Mrs Boots Goes to War

by Deborah Carr

  Florence left the factory and returned to her office anxious to make a difference for herself and the other women fearing for the lives of the men they loved, and determined to do all she could to help. She rested her elbows on her desk and cupped her chin in her palms. She might not know what the outcome of this war was going to be, but she did know that she was not going to sit by and do nothing. This battle was one that needed to be fought from home ground as well as on foreign soil. She didn’t know exactly how she and Jesse could help at that moment but was certain that with their skilled staff and her and Jesse’s innovative ideas, there would be ways that they could help the war effort. She stood and went through to Jesse’s office.

  ‘I’ve been thinking, Jesse,’ she said, walking around her husband’s desk to kiss him on his forehead.

  ‘Should I be concerned?’ he teased without looking up from the paperwork in front of him.

  ‘I don’t think so. I’ve just been speaking to one of my girls. She is distressed because her husband has enlisted. I think it’s time we focused our attention on some of those ideas we’ve been discussing recently. We might not be able to physically leave for war but there’s nothing stopping us joining the war effort from here.’

  Jesse looked up at her. He held out a twisted hand for her to take. ‘I agree. We can and will do all we can to keep our boy and other people’s sons safe. Take a seat and let’s work on a few of our thoughts. We must decide exactly what our next move will be and what’s needed. Then we’ll plan how best to produce it.’

  ‘Yes,’ she said determined to do her bit to ensure John and men like him were given every support possible from Boots while they were fighting so far from home.

  Jesse winced. She hated to see him in pain and knew better than to ask him about it when he was working. She waited for him to speak. ‘I think the first thing we should do is contact the British Forces and find out what they need most.’

  ‘Good idea.’ She tried to picture where these extra departments would fit in their current factories. ‘We’ll need to employ more staff to do this added work too, won’t we?’

  Jesse nodded thoughtfully. ‘We will.’

  Florence realised now was as good a time as any to mention some of the losses of staff they had already suffered. ‘We’ve also had several women give notice to work in munitions factories.’

  Jesse frowned. ‘Why would they do that? Those places will be incredibly dangerous.’

  She thought so too, but apart from trying to persuade the women to stay at Boots or advise them about the downsides of working in munitions, Florence couldn’t see what else she could do to stop them. Thankfully, she thought, there had only been a few so far.

  ‘I agree,’ Florence replied. ‘I think though that right now our real difficulty is going to be finding new men to take over in the areas where their strength is needed.’

  ‘Also working out what new products we can begin producing for our own war effort and putting the departments and staff into place that we’ll need to carry out the work.’

  She looked at her husband who, despite everything he had to contend with each day, still maintained his control over the company. ‘You mentioned yesterday that we’re almost at the end of our supplies of aspirin and saccharin.’

  ‘We are,’ he groaned. Florence could see how concerned he was at the thought of not being able to supply things that they usually did from the factories. ‘I knew our supply of chemicals we import from Germany would be cut as soon as we went to war. Now, though, we urgently need to come up with other ways of obtaining these products. I’ve been working on an idea of how to resolve this.’

  ‘Don’t look so worried,’ she said trying to reassure him. ‘You always find a solution to the problems we face. You’re a clever and very resourceful man, Jesse Boot. Do you know that?’

  He laughed. ‘I try my best.’

  ‘Any thoughts on what we’re going to do?’

  ‘A few.’ He frowned. ‘It looks like we’re going to need to work on new manufacturing processes in order to develop the supplies ourselves. It’ll be better for us in the long run if we do it this way despite the initial outlay in funds to cover the work. But at least then we’ll no longer be beholden to other countries for those products.’

  Florence heard a quiet but distinct knock on Jesse’s office door.

  ‘Come in,’ Jesse called.

  Miss Tweed opened the door and looked from Jesse to Florence. She seemed concerned about something and, Florence thought, whatever it was must be urgent, otherwise her secretary would never have interrupted her when she was in Jesse’s office with the door closed.

