. I don’t love you and don’t think that I ever really did. I’m sure that your sister and mother will be only too happy to take care of you because I’m certainly not going to. I won’t be coming to see you again. Goodbye, Danny. I’m sorry our marriage has to end like this, but I’m not the only one who’s changed.’
As she stood up, Danny moved faster than she’d expected, stretched out and grabbed her wrist. He twisted it viciously and she couldn’t bite back her yelp of pain. The hate in his eyes was terrifying. His other hand clenched into a fist. He was going to hit her. There was only one thing she could do. With her free hand, she reached down, snatched up her gas mask and swung it hard at his head.
It connected with a satisfactory thud. He released his grip and clutched at the blood streaming from his nose. She hoped she’d broken it as she was pretty sure he’d broken her wrist.
‘My God, come with me, my dear, that wrist needs to be X-rayed.’ The speaker was obviously a consultant as he had half a dozen white-coated students, junior doctors and nurses buzzing around him.
Eileen’s head was spinning. Her wrist was a very strange shape and the shafts of agony when she moved it left her speechless.
As if from a distance, she listened to this senior medical man take charge. A wheelchair was to be fetched for her. The police were to be called. She thought she heard him say that Danny was to be moved to a side ward.
Tears trickled unheeded down her face – she could scarcely comprehend what had happened. The man that she’d married had never been affectionate, but he’d never been violent either. Was it her fault for answering back?
Someone expertly put a temporary splint on her injured arm and then gently folded it into a sling. This eased the pain a little. She was handed two tablets and a glass of water and with some difficulty she managed to swallow them.
‘Private Ruffel, the wheelchair is waiting. We are going to transfer you into it now. The analgesics you’ve just taken should take effect quickly.’
She wanted to say that she was quite capable of transferring herself, but her mouth felt as if it was filled with cotton wool and the words wouldn’t come. Meekly she allowed them to lift her and put her into the wheelchair.
‘Make sure you have a receptacle in case she vomits.’ The voice of the senior doctor.
She had only got a four-hour pass to leave the base and would be put on a charge if she didn’t return within that time.
She swallowed the bile in her throat, blinked a few times and from somewhere found her voice. ‘Excuse me, could somebody please ring Great Baddow and tell them what’s happened? I’ll be AWOL after eight o’clock.’
‘Good, I was hoping that you’d regain your senses.’ A large figure, a man about forty, with horn-rimmed glasses and a charming smile appeared in front of her. ‘Tell me, my dear, why did your husband assault you?’
‘I told him that the marriage was over.’
The man snorted – she wasn’t sure if it was in disgust or to hide his amusement. ‘Great Scott, that’s no way for a chap to behave. If you hadn’t clocked him with your gas mask it would have been so much worse. I saw everything from the door but was unable to intervene in time to prevent your injury.’ He nodded. ‘I’m Jonathan Rhodes, senior surgical consultant here.’
‘Thank you for coming to my assistance. I’m glad that you saw I was attacked first, otherwise I’d be the one the police would wish to interview. My husband has always been a taciturn, controlling man but this is the first time – and the last – that he’s actually attacked me.’
They arrived at the radiography department. ‘I fear, my dear, that your wrist will need pinning. A compound fracture is a nasty business. When did you last eat or drink anything?’
‘I had a sandwich and a cup of tea at midday but nothing since.’ At least she was now coherent but despite the splint and support of the sling, even the slightest movement made her dizzy with pain. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, hoping this would help.
