by Griff Hosker
I climbed up the stairs. Alice halted me. “That’s far enough. Put the water there and get downstairs with dad. This is women’s work.” She smiled as she said it.
In the kitchen dad had put the kettle on again and was warming the teapot. “This could take some time. Better put some bacon and sausages on.” He smiled, “Your mother always gets them in for the weekend and I think there is a bit of kidney too.”
The two of us pottered away both aware of the sound of footsteps on the floor above. When the tea had brewed I said, “Should we take a cup up to them?”
“I know you pilots are brave son but have you got a death wish? It’s bad luck for a man to be there at the birth. You should know that.”
“But what if it is a doctor?”
“They just do the fancy houses and they don’t hold with such superstitions. No, son, you just wait here with me. That’s Alice’s job. She knows we have a brew on and she’ll come when they are ready.” He chuckled, “Besides the smell of the bacon’ll bring the baby sooner.”
There was still some of the fresh bread left and, when we had taken out the bacon and the sausage we dipped the bread in so that it became soaked in the bacon grease.
“Right son. Let’s dig in. I’ve yet to meet the man that can walk by freshly cooked bacon.”
The bacon in greasy bread was a treat and I bit into the bread feeling the juices run down my chin. Not the manners and behaviour of the officers’ mess, but I was at home. I indulged myself. We washed it down with hot sweet tea and then lit our pipes.
“I remember when Tom and John were born. They were the first and I was up at the stables. Your mum was in labour for twelve hours with both of them. Your gran, her mother was still alive then and they were exhausted when they had finished. Mind, the tea was still on the table for me when I came from work. By the time you were born it was over in a flash. And Albert just took an hour.” He gestured upstairs with his pipe. “This is her first so…”
I suddenly stood.
“What is it son?”
“Cedric, we haven’t told Sarah’s hubby that she is in labour. I know he can’t be here but he should know.”
Dad looked at the clock. It was just coming up to seven. “If you go up now the house should just be waking up.”
“Right.” I ran upstairs and threw some clothes on. Grabbing my flying coat and scarf I stepped out into the cold. Although the snow had lain it was a thin covering which would dissipate when the sun emerged. The ground was hard but I knew it was slippery underfoot. I went as quickly as I could to the big house, as we called it.
I saw that the curtains were open. They were up. Cedric Rogers was now the butler. In all likelihood he would be the one to greet me. The gravel drive crunched under my feet. The snow had not settled here. I saw the Major’s car, not so much parked as abandoned, under the huge portico. I pulled the handle on the bell pull and heard the ringing deep in the house.
It was Cedric who answered it. He had filled out since I had last seen him at the wedding. He looked surprised to see me and then he stiffened. “Yes Captain Harsker? If you are here to see his Lordship he has yet to rise.”
He sounded pompous. I had never been a fan of Cedric but Sarah loved him. I just wanted to prick his pomposity. “No, Cedric, I came to tell you something. Our Sarah is in labour.”
For a moment his mask fell and I saw the caring husband that Sarah loved. Then the fixed face of the retainer returned. “Thank you Captain. I appreciate you taking the time to tell me.”
It was obvious I was dismissed. “Well,” I added awkwardly, “I will bring you news whenever I get it.”
I headed back to the house wondering how I would be if I should ever have a wife and family. I hoped that I would show more concern than Cedric. Then I realised that our Sarah, as much as I loved her, was probably as bad. As housekeeper she had a good job and it would be mum and dad who would be bringing up their child. I suspect the two of them had planned out their future carefully. I wondered if the child had been planned. I did know that my parents would love the child and he would be cared for and, at the end of the day, that was all that mattered.
When I returned and told dad what he had said he was not surprised, “It’s just the way Cedric has been brought up son; service to the big house. It’s how I was brought up but you, well, you would never have settled for that. Don’t get me wrong, I am not putting you in the same boat as Tom and John but your mother and me knew you were destined for something more from the moment you were born. It’s no secret that you were the cleverest. The school told us you were the brightest lad they had ever taught. So, you see, we knew you were different and your mum, well, when she sees you in your uniform she is so proud. She worries about you but she is proud at the same time.”
