The Uncertain Years

by Beryl Matthews

  ‘We’ll tell you what happened, won’t we?’ Reg asked the others, and then turned back to Will when they all nodded in agreement.

  ‘Thanks. And lastly, I’m here to take you all home. The Queen Mary’s been turned into a troop ship, and we’re sailing on her in three days.’

  A cheer went up and two nurses appeared. ‘Quiet! There are a lot of sick people here.’

  ‘Sorry, Nurse.’ Bob lowered his voice. ‘But we’ll soon be out of your way. We’re going home!’

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  There was a stream of American soldiers boarding the Queen Mary. Will, Bob, Reg and the rest of the British sailors watched the scene from an upper deck.

  ‘What a good job you got us on early,’ Bob told Will. ‘This ship is going to be packed, and I suppose you’ll be gathering stories during the crossing.’

  ‘That’s why I’m here. I’m hoping to get quite a few reports from this.’ He grinned at his friend. ‘And to bring you back, of course.’

  ‘Hmm. How did you wangle it?’

  Will laughed. ‘When I found out where you were I put in a request to report on the Americans coming over.’

  ‘And they fell for it.’

  ‘I can be persuasive when necessary – and I had Becky hounding me for information about you. She only stopped pestering me when I told her I was coming to get you.’

  ‘Ah well, you didn’t have a choice then. When Becky decides something needs doing there’s no arguing with her.’ Bob turned his attention back to the dock again and leant on the rail. ‘How’s that colonel of hers?’

  Will frowned. ‘I’ve no idea if there’s something between them. He won’t talk about it, and she insists they are just friends.’

  Bob nodded. ‘A relationship between them would be fraught with difficulties, and Becky’s not daft. Every aspect of getting involved with an officer will be weighed up and thought through with the utmost care. What’s your opinion of him?’

  ‘He’s a career soldier, and at a guess, around ten years older than Becky. He’s at least six feet with sandy-coloured hair. I’d class him as handsome in a tough kind of way, although this is tempered by a sense of humour and a ready smile. He’s a brave man, as I saw at Dunkirk, and is greatly respected by his men.’ Will took a deep breath. ‘But I am concerned for Becky; she can declare all she likes that there is nothing romantic between them, but I’m not sure. She could get hurt.’

  ‘I’m sure you don’t need to worry about that, Will.’ Bob slapped his friend on the back. ‘Our girl’s got a good head on her shoulders, and can take care of herself. We’ve brought her up well,’ he said with a laugh.

  ‘That’s more or less what the colonel told me.’

  ‘Blimey, Will, you didn’t ask him about his intentions towards your sister, did you?’

  A smile touched Will’s mouth as he remembered the encounter. ‘I did hint at it, and he more or less told me to mind my own business. In a very gentlemanly way, of course.’

  ‘I can imagine.’ They were both smiling now. ‘Don’t ever tell Becky this, or she’ll have your hide.’

  ‘I’m not daft either. Anyway, she’s mellowed a bit now she’s all grown up. She’s turned into a damned good driver, and spends most of her time driving the top brass around.’

  Reg, who had been listening to the conversation, said, ‘Hey Will, when we get back I’d like to meet your sister. She sounds smashing.’

  ‘If we ever get home the same time as her, I’ll see what I can do, but if you fancy her then you’ll have some serious competition.’

  ‘I gathered that. Ah, it looks like they’re finally all aboard. Now perhaps we can get under way.’

  Two days later it was pouring with rain and they were all below decks passing the time by playing cards.

  ‘Have you seen this?’ Will came and sat with them, holding out a small booklet.

  ‘Hmm.’ Bob threw down his hand of cards. ‘You win again, Reg.’

  ‘We’ve all got one.’ Harry fished it out of his pocket.

  ‘Any of you read it?’

  ‘Why would we want to read it? It’s telling the Americans about Britain. They’ve just handed them out to everyone on board.’ Bob began to shuffle the cards.

  ‘Read it, I’d like to know what you think of it.’ Will watched the expressions of amusement on their faces as they read the booklet.

  ‘Well?’ he asked, when they’d all turned the last page.

