by Ellie Dean
‘“The day will come,” he said, “when I shall need your united strength. Until that day I call on you for the hard task of discipline and restraint.”
‘Addressing the French people especially, General Eisenhower expressed his pride at having under his command the gallant forces of France.
‘As the initial landing was being made in France, he emphasised the importance of his warning message. “A premature rising of all Frenchmen may prevent you from being of maximum help to your country in the critical hour. Be patient. Prepare. Great battles lie ahead.”
‘General Eisenhower concluded, “I call upon all who love freedom to stand with us. Keep your faith staunch. Our armies are resolute. Together we shall achieve victory.”
‘Later, SHAEF announced that General de Gaulle had arrived in this country and would speak to France sometime today.
‘Communiqué one and General Eisenhower’s message was broadcast to the peoples of Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and France in their own languages. Later, King Haakon of Norway, Dr Gerbrandy the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, and the Prime Ministers of Poland and Belgium themselves spoke to their fellow citizens.
‘This is the end of the special bulletin.’
There was a general scraping of chairs as the women moved away from their machines and gathered in groups to discuss what they’d heard. But Peggy wanted to quietly absorb everything, so she went outside into the yard and lit a cigarette. She’d noted she hadn’t been the only one to be moved by Eisenhower’s speech to the men under his command, and as the others stood around, the mood was thoughtful rather than celebratory.
‘It’s quite frightening, isn’t it?’ she said to Gracie, who’d come to sit on the wall beside her.
Gracie looked up as the planes continued to roar back and forth and the dull thuds of the distant battle were carried to them across the water on the light wind. ‘Clive’s up there somewhere,’ she murmured, ‘and the only comfort I can take from it is that he’s probably safer there than on those beaches.’
Peggy had a sudden terrifying image of Jack Smith wading ashore to be met by a barrage of gunfire. She shivered. ‘I was so excited about it all this morning, relieved that finally something was happening, but at what cost, Gracie? I have a nephew out there on a ship, and little Rita’s dad is more than likely on one of those beaches. It’s all suddenly too real – and far too close.’
Gracie put her arm about her waist. ‘We have to stay strong, Peggy, for their sake and for our children.’
Peggy pulled herself together as she finished the last of her cigarette and stubbed it out. ‘It’s either sink or swim, isn’t it? At least we’ve got a choice, unlike those poor men over there who have to obey orders and put their lives at risk every moment of the day.’
She shot Gracie a rueful smile. ‘I’ve often wished I was a man, able to fight the enemy, give Hitler a bloody nose and do all the things I simply don’t have the strength or knowledge to do. Now I’m glad I’m a woman – for although we aren’t in such danger and have a choice unlike those men – there are times when it seems to be the much tougher option.’
‘You don’t need to convince me,’ laughed Gracie. She pulled Peggy to her feet. ‘Come on, time for work before we have to start all over again when we get home.’
Peggy followed her inside and quickly used the washroom. Emerging from the stall to wash her hands, she came face to face with the odious Olive Grayson who was wearing an intense expression that warned Peggy she had hurtful and probably malicious gossip to impart.
‘I’ve been trying to get to talk to you all day,’ she said, barring Peggy’s path to the basins. ‘You’ll never guess what I ’eard from a mutual acquaintance.’
‘I haven’t got time to listen to your gossip, Olive,’ replied Peggy firmly.
‘Oh, I think you’ll find time for this,’ said Olive, her eyes glinting with malice. ‘It concerns that floozy what runs the Anchor.’
Peggy started to wash her hands, determined not to rise to the bait.
But Olive was not to be denied. ‘I see Ron’s taken charge while she’s gorn off. His devotion’s quite something, ain’t it? But I wonder if ’e’d be that keen if ’e knew who she’d gorn off with.’
Peggy turned off the tap and dried her hands on the scrap of towelling while she forced herself to remain calm. She finally turned to Olive, her expression deliberately cool. ‘What goes on between Ron and Rosie is their concern,’ she said flatly. ‘You need to mind that flapping tongue of yours, Olive, because sooner or later it will get you into trouble.’