I felt unsettled talking about me. “Should I see if they want tea?”
“No, I told you, that is No Man’s Land up there and they don’t need barbed wire. Besides our Alice came down for three cups and a bacon butty after she heard the door slam!”
Just then we heard the unmistakeable wailing of an infant. Dad grinned and jumped up. He shook my hand. I have no idea why. “There you are. The baby’s born.”
I heard feet moving and then, five minutes later Alice came through with a pile of soiled towels. She smiled but she looked tired. “You can go up now. Our Sarah and mum are ready for another cuppa.”
We took a tea each and mounted the stairs. Opening the door I saw Sarah with the new red faced baby and mother standing beside her. It was a perfect picture of motherhood on every level. Sarah smiled as I entered, “Here is your nephew, William Rogers. William this is your uncle, the hero.”
I looked down at the small bundled up baby who had been named after me and my world changed. I didn’t realise it at the time but I was aware that something was different. I felt different. After I died there would be another Bill in the family. I wanted my own child and I wanted my own family. I suddenly envied Cedric and Gordy; they had what I wanted but I knew that I would have to wait until the war ended. I would not wish widowhood on any woman.
We were allowed the briefest of audiences and then ushered out. “I’ll go and tell Cedric.”
“I’ll come with you our Bill, I need the fresh air.” As we left the house Alice linked me, “It’s good to have you back, big brother.” She snuggled in. “Sorry about last night. Mum and I seem to butt heads the whole time. I don’t mean to argue with her but she just seems to get under my skin.”
I had been thinking about the problem and I thought I knew the reason for the arguments. “You know you are the only one left at home and the youngest. She is frightened that she will lose you. The arguments are her way of coping. Remember John and Tom? She worries that you will go the same way.”
“But that’s daft. I am nothing like them.”
“I know but you need to talk to her. Dad is on your side, you know that.”
“I know. I’ll try.”
“She will need more help than ever, soon. She will have the bairn to look after. That might help heal the differences.”
She suddenly stopped and looked at me, “You have become wise, our Bill.” She leaned up and kissed me on the cheek. ”Don’t you worry about me, love. What we are going through is nothing compared with what you and our Bert have to live with. Besides I know what I want to do. I am not like Tom and John. I don’t just want to get out for the sake of it. I am taking a course at the technical college for design. I am quite good at it. I do a bit of work in a pub in Liverpool to make ends meet. Mum and dad think I am off gallivanting but I am not. You don’t need to worry about me. I know where I am going.”
I hugged her a little closer and kissed the top of her head. “I never doubted it for a minute, our kid.”
Cedric still had the same po face when he answered the door. His face cracked a little when I told him that he had a son called William.
He smiled. It was not news to him. “We decided to name him after you. I hope
you do not mind, Captain?”
“Of course not.”
Just then I heard footsteps thundering along the hall. Lord Burscough threw his arms around me, much to the surprise of Rogers. “Did I hear you are an uncle? That calls for a celebration!” He suddenly seemed to see Alice. “Ah Alice and you are an aunt. Haven’t you grown? You are a proper young lady now. Come in and we’ll have some bubbly! Cedric get Lady Burscough. She is always asking after Alice here.”
She shook her head, “I couldn’t sir, I am not dressed properly.”
He put his arms around us both, “Nonsense you are almost part of the family. Rogers we’ll have it in the sitting room.”
I knew that Alice was torn. She was delighted to be in the big house. She would see parts of it she had never seen before. Our sister was the housekeeper but we would be guests. At the same time she would have wanted to look her best. Her clothes were presentable but not her finest. It is strange, but I felt completely at ease. I suspect it was because I had seen behind the façade and Major Hamilton-Grant had certainly coloured my judgement.