  ‘Yes, Miss Tweed?’ Florence said. ‘Were you wanting me for something?’

  ‘Yes, Lady Boot. I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation but there are a few members of staff who’ve come up to speak to you.’ She stepped into the room and closed the door quietly behind her. ‘I have a feeling they’re going to be giving notice.’

  Florence felt a familiar anxiety coursing through her. She closed her eyes briefly to compose herself.

  ‘Why are they all leaving when we need them most?’ Jesse asked.

  Florence knew he was well aware of the answer. War work sounded much more exciting than coming to work in a factory or store each day. She didn’t blame the younger people for wanting to be in the thick of things and travel but wondered how long they would be kept in paid employment should the war end by Christmas, or soon after. She stood and thanked her secretary. ‘Please tell them I’ll be along directly.’

  ‘We seem to be losing staff most days now,’ Jesse grumbled. ‘We need more of them to come and work for us not fewer, if we’re to do all that we intend for this war effort.’

  ‘I understand that, Jesse. There’s nothing we can do though if staff want to leave.’ She walked around his desk and kissed his forehead. ‘I’d better go and speak to them now.’

  Florence welcomed in the fifth member of staff who had come up to her office to speak to her. She checked the notes that Miss Tweed had given to her earlier and saw that this girl’s name was Doris Traynor.

  ‘Good morning, Doris,’ she said smiling and indicating one of the chairs opposite her desk. ‘Please, take a seat.’ The girl, whose hands Florence noticed were shaking slightly, did as she was asked. Florence tried to put her at her ease. It can’t be easy coming up here to speak to me, she thought. As much as she tried her best to encourage her staff to relax in her presence, she was aware that despite their respectful and appreciative behaviour, her position in the company, as well as her imposing height and now having the title Lady Boot, gave her a rather larger-than-life presence.

  ‘Thank you, Lady Boot.’ Doris’s voice trembled as she spoke.

  ‘I presume you’ve come to give me your notice?’

  Doris’s eyes widened briefly. Surely, she wasn’t surprised by her comment, Florence thought. ‘You’re not the first, even today, I’m sorry to say.’

  Doris gave Florence a guilty look. ‘I have, Lady Boot. Sorry.’

  ‘No, that’s fine. May I ask why you’ve decided to leave Boots?’ She kept her voice gentle, not wishing to intimidate the girl any more than she already seemed to be doing.

  ‘I want to join the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry.’ She looked down at her hands. ‘That is to say,’ she added as her cheeks reddened, ‘I signed up with them yesterday.’

  Florence’s mouth fell open, surprised that the girl had already taken steps to move on from her position at Boots. She immediately closed it. ‘Is this who they refer to as the FANYs?’

  ‘That’s right.’

  Florence was intrigued. She had heard these women mentioned but, unlike VADs, who helped nursing staff, she had little idea what these women did. ‘Do you know what you’ll be expected to do?’ Doris nodded. ‘And if you’ll be staying here in England?’

  ‘I’ll be doing whatever is expected of me. We help where we’re most needed and do things like change bandages, drive am
bulances. Although I’ve yet to learn to drive,’ she added as a seeming afterthought.

  Florence admired Doris’s bravery in leaving all that was familiar and signing up to do something when she didn’t know what exactly it could be or where she would be stationed. She could see the passion in the girl’s face and hear it in her voice. The shy girl who had momentarily before entered her office was gone.

  ‘I’m hoping to go to France,’ Doris continued. ‘With a few friends who have also joined the FANYs.’

  Florence knew it was far too late for her to try to persuade Doris to stay working at Boots. Nor did she feel she had the right. She wouldn’t have listened if anyone had tried to stop her leaving Jersey when she was younger to follow her dreams with Jesse. This girl had made up her mind and was obviously excited to go. Florence couldn’t help feeling a thrill of excitement for her.

