Minerva

by June Hirst

  ‘This is magnificent, I could get used to this,’ she exclaimed to Victoria, who shrugged her shoulders and decided not to tell Minerva, that it paled into insignificance compared to the Ritz in London. She decided at that moment that the two of them would go to the Ritz on their next leave.

  ‘The top brass are not eating in here. There must be a private dining room. They must be having a hush, hush, meeting with someone. Oh look here come two more R.A.F, I bet they’re drivers too,’ Victoria said. ‘If we can get out of that garage and just be drivers we might have to think again about changing jobs, especially if we get to eat decent food like this.’

  ‘Don’t forget we’ll have to wash and polish these cars when we get back though,’ Minerva told her. The dining room became full and the two W.A.A.F.s received many admiring glances, as they enjoyed their roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.

  ‘This Yorkshire pudding is delicious,’ Victoria remarked.

  ‘Yes it is, and I’m a good judge. My Yorkshire Puddings are first class,’ Minerva replied.

  ‘I was going to ask you Min, will you come home with me, if we can wangle our next leave together. I’d love to show you London.’

  ‘Oh I don’t know Vic, I couldn’t ask you back and your parents might not want you bringing a mill girl home.’

  ‘Don’t be silly Min. You are now a beautiful W.A.A.F and you have more brains and sense than I have. They will be delighted to meet you. I’ve told them about you. I couldn’t have managed without you those first few weeks. Besides, you can make Yorkshire pudding for us. Mummy has to do the cooking now. Our cook died and the kitchen maids have all joined the forces.’

  ‘Well if you’re sure. I would love to visit London with you,’ Minerva replied with shining eyes.

  Just as they were finishing their tinned peaches and ice cream, the two R.A.F men came to their table,

  ‘Good afternoon Aircraft Women. Please will you join us for coffee in the lounge?’ one of them asked. ‘After all we are probably on the same mission.’ Both girls smiled,

  ‘Thank you, Yes we would like that,’ Victoria replied.

  When they were settled in the lounge and the waiter had served coffee, the four Air force personnel were ready for introductions.

  ‘Well, this is a bonus. A trip to York and drinking coffee with two beautiful W.A.A.F.s My name is Pete Saunders and this is John Wilson.’

  ‘I’m Victoria Jenkins-Jones and this is Minerva Wood,’ Victoria replied and all four shook hands.

  ‘We don’t have any W.A.A.F.s on our station. Where are you from?’ Pete asked.

  ‘R.A.F Brackston, there are twenty-four of us. We all volunteered, but more will be arriving soon,’ Victoria told him. Minerva remained silent, wishing that she could chat so naturally, like Victoria.

  ‘Where are you from?’ she forced herself to ask.

  ‘R.A.F Bilton in Lincolnshire. We had a longer journey than you. This meeting of the top dogs must be important. We are not as prepared for war in the air as the Luftwaffe, so I hope they are making good plans.’ John replied.

  Minerva felt the blood drain from her face. Her stomach contracted, nearly bringing back her lunch and her heart fluttered. R.A.F Bilton. Could Martin Moxon be stationed there? Victoria noticed,

  ‘Are you alright Minerva? You’re trembling. Take a sip of your coffee.’

  ‘Sorry it’s hot in here and we are not allowed to take off our jackets. I’m alright now.’

  ‘Are you a bomber or fighter plane station?’ Victoria asked.

  ‘Both at the moment, but we haven’t seen any action yet. The fighters keep taking off and more Wellington bombers have been delivered. I guess that is what they are discussing, whether we are a fighter station or a bomber station.’

  ‘Are you engineers in the garage or do you work on the planes?’ Minerva asked.

  ‘We are only in the garage. There is a very elite specialised team working on the planes. Sergeant Moxon would never let us near. He is an ace with all engines. They say that he has magic fingers.’ John replied.

  Minerva took a deep breath, coughed into her handkerchief and blew her nose to cover her distress. She remembered those fingers. When they had touched her shoulder in the weaving shed, they had aroused an incredible sensation, which had spread through her veins like fire, making her wish, that he would pull her into his arms and kiss her, with a fierce hungry passion. She could hardly breathe. She must pull herself together, before they noticed. She was aware that Victoria was conversing in the free and easy manner that came naturally to her. She stood up and took a deep breath.