Olive smirked. ‘I only pass on what I sees and ’ears, and this latest ’as come from the ’orse’s mouth, so to speak.’
Peggy pushed past her, heading for the door, but Olive’s dirty hand clamped on her shoulder, forcing her to a standstill.
‘I ’eard tell Rosie were seen in a posh car with that there Major Radwell,’ Olive rattled off in Peggy’s ear. ‘Early morning it were when they drove off up to the main road from the station – too early for most decent people to be out and about, dressed to the nines,’ she added spitefully.
Peggy tamped down on the spike of alarm this statement engendered, and forced herself to face the woman. ‘You’re making it up,’ she retorted.
‘Ask yer snooty sister. She were there,’ replied Olive triumphantly.
‘Where?’
Olive rolled her eyes. ‘At the station; where else? Blimey, Peg, I never took you for a thicko.’ With that she slammed out of the washroom, leaving the door to clatter back and forth behind her.
Peggy stood there for a long moment before she could gather her senses and return to her machine. But Olive’s words resounded in her head for the rest of the day.
Ron had returned to the Anchor, suddenly weary from the long walk and the distressing sight of Danuta, who was still heavily sedated and not making much sense. His low spirits were compounded by the lack of any messages or letters from Rosie, and the information he’d gleaned from Nurse Hopkins. It appeared that Major Radwell had been discharged from the Memorial the day Rosie had left Cliffehaven, and hospital gossip had it that he’d left in a chauffeur-driven car, with a large picnic hamper stowed beside the driver.
Ron’s heart was heavy as he switched on the old wireless he’d brought downstairs so everyone could keep up with the invasion news. He reasoned that he could be putting two and two together and making five, but the coincidence was just too great – and he didn’t believe in coincidences. Rosie had taken Monty with her, and what better transport was there than a chauffeur-driven car – what better company than a man who had enough influence to get travel permits? The thought made him feel quite ill, but he was determined not to show it.
He and Brenda worked well together behind the bar, and as the girls from the factories poured in after their early shifts, and the men from the Home Guard took up their usual places by the back window, he forced a smile, pulled pints and kept up his usual banter to disguise his broken heart.
He was glad of a bit of a rest when the one o’clock news came on, so he perched on a stool at the end of the bar by the till, and filled his pipe as Frederick Allen began to broadcast.
‘D-Day has come,’ said Frederick. ‘Allied troops were landed under strong naval and air cover on the coast of Northern France early this morning. The Prime Minister rose in the House of Commons just after midday to give the latest news of the situation.’
The distinctive gravelled voice of Churchill filled the bar. ‘During the night and early hours of this morning, the first of a series of landings in force on the European Continent has taken place. The assault fell upon the coast of France.
‘An immense armada of upwards of four thousand ships, together with several thousand smaller craft crossed the Channel. Massed airborne landings have been successfully effected behind the enemy’s lines, and landings are proceeding at various points at the present time.
‘The fire of the shore batteries has bee
n largely quelled. The obstacles which were constructed in the sea have not proved so difficult as was apprehended. The Anglo-American Allies are sustained by about eleven thousand first-line aircraft which can be drawn upon as may be needed for the purposes of the battle.
‘There are already hopes that actual tactical surprise has been obtained. Of course, I cannot commit myself to any particular details as reports are coming in in rapid succession. So far, the commanders engaged report that everything is proceeding according to plan – and what a plan. This vast operation is undoubtedly the most complicated and difficult that has ever occurred. It involves tides, winds, waves and visibility both from the air and sea standpoints, and the combined employment of land, air and sea forces in the highest degree of intimacy and in conditions which could not and cannot be fully known.
‘We hope to furnish the enemy with a succession of surprises during the course of the fighting. The battle will grow constantly in scale and intensity for many weeks to come. I shall not attempt to speculate upon its course, but this I may say, that complete unity prevails throughout the Allied armies. There is brotherhood in arms between us and our friends of the United States. There is complete confidence in the Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower, and General Montgomery. The ardour and spirit of the troops, as I saw for myself as they were embarking in the last few days, was splendid to witness.’