  Bob smirked. ‘This should be a help to our American friends – as long as they don’t take it too seriously. It makes some valid points though. It’s right to mention the differences in our language or they could shock some of the locals. We’ve been to New York several times, and we know how easy it is to say the wrong thing.’ Bob tucked the booklet back in his pocket. ‘I must show this to Becky when I get a chance.’

  ‘I’ve got her a copy, Bob.’

  They continued to discuss the differences in their culture when a group of American soldiers approached them. ‘Mind if we join you?’ one of them asked.

  ‘Not at all; grab some chairs.’ Will was already pulling his notebook out of his jacket pocket.

  There was much moving around to make room for the six men. Names were exchanged, and one called Hal asked, ‘What are you guys doing on a troop ship? You’re not part of the crew.’

  ‘We were picked up by one of your merchant ships after our destroyer was sunk by a U-boat,’ Reg explained. ‘We’re going home after spending just over a week in hospital.’

  ‘Gee, that’s tough.’

  ‘More than that, mate.’ Harry’s mouth set in a grim line. ‘We were the only ones to survive.’

  The soldiers cast worried glances at each other, and one by the name of Greg had lost all colour in his face. ‘Um … how long before you were picked up?’

  ‘A couple of weeks.’ Bob felt sorry for the boy, for that was all he was. He supposed they’d all seemed like that at first, but they’d had to grow up quickly, and felt more mature than these fresh-faced youngsters.

  ‘Getting on for three weeks,’ Reg corrected. ‘You were in a bad way and didn’t know what was going on most of the time.’

  ‘Listen to who’s talking,’ Harry chided. ‘I remember you threatening to walk back to England, saying you’d had enough of looking at bloody sea. We had to hold you back.’

  ‘What makes you think I couldn’t have done?’ Reg joked. ‘My feet are big enough.’

  The sailors all burst into laughter. It might have seemed strange to others that they could joke about their ordeal, but it was their way of coping with it.

  Greg didn’t see the funny side and began handing around cigarettes with a slightly shaking hand.

  Bob took one and smiled at the American as he dragged his chair closer to Bob. ‘Where are you from?’

  ‘Boston – and you?’

  ‘London.’

  ‘What’s it like there?’ Greg drew deeply on his cigarette. ‘We’ve heard such terrible stories.’

  ‘Well, everything’s in short supply, and the bombing has been bad, but you’ll find everyone’s getting on with things. There are dances, concerts and cinemas you can go to, and the pubs, of course. Your big bands like Glenn Miller are very popular.’

  ‘Really? Hey, that’s great. Do you hear that? They like swing music over there.’ Greg turned his attention back to Bob. ‘Do you think the U-boats are out there now?’

  ‘They’ll be there, but the ocean is a big place, and the Queen Mary’s a fast ship, so the chances of them spotting us are slim.’ Bob was pleased to see the boy relax a little.

  ‘Ah, well, you should know about these things.’ He actually smiled. ‘Would you tell me what to expect when we land?’

  ‘Of course.’ Bob glanced at Will, but he was too busy making notes of the conversations between the different groups.

  They had attracted a large gathering around them, and there was much laughter as the British sailors explained the differences the Am
ericans were likely to encounter once they were ashore. Bottles of beer arrived, along with packets and packets of cigarettes.

  By the end of the evening the worry had cleared from Greg’s face, but he still stuck close to Bob. ‘If everyone’s as great as you guys then it won’t be so bad. This is the first time I’ve ever been away from home, and my folks are real worried because I’m going to a country under attack.’

  ‘You’ll be all right, mate.’ Reg slapped him on the back. ‘Where are you being stationed?’

  ‘Um …’ Greg fished a paper out of his pocket. ‘A place called Medstead, in Hampshire.’

  ‘Ah, you’ll like it there. They’ve got some good pubs, as long as you don’t mind warm beer. You’ll get used to it though.’

  ‘Hey, I’ve heard about the English pubs,’ Hal said. ‘A neighbour’s son was one of the first to land in England at the end of January, and he told them the pubs are great.’

  This started another long discussion as the rest of the soldiers wanted to know about these places.

  By eleven o’clock, Bob was so tired he could hardly keep his eyes open. He got to his feet. ‘Sorry to leave you, but I’ve got to get some sleep.’