  ‘Excuse me, I need some air,’ She said. The two men jumped up and Victoria looked at her questionably.

  ‘We had better prepare ourselves. They might soon be ready to return. We’ll see you outside.’ Victoria told them.

  When the two girls reached the sanctuary of the ladies room Minerva quickly disappeared into a cubicle. When she emerged Victoria was waiting for her.

  ‘Are you alright Min? You look very strange,’ she said.

  ‘Yes, it was just a shock.’

  ‘What was a shock?’

  ‘When they said that Sergeant Moxon had magic fingers,’ Minerva told her.

  ‘We have not had a drop of alcohol Minerva, whatever are you rambling on about?’

  ‘Oh Vic, Sergeant Moxon is Martin Moxon, I know that he is at that station now and I know that he is still looking for me. When John said magic fingers I remembered the sensations I felt when he touched me and then later when we danced, I wanted to be swept into a passionate place, where only pleasure mattered, but I ran away like Cinderella, because I knew that our love would be forbidden and I wanted to protect him,’ and she burst into tears.

  ‘Come here you silly softie. You are not Romeo and Juliet or Cinderella and the Prince. You are Minerva Wood and you are a beautiful, kind, intelligent girl and he is Sergeant Moxon. Let’s go and tell them.’

  ‘Oh no Victoria. No! Please don’t. I’m not ready to meet him again yet. He does not know that Minerva was really Minnie Wood, mill girl in shed number seven.’

  ‘But someone else might grab him. He might fall for someone else!’ Victoria reasoned.

  ‘I will never fall in love with someone else, so if he does then it will be fate and there is nothing I can do about it.’ She splashed her face with cold water and replaced her hat.

  ‘Come along Air Craft Woman 3036 Jenkins-Jones. Let’s return to duty.’ The two men were waiting for them by the cars.

  ‘I wish you two beauties were on our station. Minerva and Victoria are beautiful names. I look forward to our paths crossing again. ‘Pete said.

  ‘Sergeant Moxon might let you two near his precious planes. He has learned to fly and nobody can land a plane as gently as he can,’ John told them. We call him Magic Moxon behind his back or M.M. for short’. Victoria stepped in quickly and changed the subject, but just then the officers appeared and they all jumped to attention and whispered ‘Goodbye’. The officers shook hands and entered their cars looking very pleased with themselves.

  When they arrived back at camp the Nisson huts had been erected. Vanessa was bursting to tell them her news. There was to be a New Year’s Eve Ball in the Officer’s Mess with a top band from York and they were all going to be invited. Minerva immediately realized that she had nothing to wear. The other girls had brought back party dresses, which they had worn at Christmas. Vanessa would be on duty behind the bar, but she had been given a long black satin skirt and a white blouse by the Commanding Officer’s wife. Victoria noticed her crestfallen face.

  ‘Oh goodie, goodie, we’ll have to press the dresses that we hid in the cupboard Minerva. You are much better at that than me thank goodness.’

  ‘Where have you been all day?’ Angela asked. ‘Sergeant Benson has been looking for you.’ Angela would love to get them into trouble.

  ‘Yes, where have you been?’ Vanessa asked.

  ‘York,’ they both replied.


  ‘You are for it now. How did you manage to sneak out?’ Angela asked.

  ‘We were on duty little miss clever clogs. We were duty drivers and we had a splendid lunch at the station hotel, as well as meeting two gorgeous Airmen from Lincolnshire.’ Victoria announced.

  ‘You lucky beggars,’ they all replied and Angela looked very annoyed.

  ‘There is a Christmas tree and beautiful decorations in the officer’s mess and some of the wives aren’t half posh.’ Vanessa told them. ‘There will be plenty to eat and drink but I expect concrete knickers Benson will be watching us.’

  ‘Well I hope that you will behave yourself then, because bad behaviour reflects upon us all,’ Angela smugly told her.

  ‘Hark at the Reverend Mother,’ Vanessa replied and they all laughed.