This rousing speech was greeted with a roar of cheering by the members of Parliament in the House of Commons, and echoed resoundingly by those who raised their glasses in the Anchor.
Frederick Allen was going through the main points again, and finished the broadcast with a reminder that the King would be speaking to his people scattered across the world this evening.
Ron turned the volume down as the chatter broke out and demands for more beer sent him down to the cellar to change another barrel and bring up the crates of bottles. No matter what was happening outside these four walls, business at the Anchor was brisk, and before the day was over, he’d have to put in an order at the brewery.
16
Peggy was emotionally drained by the end of the day, and besieged with worry about how to find out the truth of Olive’s gossip before Ron got to hear of it. There was little doubt that Ethel had stoked Olive’s thirst for tittle-tattle, for they were two of a kind – but the thought that Doris had somehow become involved just made things worse.
To put the tin lid on what had turned out to be a stressful day, Daisy proved to be overtired and not in the best of moods when she picked her up from the nursery.
‘Too much jelly and ice cream,’ said Nanny Pringle sagely. ‘I did warn Mrs Goldman that such things are inclined to overexcite small children, but of course it has been a very special day, and Mrs Goldman is such a generous benefactor that one can’t really complain.’
Peggy rested her hand lightly on Daisy’s tousled dark curls as the child grizzled and whined and clung to her legs. ‘Oh dear,’ she sighed, glancing across to the van waiting outside the gates. ‘Poor Lil has enough to cope with, and Daisy’s clearly out of sorts.’
‘I’m sure Lil will manage as magnificently as always,’ said Nanny Pringle comfortably. ‘She would have made an excellent nanny, and those four orphaned boys they’ve taken on are proof of that.’
Peggy untangled Daisy’s arms from her legs and hoisted her onto her hip to murmur soothing words against her damp cheek. She felt awful about dumping her on Lil after not seeing her all day, and the fact that Daisy was overwrought and needing her tea and bed didn’t make her feel any better.
‘I’m so sorry, Lil,’ she said, reaching the van. ‘Daisy’s not in the best of moods, and I think I ought to just take her home and forget about visiting the hospital this evening.’
‘Aw,’ said Lil, stroking Daisy’s back and trying to coax her out of her grizzling. ‘She won’t be no bother.’
Daisy’s arms tightened around Peggy’s neck, her chubby legs clamping round her waist. ‘Thanks, Lil, but it’s best I just get her home before there’s a full-blown tantrum.’ Peggy peered into the cab. ‘Sorry to waste your time and petrol ration, Fred. I do appreciate your kindness.’
Fred waved away her apology. ‘I’ll be here tomorrow same time if you need me.’
As Fred drove away Dolly opened the passenger door on her car. ‘Climb in and I’ll give you a lift home,’ she said quietly. ‘I can see Daisy needs you more than your girl tonight.’
‘I feel horribly guilty,’ Peggy admitted as she settled into the car with Daisy on her lap and still clinging to her like a limpet. ‘Poor Danuta will think I’ve abandoned her.’
‘I’m sure she won’t,’ soothed Dolly. ‘But if it will make you feel easier, I could always pop in to see her and pass on a message for you.’
‘That’s a lovely offer, Dolly, but I can’t expect you to do my visiting for me. After all, you and Danuta have never met and—’
‘Stuff and nonsense,’ said Dolly. ‘Ron has told me all I need to know about the girl. She obviously means as much to you both as a daughter – and if it was one of mine lying there, I’m sure you’d be the first to offer help.’
‘Oh, Dolly, you are kind.’
Dolly squeezed her hand and smiled. ‘It’s what friends are for,’ she said softly. ‘You run yourself ragged for everyone, now it’s time for someone to take care of you.’ She silenced Peggy’s protest by raising a finger. ‘I want you to promise that once you’ve got this little one in bed, you’ll follow suit and get a good night’s sleep.’
