The Docklands Girls

by June Tate

  For the rest of the morning, Belle was instructed as to how she was to work. It seemed entirely alien to her, but nevertheless she enjoyed the experience and at lunchtime, Hildy took her into the canteen for a meal.

  They queued for food, which was free as it was financed by the government, so the girls helped themselves and settled down on a bench before a long table with other workers. In the background on the radio, Workers’ Playtime could be heard and the girls were all chatting.

  Hildy sipped her tea and turning to Belle said, ‘You pick things up really quickly. Before long you’ll be able to manage a machine on your own.’

  Belle grimaced. ‘Don’t know about that,’ she said.

  ‘Trust me, you will. I’ve trained enough girls to know.’ Hildy had noticed that beneath Belle’s make-up, there were traces of bruising on her face which intrigued her and she wondered what the story was behind this young woman – but it wasn’t her place to pry. Everybody had a story, but not everyone wanted to share it. They returned to the factory floor half an hour later.

  That night Belle sat down and wrote a long letter to Jackson Butler, telling him she had a new job, but not the reason for the change. As she wrote she prayed that he was safe and still in one piece. She searched the mail for a letter from him, but as yet she’d heard nothing and clung to the memory of him saying it would take time for the mail to come through.

  As she climbed into bed, it gave her a certain pleasure to know that no longer did she need to use her bed to make money by selling her body.

  Over in France, the battle for supremacy and ground continued. The Allies had linked up the beachheads to form a continuous front. The Americans fought on, taking ground, moving on. But it took two long and weary weeks for them to break through until eventually Cherbourg was theirs. The troops took a well-earned rest as the kitchens were set up and the food cooked.

  Sergeant Milt Miller was proud of his men and told them so as they sat eating the hot, steaming food. He walked among them seeing they were alright, telling them what a good job they’d done, before partaking of any food himself.

  He strolled over to a bunch of men sitting on the ground in a circle. They moved up to make a space for him.

  ‘Thanks,’ he said as he sat down. ‘What’s your name, soldier?’ he asked the man next to him.

  ‘Hank Mason, Sergeant. I remember seeing you around in Southampton.’

  ‘That seems an age ago, doesn’t it?’ Milt remarked.

  ‘Sure does. Like to be back there now,’ said Hank.

  ‘Did you leave a girl behind?’

  Hank hesitated. ‘Well I did meet someone, but we said it was just friendship, things being so unsettled. You know how it is in wartime.’

  With a slow smile, Milt agreed. ‘True, however I did meet a lady and we became engaged before I left. She’s coming to the States when this is all over and we’ll be married.’

  ‘That’s great. Congratulations!’

  ‘Now we’re here for a while, I’m hoping we’ll get some mail. That’ll cheer the men after such a hard time.’

  ‘Yes, Cora promised to write. I told her how important it was when you’re away.’

  Milt rose to his feet. ‘Let’s hope the pony express gets through then.’

  They were not disappointed and towards the evening the men gathered around as the mail arrived. They stood listening for their names to be called and the lucky ones took their mail off to a quiet corner to read the contents.

  ‘Jackson Butler!’ called the soldier delivering the letters.

  Jackson pushed forward, retrieved two letters and took them away. They were from Belle. He sat on the ground and opened the first one.

  Dearest Jackson,

  I do so hope you are alive and well and that you get this letter safely. It was really hard to see you driven off that day to the docks before you sailed for France. I miss you, lovely boy, and wish with all my heart you were here now, so I could hold you close to me.

  It went on to tell him bits of gossip about the Horse and Groom and her friends.

  Now you make sure you keep your head down. I’m looking forward to hearing that you’re safe and sound.

  Lots of love,

  Belle

  xxx

  Jackson read it again, lit a cigarette and then opened the other letter.