  There was great excitement on New Year’s Eve day. All twenty-four girls had baths and washed their hair. Minerva was glad that she had received such beautiful toiletries from Muriel and Ben. She had rinsed her hair with a camomile infusion and her curls gleamed like gold. She sighed, Martin would see his Minerva tonight if he were here. Victoria has insisted that she wore her beautiful pink cocktail dress, which she said she could not possibly wear, as it clashed with her auburn hair. Minerva was pleased she had brought the shoes that Jessie had helped to choose, for the Town Hall dance and she still had her precious silk stockings. Victoria was wearing green, which complemented her auburn curls and reflected her sparkling green eyes.

  ‘We will enjoy ourselves this time Min. Last time you ended up in sick bay at death’s door. Poor Sergeant Jenkins was devastated,’ Victoria said.

  ‘Do you think that he will be there?’ Minerva asked.

  ‘I don’t think so. All the flying officers will be there. We haven’t met them yet. They are a ‘devil may care’ lot but I mean to bag myself one. And you had better forget Martin Moxon and enjoy yourself tonight my girl,’ Victoria told her.

  Minerva smiled and the two girls put on their coats and then arm in arm ventured out into the pitch darkness and followed the white lines to the officer’s mess. When they entered they blinked in the bright lights. A large Christmas tree, in one corner, was sparkling with fairy lights and golden garlands were festooned across the room. Vanessa waved to them from behind the bar, where several officers were keeping her company. They all turned to see who she was greeting.

  ‘Wow chaps! What have we here, it’s every man for himself,’ one of them exclaimed, as he dashed across the floor to greet them. ‘Good evening Ladies and welcome to our den. I’m Flight Officer Richardson, but my friends call me Ricky. May I have this dance and maybe you will tell me your name?’ And he swept Minerva onto the floor as the band played one of Glen Miller’s tunes, ‘In the Mood’.

  Minerva smiled a tight little smile and told herself to forget Martin Moxon, for the time being, and enjoy herself. After all, if rumours were correct, these flying officers would only have a short life and she owed it to the war effort to be pleasant. Ricky did not resemble Martin in the least and he proved to be a very amusing escort. She could see that Victoria was staying with the Flying Officer who had claimed her, so she must be enjoying herself. They danced endlessly until the interval was announced and welcome refreshments were produced. They joined Victoria and her partner who was called Parky. Ricky and Parky were very good company and both girls were enjoying themselves.

  ‘Look out, Benson at 2 o’clock,’ Victoria muttered, as Sergeant Benson made a beeline for them. They both jumped to attention, much to the amusement of Parky and Ricky. Sergeant Benson scowled at the two officers,

  ‘Good evening Wood and Jones. I see that you are enjoying yourselves. Remember!’ and she turned and left them. Victoria and Minerva giggled, as they returned to their seats.

  ‘What have you to remember girls?’ Parky mischievously asked.

  ‘To keep our knickers on,’ Victoria cheekily answered and Minerva blushed. The two men roared with laughter.

  Minerva saw Sergeant Jenkins arrive, but she knew that he would not approach her when she was with a flying officer and she felt uncomfortable. There’s a war on, she told herself and joined in the conversation. They told about their journey to York and the men were very interested and glanced knowingly at each other.

  ‘Does the old battle axe let you out? There are good cinemas in York. Would you both like to go with us?’ Parky asked.

  ‘We would love to go with you,’ Minerva replied and Victoria was pleased that she was becoming more confident.

  The band returned and dancing commenced. This time Ricky held Minerva closer and she once again remembered dancing with Martin. Ricky’s strong arm moved up and down her back and his cheek was against hers.

  ‘You are fabulously beautiful Minerva, you send tingles around my body,’ Ricky whispered.

  Minerva swallowed hard and smiled into his eyes. Then she felt guilty, because she was experiencing strange sensations herself.

  When the last waltz was played Parky and Ricky held the two girls very closely, breathing in the freshness of their beautiful hair and gently kissing it. Both girls were enjoying the intimacy. One girl, joyfully and the other girl, guiltily. At midnight, emotionally, everyone joined crossed hands in a large circle and lustily sang Auld Lang Syne and then stood to attention and reverently sang the National Anthem. The Padre took his place in the centre of the circle. Everyone bowed their heads.

