Mrs Boots Goes to War

by Deborah Carr

  Towards the end of the month, Florence and Jesse were riding in the car to work. He was quieter than usual and had been sombre since reading his morning broadsheet. She glanced at the back of Parry’s head. Not wishing their driver to be able to hear them speaking, she kept her voice low.

  ‘You’ve been out of sorts since reading your paper this morning, Jesse,’ she said, straightening the blanket over his knees. He hated her fussing, but she refused to let him catch cold and insisted he kept warm, especially on cooler mornings, like this one. ‘What’s the matter?’

  He gave her a sideways look, seemingly unsure whether to confide in her. This could only mean one thing, Florence thought, her mood dipping. Jesse had thought of another idea that would mean more work for them both.

  She nudged him gently with her elbow. ‘You may as well get it over with and tell me now,’ she said. ‘At least then, I’ll have the rest of our short drive to mull over how I’m going to put the plan into action, or at least my part in it.’

  ‘It’s just that I didn’t want to concern you overly.’

  Now she really was worried. If Jesse was worried about upsetting her then that could only mean one thing was on his mind: their son’s safety. Her thoughts immediately flew to John and she took a breath to steady her voice. ‘Go on. What’s happened?’

  ‘A couple of French divisions were attacked at Ypres a few days ago with tonnes of chlorine gas. Sooner or later, our boys will be attacked, too.’ She leant slightly forward, snuggling closer to him to comfort both Jesse and herself. ‘It’s lethal,’ he added, quietly turning his head to stare directly into her eyes so Florence could not fail to understand the desperate need for whatever it was Jesse was about to announce they begin producing. ‘Our boys don’t have any protection against gas. Not really.’

  Florence blanched. The thought of losing her precious boy to this invisible killer made her feel lightheaded. She tried to remain calm; panicking and becoming hysterical would do nothing to help John. She prayed Jesse had a plan. Now she understood. ‘And you want to come up with a way of producing something that will protect them from this gas, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said firmly. ‘I’m told that flannel helmets are being worked on, but I believe those won’t be as effective as necessary and we will need to think about what we can do to provide some way of protecting the men at the Front. We’ll need to start production as soon as we possibly can.’ Florence nodded her agreement. ‘The first thing I’m going to do when I reach my office is find out the design we need to follow, if there is one. Then we need to source the materials to make it.’

  Florence felt her need to help swell inside her. ‘We must work out where we have space to set up a department.’ She gave it some thought but had no idea at that moment where they could make space, or indeed how much space they might need. ‘We’ll need staff to work on the product. I’ll start working on recruitment for this new department.’ She looked at his face filled with concern. ‘You were right to decide this, Jesse. We have to help protect our boys as well as we can.’ She didn’t add that by doing so they might also one day keep their son safe, too. ‘We’ll do this, don’t you worry.’

  He kissed her on the cheek. ‘You understand me so well, Florence. And you feel as deeply as I do when expansions need to be made in the company to incorporate new ideas.’

  ‘I think in this case especially that we have little choice but to put this in place.’ She shuddered. ‘To think of someone coming up with such an insidious substance to use against other men, young men. It’s shocking.’ It truly was, Florence thought. How many more vile ways would the powers that be come up with to kill and maim her own children, and those of her friends and colleagues? What was the world coming to? What sort of nightmare future were her children and grandchildren going to have to face?

  Chapter Nine

  May 1915

  A couple of weeks later, Miss Tweed asked to speak to Florence about taking a week’s holiday. ‘It’s my sister, Lady Boot. She’s asked me to go and stay with her for a few days. Her husband died last year, and she doesn’t want to spend her birthday alone. I said I’d speak to you and ask you if it was all right for me to go.’

  Florence looked at the tiny woman standing on the other side of her desk and wondered how on earth she would ever cope if Miss Tweed left her employ. Maybe this would be a good time to see how well Miss Tweed’s assistant Gladys Lightbody coped without her at the office.

  Florence smiled at her secretary and wished she wouldn’t look quite so concerned. She had never refused any of Miss Tweed’s requests and she wouldn’t do so on this occasion, either. ‘Yes, of course. You must be with your sister. In fact, please go down to Number Two department and choose a gift for her from my husband and I, if you would.’

  Her secretary’s eyes lit up and she beamed back at Florence. ‘That is most generous of you, Lady Boot. Thank you, on both accounts. I’m truly grateful. I know my sister will be, too.’

  ‘Please speak to Miss Lightbody about your holiday. I’m sure she knows your routine. It will be good practice for her to learn the ropes so that you don’t have to worry about this place when you’re away.’ Florence held up a finger to stop Miss Tweed from denying that would be the case, and laughed. ‘Don’t try to deny it, I know that you think about this place almost as much as I do. And I value your loyalty, but I’m glad that you’ll be taking a week off for a holiday.’

  Miss Tweed returned Florence’s smile. ‘I’ll speak to her. Would you like me to send Miss Lightbody in to speak to you about this?’