  Dearest Jackson,

  I have news you’ll never believe. I’ve given up my old profession and am working in a factory. How about that? I am now an honest woman! I’m learning how to work a machine which makes parts for Spitfires. It’s such a change and I’m loving it and soon I’m told I’ll be good enough to work the machine on my own. I feel like a kid taking school exams.

  Been watching the news and hoping you are fine. Take care of yourself.

  Much love,

  Belle

  xxx

  He was delighted to hear from Belle and surprised, but pleased she was off the streets. In his mind she was far too good a woman to be selling herself, but at the same time realising had she not have been doing so, they would never have got together. He took out a pad from his kit bag and started to write back to her.

  Milt had a letter from Hildy and a couple from home. Much as he wanted to read them, he had to get his men settled for the night so after he was finished he’d have time.

  The cook made some coffee and handed it to Milt. ‘Here you are, Sergeant. I guess you could use one of these.’

  Milt thanked him and took it to his tent. He read the family ones first. All was well with them and they brought him up to date with family news. He put these in his pocket and opened one from Hildy.

  Darling Milt,

  I can’t tell you how much I miss you and how I long for the day when you return and we can be together. I keep as busy as I can to fill the empty evenings. My friends and I go to the pictures and watch the newsreels. My heart is in my mouth as I watch the fighting and wonder if you are safe.

  We’re busy in the factory and at the moment I’m teaching a new girl, Belle Newman, how to work a machine. We are short-staffed and have advertised for more woman power!

  Won’t it be wonderful when the war is over and we can start our lives together? You keep safe, you hear! I’ll write again soon.

  All my love for ever,

  Hildy

  xxxx

  He undressed, climbed into bed and read the letter one more time before falling asleep.

  Not everyone who’d received mail was happy. Some men had received Dear John letters breaking off relationships and engagements. Others had received news of a death in their families and were unable to do anything about it other than to write and express their sympathies, others wrote in anger. But this was wartime and such things were inevitable.

  Chapter Ten

  Olive was pleased with her lodger. He was quiet and tidy in the bathroom, but kept his bedroom door locked, as she found out one day when she tried the door.

  If they ever met in the hallway, he was polite but never paused to chat. She was now becoming curious about the man. Was did he do? If she tried to question him, he was evasive. Like the other day when she met him as he walked through the front door on her afternoon off.

  ‘Good afternoon, Mrs Dickson,’ he said, tipping his hat.

  ‘Good afternoon, Mr Keating. Your half-day too?’

  ‘Not really, so if you’ll excuse me, I have some paperwork to see to,’ and he left her standing as he walked up the stairs.

  Her eyes narrowed. She didn’t like being dismissed so readily. She was so used to being in control that his attitude irked her somewhat. But there was nothing she could do about it and the money he paid for his rent was more than useful.

  In his bedroom, Joe Keating smiled to himself. Nosey old woman, he thought. It gave him a certain pleasure in being evasive. It was none of her business what he did. He removed his jacket, and taking a sheaf of papers from a briefcase, he sat on the bed, reading through them and taking notes.

  Cora w
as still working the streets, much to Belle’s consternation. After her experience, she worried about her friend and tried to persuade her to join her working at the factory.

  ‘Look, love,’ said Belle as they sat in the Horse and Groom early one evening, ‘the money isn’t at all bad and you can work overtime if you want. It’s not difficult. I’m working my own machine now. We could get a small flat between us and share.’

  Cora looked thoughtful. ‘Do you think I’d be able to work a machine again? My stint in the factory was brief and a long time ago. Remember, Belle, I’ve been a brass since just after my parents died. I don’t really know anything else now.’

  ‘Oh, Cora, you don’t know how sad that makes me feel to hear you say that. You are young and beautiful. You have your whole future in front of you. You shouldn’t be on the streets anyway; you’re not meant for that kind of life. If you stick at it, you’ll age before your years. Trust me, I know!’

  ‘I’ll think about it, promise. Oh, look, that man over there just smiled at me. I think he was in The Grapes the other evening.’ She looked away quickly.