  ‘Then I wish you well, Doris. Just please do try to stay out of any danger, if possible. And, when the war is over, if you wish to, do come back and see if there’s an opening for you here.’

  ‘Thank you very much, Lady Boot,’ she said, standing. ‘I really appreciate you saying that. My mum will be grateful when I tell her what you’ve said, too. She’s upset that I’m leaving such a good job and worried about what will become of me after all this is over.’

  ‘Please then tell her there’s no need to be concerned. You do all that you must and come back to me when you’re ready. Good luck, Doris.’

  Doris thanked her employer as Florence saw the girl out. She hated the sense of loss she felt at losing yet another competent girl but, before she had any time to dwell, invited the next member of staff into her office.

  By the end of the morning, she had accepted the resignation of seven members of staff. Florence sat back in her chair and stared at a picture on her wall of the most recent opening of one of their stores. Boots had been going from strength to strength over the past twenty years but now it looked like they were going to have a problem keeping their enthusiastic staff. It wasn’t surprising, she supposed, not when there seemed to be so much excitement out there for young people to become involved in. She didn’t blame them for a moment, but struggled to imagine how they would manage to create new departments and find the staff to work in them if so many of their present staff kept leaving.

  She hadn’t noticed Miss Tweed enter but smiled to see her placing a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit on the desk in front of her. ‘Thank you, Miss Tweed.’

  ‘It’s such a difficult time, isn’t it, Lady Boot?’

  Florence sighed miserably. ‘It is. For all of us.’ She clasped her hands together. ‘I understand them wanting to go but Jesse and I saw a few of the first wounded men being brought back to Nottingham only yesterday.’ She shivered at the recollection. ‘Some of their injuries are horrendous. I worry what might happen to our staff when they do get to the Front, or wherever it is that they end up.’ Florence pushed away the thought of John being badly injured. She must not allow herself to even consider such a thing, she thought anxiously as she rubbed her tired eyes. ‘I’ve lost several girls to munitions factories. Those are the jobs that frighten me the most. All those explosives under one roof with those women working long hours to fill the shells. It can’t be safe, surely?’

  Her secretary gave her a solemn nod. ‘It’s true. I worry that some of these young people are so entranced by the thought of more excitement in their life that they don’t understand the risks they might be taking.’

  Miss Tweed was right, Florence knew that. Then again, she thought, none of them knew how this new type of war would develop. She couldn’t help thinking that there would be many shocks coming to them all before this war was over and could not manage to shake her fear that the worst was still to come. ‘Do any of us know the risks, really?’

  ‘I suppose not.’

  Florence smiled at the loyal woman standing in front of her. ‘As long as you don’t decide to leave Boots, Miss Tweed, then I’m sure I’ll be able to cope with whatever is thrown our way.’

  Miss Tweed’s cheeks reddened. ‘There’s no fear of that, Lady Boot. I love working here for you and have no wish to go elsewhere, war or no war.’

  Florence rested her palms on her leather desktop. ‘That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. Thank you for your continued support. I truly don’t know what I would do without you here.’

  Florence was aware that Miss Tweed knew how valued she was at Boots, but she wanted to reiterate how she felt. It was true. Her secretary ran everything so smoothly for her that it gave Florence the time to work through twice as many of the appointments in her calendar as she otherwise would have done. Miss Tweed was professional and more efficient than she suspected most secretaries could be. Her typing skills were second to none and no matter when Florence entered the woman’s office it was always ordered and neat.

  So much had changed since war had been declared in August. Everyone’s lives were different in one way or another, Florence mused. And, like everyone else, she would simply have to find a way to achieve all that she and Jesse had been planning to support the war effort. After all, hadn’t she spent her adulthood finding solutions to supposedly insurmountable problems? Yes, she thought, taking a bite from her biscuit. She was a fighter, as was Jesse. They had never let much defeat them before and having her own son fighting for his country made her all the more determined to succeed.