I was thankful, as we left, that Alice had been sensible. She had only drunk two small glasses of Champagne. Most of the time, she had chatted to Lady Burscough as though they were old friends. His lordship had picked a down to earth wife. Margaret Burscough was a modern lady and was very popular on the estate. She had to be for she ran it whilst his lordship was at war.
Strolling down the drive she snuggled into my arm, “You know Bill, John and Tom were both wrong. They hated being inferiors but you, well you and his lordship are almost equals and her ladyship is so lovely. She is just nice.”
I laughed, “I wouldn’t say that. He is a major and I call him sir.”
She playfully punched my arm, “You know what I mean. I am even more proud of you than I was before. You have shown that we can change our station and we don’t have to get married, like our Kath, to do so. I am going to make something of myself.”
There was determination in her voice. She had always been clever and had done well at school. Now I knew that she was studying for a career in fashion I was happy. They earned good money. I think that was another reason for her and mum butting heads. It was an alien job to mum.
There was a slight frown from mother as we entered and I held up my hand, “Before you have a go, his lordship invited us in for a glass of Champagne to wet the baby’s head. We couldn’t refuse could we?”
Mum glared at Alice, “Champagne?”
“She had one small glass.” I used the firm voice I had learned to adopt when speaking to second lieutenants. It was the first time I had used it on my mum. Perhaps it was the Champagne which had given me the courage but it worked.
She smiled. “Your big brother looks after you well young lady. You should try to be more like him.”
She gave my arm a squeeze and winked at me. “I’ll try, don’t you worry.”
Chapter 17
We were nearing London and his Lordship and I had talked for the whole journey. He was excited about his new squadron and I was, well, I was excited about everything. I had a nephew. Alice had been sorted out and I knew where I wanted to be years from now. In addition I was happy about the squadron. The Fokker Eindecker might be a scourge to others but I knew that my squadron could deal with them. For the first time in a long time I felt happy.
I was dropped at the station. “Keep in touch, Bill. If you ever want to transfer don’t wait until you get an idiot like Hamilton-Grant.”
“Right sir but we both know the Colonel is nothing like Hamilton-Grant.”
“You are right. Damn your loyalty!” Laughing he roared off making everyone around turn and stare at the car.
It is strange; a couple of years ago, maybe even a year ago I would have been embarrassed if anybody turned and stared, first at the car and then at me. I had changed. Being stared at did not matter. It was not even important what others thought of me. I had sterner critics whose opinion I valued; the men I flew with.
I was one of the first back. That was largely down to the flying Major who had got me down for an earlier train than I had planned. I reached the base, courtesy of a lift with a lorry heading for Loos, on the evening before I was due to return. I must have looked keen.
I dumped my bag and coat in my room and went to the officers’ mess. Gordy was in front of the fire with a glass of some spirit in his hand. He was more than a little drunk. “What the hell are you doing here? You aren’t due back until tomorrow.”
I smiled, “Major Burscough gave me a lift and I thought I would make your life a misery.”
“Huh, it’s that already. I had to leave Mary and then I have just spent a miserable week here with the bloody kindergarten.” He found the young officers like schoolboys. Having been a sergeant for a long period and working alongside older soldiers had coloured his judgement. I noticed that he was slurring his words and looked flushed. He was drunk.
I pointed to the drink. “Well you have made yourself comfortable. What is that?”
His elbow slipped on the arm of the chair and a little of the amber liquid spilled on his arm. He lapped it like a cat. “Brandy! I found a village down the road and they sell it there. I thought it was a bit rough at first but I think that must have been a bad bottle. The last two have been fine.”
I was shocked. I sniffed it. It smelled like petrol! Gordy was normally a beer man and to have downed three bottles of cheap brandy in less than a week was worrying. “Have the cooks finished for the day?”
“I just told them to make sandwiches. There is a pile in the dining room if you are hungry.”
“Have you eaten?”