  ‘Me too.’ Reg stubbed out his cigarette. ‘What about you, Will?’

  ‘I’ll stay a while longer, but the rest of you should call it a night. You’ve only just come out of hospital.’

  The worry returned to Greg’s face. ‘Oh, hell, we should have thought of that. You mustn’t overdo it. Can we talk some more tomorrow, Bob?’

  ‘Of course. I’ll see you on the promenade deck after breakfast, shall I?’

  ‘That’ll be just fine. Don’t rush though. I’ll wait around for you.’ He smiled. ‘You sleep well.’

  ‘And you. There’s nothing to worry about, Greg; you’ll be fine in England.’

  ‘Yeah, I think I will.’

  All the sailors were weary now and walked to their bunks together. ‘Looks like you’ve made a friend,’ Harry said.

  Bob nodded. ‘The poor devil has been taken from home and family for the first time in his life, put on a ship sailing through hostile waters to a country he’s heard terrible tales about. It’s enough to worry anyone.’

  ‘Some of them are taking it as a great adventure,’ Reg remarked, stifling a yawn. ‘We should be able to sleep tonight. I’m tired out with all that talking.’

  They had the luxury of a section all to themselves as they had just come out of hospital, which was a good thing. They laughed and joked during the day, but at night it wasn’t unusual for one or two to have nightmares. Their nights were often restless and disturbed. The doctors had told them they would gradually fade, and Bob hoped this was so as he climbed into his bunk.

  The next morning Bob was up early, and enjoying a quiet smoke while most of the others were still asleep. He liked to lean on the rail and watch the sea, picking out the many different colours. After all those days in the lifeboat he had wondered if he would ever enjoy the sea again, but he did. It could be incredibly cruel, but also very beautiful.

  ‘Hey, I didn’t expect to see you around so early.’ Greg came and stood beside him. ‘Didn’t you sleep well?’

  ‘I had a few hours.’ He offered the American a cigarette.

  ‘No offence, Bob, but your cigarettes are terrible. Have one of mine.’

  ‘Thanks. Couldn’t you sleep?’

  ‘I’ve always been an early riser. I like to watch the dawn coming up.’ Greg leant on the rail beside Bob. ‘You know, I’ve never been to sea before, but I like it, and if it wasn’t for the thought of U-boats lurking beneath the waves, I would find it quite fascinating. You got a girl back home?’

  ‘Not really. There’s Will’s sister, Becky.’ Bob then told him about the way the four of them had grown up together, and how the war had split them up for the first time in their lives.

  ‘You sound like a fine family, and I hope I’ll be able to meet folks like yours. My mom told me to mix as much as I can and not stay with a bunch of soldiers all the time. She said we all need to be kind to each other in this war.’

  ‘Your mother sounds like a nice woman.’

  Greg nodded. ‘She’s great, and so is my Pa. I miss them already.’

  ‘Tell you what.’ Bob wrote on an empty cigarette packet and handed it to the American. ‘That’s our address. We’ve moved to the outskirts of London now, so if you feel like it any time, go and visit my parents. I’ll tell them you might turn up one day.’

  Greg looked quite overcome as he took the packet from Bob. ‘Gee, thanks, I’d like that. You sure they wouldn’t mind?’

  ‘They’d be pleased to see you. You’d be able to meet Will and Becky’s parents as well because we all share the same house.’

  He placed the packet carefully in his pocket, beaming with pleasure. ‘Just wait till I write home about this. Did you move to get away from the bombing?’

  ‘We didn’t have any choice. Our three houses were flattened one bad night, and two of our friends – Jim’s parents – were killed in the raid.’ Bob drew deeply on his cigarette. ‘Becky was in London helping with the rescue work, and was horrified when she saw a bloody great crater where our houses had once been. When I arrived home for the funeral I couldn’t go and look. I didn’t want to see the place we’d called home in ruins.’

  ‘That’s terrible; I’m so sorry. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to find your home wasn’t there any more.’

  ‘It’s a shock, but you just have to get over it.’