  ‘Perhaps he fancies you,’ Belle laughed. ‘He’s well dressed, clean. Maybe he’ll ask you for a date.’ She roared with laughter at the shocked expression on Cora’s face. ‘You could do a lot worse, love.’

  ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, will you behave! Anyway, he’s far too old for me.’

  ‘Well, I wouldn’t turn him down, but it isn’t me he’s interested in,’ said Belle. ‘More’s the pity.’

  Cora finished her half of beer and, getting up from her seat, she said, ‘Well, I’d best start work.’

  ‘Think about what I said, coming to work with me, right?’

  ‘I will, Belle, I will.’ She walked out of the door.

  Belle sat and finished her drink, thinking of the many years she’d sat in this bar and others, looking for punters. When one man came over to her and propositioned her, she just smiled at him.

  ‘Sorry, love, I’ve retired.’ Then she left the bar and walked home, made a cup of tea and sat down to read the letters from Jackson Butler that had eventually arrived. She was so relieved that he was alive and well. He didn’t say much about the fighting except that it had been bad.

  But then, Belle, I think about you. The times we had, how you would cuddle into me after we made love. I wish we were together again now.

  She brushed the tears away as she read them. If anything happened to him, she would never know. After all, it would be his family who would be told the bad news, certainly not her. They wouldn’t know of her relationship with their son, and if they ever did, the knowledge that he’d been with a white woman … she couldn’t imagine the effect that would have. With a sigh, she undressed and climbed into bed.

  Cora entered the bar of the Horse and Groom just before closing time. She was weary and ordered a gin and tonic. A British soldier came over to her. He’d been drinking heavily and his speech was slurred.

  ‘Hello gorgeous! I’ve got a couple of hours before I’m due back at camp and I’m going to spend them with you.’

  ‘No, I’m afraid you’re not,’ she said quietly.

  ‘What’s the matter? My money not good enough?’

  She looked up at him. ‘That’s not the point; I’ve finished working for the night.’

  He became abusive but thankfully the landlord came over and grabbed him by the arm.

  ‘That’s enough, son. Leave the lady alone or I’ll chuck you out!’

  Another soldier came over and apologised. ‘Sorry, I’ll take him back to camp when I’ve finished my drink.’ He led his colleague away and a little later the two of them left the bar.

  Cora was relieved. The last thing she needed was a belligerent punter. She’d been thinking about Belle’s idea and the drunken soldier had helped her come to a decision. Belle was right. It was time to move on. She finished the last of her drink and left the pub.

  There was no moon that night and Canal Walk was darker than ever. She switched on her torch and started to make her way home. She’d passed the Lord Roberts when she was suddenly grabbed roughly by the arm.

  ‘Right you, little bitch! Who do you think you are, turning me and my money down?’

  The smell of alcohol from the man’s breath filled her nostrils and when she shone her torch into his face she recognised the drunken soldier who’d approached her earlier.

  ‘Leave me alone!’ she cried and tried to shake off his hold. To no avail. Now she was really scared, but before she could scream or call out, the man was sent flying and hit the wall behind him, sinking to the ground, unconscious.

  A soft voice said, ‘Let me walk you home, miss.’

  In the torchlight, she saw it was a man she’d seen in the Horse and Groom.

  ‘You’ll be perfectly safe with me,’ he said quietly, taking her arm. ‘Now, which way do we go? The soldier will be out for the count for some time, so don’t you worry about him.’

  Cora didn’t hesitate and let the stranger walk her home. He waited until she’d opened her front door and turned to thank him.

  ‘My pleasure, but you really shouldn’t be on the streets, you are far too good for that.’ Then he walked away, disappearing into the darkness.

  Cora was trembling, remembering how her friend Belle had fared and felt lucky that she hadn’t ended up the same way. Had it not been for that stranger … well, it didn’t bear thinking about.