He shook his head, “Wasn’t hungry.” He had another sip of the brandy. I took a chair and filled my pipe. It was comfortable although I noticed that the fire had almost gone out. I turned to Gordy, “The fire is…” He was asleep and the brandy was perilously close to spilling. I took it and the half smoked cigarette from his hand. I sniffed the brandy. It was one level up from paint stripper by the smell. I put the stopper back in the bottle and removed it from harm’s way. After I had banked the fire up I sat down with a plate of sandwiches.
Two heads peered around the door. It was the two lieutenants from Gordy’s flight. They looked worried. When they saw he was asleep they came in, looking relieved. “Did you have a good leave sir?”
“Never mind that, Dixon. Explain yourself.”
They tried to look innocent. “What do you mean sir?” I didn’t speak I just stared. Eventually Lieutenant Dixon said, “It’s just that when Lieutenant Hewitt has had a drink he shouts at us a bit. After two nights we decided to steer clear but it is warmer in here and he is normally asleep at this point.”
I nodded, “Don’t worry Dixon. He just disliked being on his own. The rest of the squadron is back tomorrow. There are sandwiches next door.”
They looked at my pile miserably. “We know, sir, but we preferred hot food. Mr Hewitt said sandwiches were good enough for him.”
”Did the colonel eat sandwiches?”
“No sir, the cooks made him the same meals as the sergeants ate.”
“Righto. Give me a hand and we’ll put him to bed.”
The three of us manhandled the corpselike Gordy and put him in his bed. He never moved and snored away blissfully. I spoke with the cooks and asked them to cook a hot meal for the three of us. I left the two lieutenants in the mess and went to the colonel’s quarters. The Royal Engineers had given him a bedroom and a small study.
I knocked on the door, “Come.” When I entered he beamed, “Back early. A bit keen eh?”
“No sir, I got a lift with Colonel Burscough.”
“Ah and have you eaten?”
“I had some sandwiches but I will eat with the lieutenants in a moment. Er Colonel, how has Gordy been lately? He seemed a little depressed to me.”
He nodded, “I am glad that you are all back. He has been a little morose and, I think, drinking more than is good for
one. I never judge and it seemed harmless but I wouldn’t like it to continue.” He gave me a pointed look. “You and Thomas are close to him…” He coughed, “I would prefer not to take disciplinary action. Do I make myself clear?”
I nodded, “Right sir.” I saw he had a map in front of him. “Plans for us sir?”
“Yes, Harsker, we are going to be escorting bombers and spotters for a while. It seems that we are one of only a handful of squadrons who are holding their own against the Fokkers. Lord Burscough’s new aeroplane, the DH 2, might be useful but they aren’t even in France yet.”
“Baby sitting eh sir?”
“Remember William, our job is to stop other pilots getting killed. It is damned expensive to train a pilot. The aeroplane is cheap by comparison. Some pilots are only lasting three hours over enemy territory. That is unacceptable. Even Freddy Carrick, our most junior officer has shot down a Fokker and lasted much longer than every other pilot who came out with him. The powers that be want to use that expertise.” I turned to go. “Oh by the way the promotions for Hutton and Laithwaite came through. They are both in your flight, I’ll let you tell them.” He reached into a drawer and brought out two sets of sergeant stripes.
“Thank you, sir. They’ll be pleased.”
“They deserve it. Oh and I haven’t heard yet about your medal. Damned pencil pushers.”
“Don’t worry, sir, you never miss what you have never had.” I had already been turned for one medal I suspected with my record they would turn this request down too. I was just happy that my men had been rewarded.
I ate with the lieutenants and explained to them our new role. I think they appreciated it. Gordy had not been himself; that much was clear.
Gordy was hung over the next day and could barely remember speaking with me. “How did I get to bed?”
“Me and your lads put you there.”
“Oh.”
We were alone in the mess and I decided to take the bull by the horns. “Gordy, you have to be less aggressive with your flight.”