  ‘Yeah, I guess so. Thanks for telling me that. We’ve been told not to ask what people have been through, in case they don’t want to talk about it. My Ma said we mustn’t be nosy; people will talk if they want to.’ Greg studied Bob for a while, then said, ‘You tell me to shut up if I start asking questions you don’t want to answer, but I’d sure like to know as much as possible before we land in your country. I’ve read every newspaper, listened to radio reports, and seen picture newsreels, but they don’t tell the whole story. That rescue from France was an unbelievable operation. Were you there, Bob?’

  ‘Dunkirk?’ Bob shook his head. ‘You need to talk to Will about that. He was in one of the little boats.’

  ‘What?’ Greg gasped. ‘He never said anything about that last night.’

  ‘No one asked him.’ The more Bob talked with this young American, the more he liked him. There was no secret about Will’s exploits, they had been widely reported on, so he grinned and said, ‘I’ll tell you something else my crazy friend has done, shall I?’

  Greg was nodding enthusiastically.

  ‘He hitched a ride in a Wellington Bomber and went with them on a raid over Berlin.’

  ‘Ow hell, Bob, you guys are amazing.’ Greg was waving his arms in excitement. ‘I gotta talk to Will. Is he up yet?’

  ‘He was awake when I came up here, and knowing Will, he’s probably at breakfast by now.’

  ‘Let’s go and find him. Can we find him, Bob? Will he tell me about this? Will he mind talking to me?’

  ‘Of course he won’t mind. It’s his job as a war correspondent to write and talk about the war.’

  Catching hold of Bob’s arm and towing him along, they hurried towards the dining room.

  ‘Where are you two off to in such a darned hurry?’ Hal stopped them.

  ‘We’ve got to find Will.’ Greg was bursting with excitement. ‘I’ve just found out he was in one of the little boats at Dunkirk, and he went on a bombing raid over Berlin. And Bob’s home was completely destroyed by bombs, and Will’s sister was in London helping with the rescue services. She’s in the army …’

  ‘Whoa!’ Bob laughed as Greg’s words tumbled out. ‘Don’t forget to breathe.’

  The American gave a sheepish smile. ‘I do get excited. My Pa’s always telling me to calm down.’ Greg caught hold of Hal’s arm. ‘Bob said I can visit his folks,’ he said proudly.

  ‘Hey, that’s great.’ Hal peered around Greg so he could
see Bob. ‘Could I tag along as well? We won’t be no trouble.’

  ‘Of course you can. I’ll tell my parents to expect two of you.’

  ‘Thanks. Now, let’s find Will.’

  He was tucking into a huge breakfast, and grinned as Bob sat next to him. ‘Did you ever see so much food? There’s enough on my plate to feed one person for a week at home.’

  ‘Don’t get used to it,’ Bob reminded him. ‘Once we arrive home it will be back to normal rations.’

  ‘We’d better make the most of it then. Go and get your breakfast. The ham just melts in your mouth.’

  Bob leant over to whisper to his friend. ‘I’m afraid I’ve dropped you in it. Greg and Hal want to know all about Dunkirk and your bombing raid. Here they come with their food. Best of luck.’

  After an uneventful voyage, much to the relief of many on board, the big ship edged her way into Southampton, and the Americans were crowding the rails to get their first glimpse of England. The British sailors were silent, each with their own thoughts. They were alive, and they were home. It was an emotional moment for them, but even after everything they had gone through, not one of them allowed the emotions to show.

  The dock was bustling with activity as preparations were made to deal with the large contingent of soldiers arriving. It would be quite an operation to disembark and get them all transferred to their bases.

  They had said their goodbyes to those they had become friendly with on the trip. Greg and Hal were going to write to Bob, and Will had taken a list of names, as he wanted to follow their progress as they settled in a country they knew little about.

  As soon as the gangplanks were in place, a couple of British medics made their way on board, spoke to a member of the crew, and then headed for the sailors.

  ‘Looks like they’re coming for us,’ Reg said.

  ‘They are,’ Will told them. ‘You’re all going to hospital first. They’ve got to see what shape you’re in, and you’ll each have to give a report of exactly what happened.’

  ‘I can tell them that in one sentence.’ Bob scowled. ‘Two torpedoes from a U-boat hit us.’