Peggy slumped in the seat with Daisy heavy against her chest, her cares weighing on her heart and in her mind. ‘I’ll try,’ she replied, ‘but sleep is hard to come by when there are so many things to worry about.’
Dolly eyed her sharply. ‘Have you heard from Jim lately?’
‘A few scrawled notes on bits of paper torn from a notebook. He can’t tell me much because of the censorship, but at least I know he was still alive and uninjured on the day he wrote them.’
She felt the prick of tears and hastily blinked them back. ‘As for Anne and the boys, the letters are few and far between, but I suppose they’re busy on the farm now it’s calving time and the school holidays are yet to begin.’
Peggy sat up straight and eased Daisy to a more comfortable position on her lap. ‘How are you getting on with Pauline?’
‘About as well as you get on with your sister Doris,’ Dolly replied dryly. ‘Coming down here was a mistake, Peggy. I simply can’t get through to her, and now she’s refusing to talk to me or Frank.’
‘Oh, lawks,’ sighed Peggy. ‘Still, that has to be better than tears and tantrums, surely?’
‘Not really. It just makes for a nasty atmosphere,’ said Dolly briskly. ‘I’m beginning to wonder if I should just leave her to it. Poor Frank will have to deal with her on his own, but with me out of the picture she might buck up and behave.’
‘Please stay a while longer,’ pleaded Peggy. ‘It’s selfish, I know, but we hardly get to see one another, and having you here does ease the burden.’
‘It strikes me you have too many burdens on those narrow shoulders at the moment, Peg. I’m sorry I can’t be here often, or for very long, but while I am, I want you to tell me what’s bothering you. And don’t deny it – I can see it in your eyes and in your demeanour.’
Peggy looked down at Daisy’s head resting on her shoulder. The child had fallen asleep, her thumb in her mouth. ‘Let’s drive down to the seafront,’ she murmured.
Dolly turned the key in the ignition and quickly drove away from the factory and turned left into the High Street which ended in a T-junction, and left again onto the seafront road that ran parallel to the promenade.
She parked and they both stared out of the window to the gun emplacements and ugly rolls of barbed wire that had been strung along the promenade to cut off the mined beach. The pier was an isolated lump of twisted, rusting metal marooned offshore, the remnants of an enemy fighter plane still visible through th
e shattered roof of what had once been the grand ballroom and theatre.
‘It’s not exactly an imposing sight,’ Dolly remarked. ‘But it looks as if things are still happening over there.’
Peggy watched the planes making their ceaseless journeys back and forth, and could see and hear the barrages of gunfire coming from the warships in the Channel as smoke rose from the distant shores to darken the horizon and throw a veil over the setting sun.
‘Brendon’s out there,’ she said, ‘and so is Rita’s father along with countless thousands of others. My troubles seem very small compared to what they must be going through.’
‘Tell me anyway,’ coaxed Dolly, offering her a cigarette and opening the windows to let the smoke out and the fresh air in. ‘A trouble shared is a trouble halved, as they say.’
So Peggy told her about her worries over Danuta, Jim, Rita and Sarah; the estrangement from her sister Doris after an all too brief armistice; and her concerns for Ron’s future with Rosie. She admitted that she felt besieged by everything, from the constant onslaught of hardship to the enforced separation from her family – and that the effect of this war had slowly worn her down. She’d tried so very hard to stay strong, to keep her fears and her tears private, but now it was as if a dam had broken and it all came pouring out of her.
Dolly listened without comment, and when Peggy fell silent, exhausted but strangely unburdened at last, she threw the butt of her cigarette out of the window and took Peggy’s hands. ‘Ron’s old enough and ugly enough to handle whatever is thrown at him,’ she said firmly. ‘From what I’ve heard over the years, Rosie isn’t the sort of woman to throw everything away on a whim – or because he made a fool of himself after drinking too much.’
Her gaze was steady as she looked into Peggy’s eyes. ‘Gossip is dangerous, Peg. The only way to discover the truth is to go to Doris and find out exactly what she saw that morning.’