  The following morning, she knocked on Belle’s door in time to catch her before she left for the factory. Her friend was surprised to see her.

  ‘What the hell are you doing here at this hour? Are you alright?’

  Cora quickly told her what had happened the previous night. ‘So I wondered if I could come to the factory with you and apply for a job?’

  Belle shut the door and grinned broadly. ‘Well, you’re full of surprises! Yes, come with me, I’ll introduce you to the foreman and put in a good word for you.’ She tucked her arm through Cora’s and they set off.

  The foreman was delighted to have another worker and when Belle left them to go to her machine, the foreman took details from Cora and asked, ‘You able to start now, love?’

  ‘Yes, if you like.’

  ‘Then come with me.’ He led her to the factory floor, introduced her to Hildy and left the two of them to get on with an introduction to the machine which Cora would learn to use.

  ‘I have used a similar machine before,’ Cora said, ‘but it was a long time ago.’

  ‘Well, let’s see you get on,’ Hildy replied.

  At lunchtime in the canteen, Belle joined the two of them over lunch. She smiled at Cora. ‘I can’t tell you how happy I am that you decided to work here. It’s alright, isn’t it?’ she turned to Hildy for confirmation.

  ‘It’s not at all bad as jobs go these days. You can earn more money by working overtime – once you are able to work on your own, of course. You’ll be fine, you’ll see.’

  ‘Hildy is a good teacher,’ Belle said, ‘mind you, don’t let her catch you slacking because she can be a bit hard.’

  ‘It’s part of my job,’ Hildy explained. ‘Some girls try it on … but only once. If they don’t pull their weight they’re out of a job. But I know I won’t have any trouble with you two.’

  And so Southampton lost two of their ladies of the night.

  Chapter Eleven

  Hildy let herself into her flat at the end of her working day. She undressed, ran a bath and soaked her aching body in the hot water. She’d worked overtime and was weary, but she was saving her money for the time that she went to America and married Milt.

  She lay back in the bath, slopping water over her shoulders with the wet sponge. God, she wished he was here now, she missed him so much, but at least she was now receiving mail from him. He sounded cheerful. The men in his company were doing a good job and he was proud of them, but of course, like her, he couldn’t wait for the war to be over so they could start a life together.

&nbs
p; For her part, she was relieved that her mother had taken in a lodger and was proving that, when necessary, she was well able to look after herself. Hildy hadn’t called on her. What was the point? She’d only be met with verbal grief. The day she’d walked out of the family house she felt as if a weight had been removed from her shoulders and when the day came that she sailed away from Southampton to a new life, she would have no feelings of guilt. She’d served her time as a daughter and been unloved by a woman who could only think of herself.

  Joe Keating was walking along the street when he saw the young woman he’d saved from the attentions of the drunken soldier the other night. She had a cigarette in her mouth and appeared to be searching for a light. He stopped beside her and handed her his lighter.

  ‘Here, try this.’

  Cora looked up and smiled when she recognised him. ‘Thank you. You’ve come to my rescue yet again!’

  ‘I’d hardly call this a rescue. That sounds far too dramatic … Miss?’

  ‘Cora Barnes, and you are?’

  ‘Joe Keating, at your service. Where are you off to?’

  ‘I’ve just finished work and am going in search of a good cup of tea.’

  Looking at his watch, he said, ‘Twelve o’clock. You’re starting early, aren’t you?’

  For a moment she puzzled over his remark, then she started to laugh. ‘I have a new job, Mr Keating. I am working in a factory these days.’

  ‘You are?’ He looked surprised, yet pleased. ‘I’m happy to hear that; I told you that you were too good to work on the streets.’

  ‘That’s right, you did and to be honest it was the night you came to my rescue that made me change my occupation. I was really scared and decided to quit whilst I was ahead, so to speak.’

  He grinned broadly. ‘I think this calls for a celebration. Would you allow me to buy you that cup of tea?’