  ‘Let us pray.’ ‘Heavenly Father, in your wisdom, guide us and give us strength and wisdom to do what is right. May we defend this beloved country of ours. God bless us all as we enter the year 1940 and may we all continue to serve you and our country. Amen.’ Everyone was silent, thinking their own thoughts. Then suddenly back to normal and bedlam, as everyone started wishing Happy New Year and all the girls were being kissed, even Sergeant Benson.

  Ricky and Parky insisted on walking the girls home and their goodnight kisses became more and more passionate, as their hands began to wander under the protection of the great coats. The other girls arrived and the kissing had to stop, as Angela opened the door and like a bossy mother, broke up the passion.

  They all quickly rolled into their beds tired and happy, whatever 1940 might bring.

  Chapter 7

  On the cold winter days of January 1940 the twenty-four W.A.A.F.s were glad to huddle round their stoves, when they were not on duty. Even Victoria had learned how to keep the fire burning. They had nicknamed the stove in hut number one ‘Samson’. Its’ humanised form amused them. Vanessa had managed to ‘borrow’ some white paint and they had painted a face on Samson. Sergeant Benson had decided to turn a blind eye, realising the bleak conditions were bad for morale.

  Angela was being her usual awkward self, when the door burst open and Molly and Shirley, dashed in slamming the door behind them. Samson objected, by puffing smoke out of his draught door. The girls coughed and spluttered.

  ‘Don’t bang the door you daft beggars,’ Angela shouted.

  ‘Sorry,’ they both replied, ‘but we dashed back to tell you that food rationing has started. All civilians can only have their allotted rations now and we shall be rationed as well.’

  ‘Bloody Hell! We don’t exactly get over fed now!’ Vanessa exclaimed.

  ‘Well from now on you will only get 4oz of bacon a week, so enjoy it.’ Molly told her.

  ‘What else is rationed?’ Minerva asked.

  ‘Butter, sugar and meat , so we are going to have to use margarine,’ Molly said.

  ‘Everything is going to be rationed,’ Shirley told them, ‘There are going to be lectures on how to cook, economically, with wartime food. It’s because the German submarines are attacking the merchant ships bringing our food supplies.’

  ‘It will get worse,’ Angela morosely replied, ‘It’s only just starting. We have had five months of little action and the war seemed far away, but suddenly I feel ominous rumblings approaching.’

  ‘Don’t be so melodramatic,’ Vanessa replied. ‘It’s just your e
mpty stomach rumbling and so is mine. Come on everyone grab your irons. Let’s go eat up, while we can and then there’s music in the N.A.A.F.I.’

  Victoria and Minerva dawdled behind for a few minutes. They had been asked to go to the cinema in York with Parky and Ricky. They made their beds and put the pillow under the blankets. If they were caught absent after lights out they would be on a charge. Vanessa had promised to cover for them and threaten Angela with dire trouble if she complained. There was no moon. It was pitch black and Sergeant Benson would think twice, before she did a random check. The flying officers seemed to be able to come and go as they pleased when the fleet was grounded. Most of the fighter planes had been removed to be replaced by a squadron of Wellington bombers, but Parky and Ricky and a few more had remained to defend the station in case of an attack by enemy bombers.

  After dinner Minerva and Victoria groped their way, in pitch darkness, to the assignation point, where they could see two lighted cigarettes. Parky and Ricky were leaned against a jeep waiting for them.

  ‘Jump in our passion wagon you two little blue bird beauties,’ Ricky whispered.

  ‘We’ll have a less of that you cheeky article,’ Minerva replied and Victoria giggled as they jumped in the back seat.

  ‘Get on the floor under the travel rug,’ Parky told them. The two girls obeyed and the vehicle passed through the barrier.

  ‘Phew, we’ve escaped,’ Victoria said, ‘York here we come.’

  ‘Watch out carefully girls, you have memorised this journey, please make sure that we don’t take a wrong turning,’ Parky said.

  Slowly the vehicle travelled on, with dim headlights, through the pitch black evening, without taking a wrong turn. They arrived in time for the start of the Pathe News, which was showing the German Concrete Fortification called the Siegfried Line. Suddenly the audience burst into song,