  The world might have changed but her resolve to make things work had increased since the war began. She and Jesse would have to ensure that Boots adapted to fit the needs of their staff, as well as their customers. And despite many people still hanging on to the idea that the war would be over by Christmas, Florence’s instinct told her not to be so certain that this would happen. She might not have any military experience but she knew enough about life to understand that a war of this magnitude could surely not be ended within mere months. She needed to start thinking, and planning.

  Chapter Six

  October 1914

  ‘Mother? Mother, where are you?’

  Florence heard her youngest daughter’s voice calling for her. ‘We’re in the conservatory,’ she replied, wondering why Margery always had to bellow from the hallway rather than come and look in the obvious places where Florence would usually sit. ‘Good afternoon, Mother, Father,’ her daughter said as she appeared in the doorway. Florence smiled then said, ‘Ask for another cup to be brought in, then come and join us.’

  Florence watched her daughter leave to go and do as she had asked. She reached out and rested her hand on Jesse’s. ‘I wonder what exciting news our daughter might have to share with us today.’

  She gazed at the envelope in her hand with John’s familiar writing and opened it, unable to resist discovering her son’s latest news now that he was in France. She withdrew the single sheet of paper and smiled relieved he was doing as he had promised and keeping in touch with them. She unfolded the letter and began to read.

  France

  18 October 1914

  * * *

  Sir Jesse and Lady Boot,

  St Heliers House

  The Park

  Nottingham

  England

  * * *

  Dearest Mother and Father,

  * * *

  I don’t have much time to write but wanted to let you know that my battalion is now in France and I’ve been appointed Transport Officer. I’ve yet to discover how good I am in this role as my duties come to fruition once we are given orders that we are to move forward and take over from another battalion. I’m expecting this to happen soon and look forward to going to the headquarters of the division we’ll be relieving where I’ll observe their protocols and be able to plan how to supply rations and ammunition to our men.

  * * *

  I believe that I have been given this appointment due to the work I’ve done at Boots. I probably have more experience than most of the men in organising large groups of people, so not only understand why the power
s that be would think of me for this role but am grateful for it and look forward to showing what I can do.

  * * *

  It’s fairly daunting being here so close to the front lines and I have to admit that any thoughts of glory I might have once had have now dissipated. I’ve heard and seen enough already to know that my thoughts of being at war were, to say the very least, naïve. Please don’t worry about me, though: unlike most of the men, I won’t be going ‘over the top’ and, although I am on the Front, I will be kept too busy arranging the transport of supplies to the men in the trenches to get into any trouble.

  * * *

  My fondest love, as always,

  John

  Florence finished reading the letter and pushed it back into the envelope. ‘As much as I worry about him being so close to danger, I’m relieved to know that he will be looking after supplies and not running into battle.’ She sensed that John was trying to be as honest as possible without causing them too much concern.

  Jesse reached out and took her hand in his. ‘He’ll be fine. John is a sensible man and he’s not going to put himself in any danger if he can possibly help it.’ He smiled at her. ‘Do you feel a little more at ease now he’s told you what he’s doing?’

  ‘I do,’ she admitted. She didn’t add that she would rather he be miles back from the front line rather than working so close to it, but didn’t want to give Jesse any reason to worry more than he already was doing.

  She now heard Margery’s voice again, in the distance. She loved her daughter’s enthusiasm for life. It was a huge relief to her that she still had one child at home and that both her daughters were out of harm’s way. How like her siblings Margery was though, Florence thought. She was determined to find a way to make her mark during this dreadful war. Florence had overheard two of the maids whispering about Margery having a big idea but she had yet to hear about it directly from her daughter. Florence had heard of other friends’ daughters organising knitting circles to make scarves, balaclavas, gloves and socks for men at the Front and others setting up small charities or events to raise funds. She looked forward to hearing what her lively younger daughter had in mind.