  Florence gave the suggestion some thought. ‘Yes. That’s a good idea. In fact, why not send her in right away. We’re so busy that I want to be certain that she knows what I’ll expect of her.’

  Ten minutes later, Florence finished explaining what was happening to Miss Lightbody. ‘Miss Tweed assures me that you will cope. I do believe that after working beneath her for the past two years, you will be more than capable.’

  Miss Lightbody clasped her hands together in front of her skirt. ‘Yes, Lady Boot. I’m grateful to you for giving me this opportunity,’ she said, but then looked down at the desk, seeming troubled.

  Florence could see the girl was wanting to say something else but unsure whether to do so. ‘Is something the matter?’

  Miss Lightbody looked back into Florence’s eyes for a moment before nodding.

  ‘Then, I think you had better tell me what it is, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, Lady Boot.’

  Florence waited and, then, when the girl still didn’t seem able to find the right words to say to her, it dawned on her that Miss Lightbody was building up to giving in her notice.

  ‘You’re leaving Boots, isn’t that it?’

  Miss Lightbody gasped. ‘How did you…? That is, yes. I hadn’t quite got round to speaking to Miss Tweed about it yet and when I tried to speak to her before coming in to see you, she said there wasn’t time and that I could tell her whatever it was that I needed to speak to her about after I’d spoken to you.’

  Florence listened to the girl rambling on, feeling sorry for her, but at the same time trying to control her own rising panic. She had always thrown herself into work whenever times had become stressful but, since the war had begun and infiltrated her Boots stores, Florence’s mode of escape had been taken from her. There was no escaping this war and its effect on everyone, she now thought miserably.

  ‘Are you leaving to work in munitions, as others have done?’

  She shook her head. ‘No, nothing like that, Lady Boot. My Cyril… he proposed to me on his last leave and, as soon as he’s next home, we’re getting a special licence and will be married.’

  Florence was happy for Gladys, but, aware that she would no longer be working for them once she was a married woman, knew she would need to begin looking for the girl’s replacement immediately.

  ‘Will you be able to cover for Miss Tweed while she’s away in June?’

  The young
er woman bit her lower lip for a second, looking stunned to be asked such a question. ‘Oh, yes. I can’t see that my Cyril will be able to come home before then. I just wanted to let you and Miss Tweed know, out of courtesy, that I will be leaving sometime soon.’

  Florence felt her shoulders relax slightly. So, her departure wasn’t imminent, she thought. ‘That’s good news. I’m glad we have time to find your replacement so that you can train them up at least for a short while before you leave us.’

  ‘Yes, it will be my pleasure. I’m sad to be leaving Boots. I’ve been ever so happy working here for you, Lady Boot. You and Sir Jesse have been incredibly kind to me over the past two years and I’ll never forget it.’

  Florence’s heart constricted. She loved being able to help these young people in anyway she could and never wanted any thanks for it, but it was always touching when one of her staff mentioned how much her and Jesse’s kindness towards them had meant.

  ‘And I’m sure we’ll never forget all your hard work for us, Miss Lightbody.’

  After Gladys had left her office, Florence knew that she had no time to waste to find a replacement for her. These were difficult times indeed, for everyone. With more and more men enlisting and women joining up or going to work in munitions factories, it was becoming harder each week to find the staff she and Jesse needed to run their ever-increasing business.

  She couldn’t help worrying that Jesse was doing far too much. His health was constantly declining, but he refused to take things easier and allow for how his body was coping.

  ‘I know they need these new products at the Front, Jesse,’ she argued one evening when it was just the two of them sitting quietly in the living room. ‘But you have to be aware of your own wellbeing if you are to continue finding ways to help others.’

  Jesse grumbled something she couldn’t make out then looked over at her. ‘I have no choice, my dear. None of us have the luxury of time at our disposal and if I am to find ways to supply things the soldiers most need then we have to work tirelessly to find ways to develop what’s required.’

  Florence understood what he was saying and also felt the need to help the brave men and women who, like John and Margery, so far from home, were fighting for their country, but she couldn’t sit back and watch Jesse killing himself. ‘That’s as maybe,’ she said, trying her best to keep her voice level and not give away how much emotion she was holding back, ‘but, if you continue the way that you are now, then you will be no use to them, not if your health breaks down completely,’ she added quickly, trying to soften the meaning in her words.

  Jesse lowered the book he was reading onto his blanket-covered lap. ‘Do you know how disgusting the water is that those poor men in Flanders have to drink? I’m sorry, my dear, but I simply cannot rest until we have provided them with some kind of steriliser. And I’m told that their uniforms are infested with lice.’

  She had heard the same thing, from John in his most recent letter, and found it almost impossible to imagine her son having to face such conditions day after day. How could he possibly stand it? She shuddered. Florence had heard from a member of staff how her brother had to run a lit candle up and down the seams of his uniform, hearing the lice pop as they exploded in the heat. It was the only measure they had to cope with infestations, and a temporary one, for the lice returned the following morning.

  ‘Yes, I know,’ she replied, wondering why she was even trying to encourage Jesse to lessen his workload. Had he ever listened when she had tried to do this before? No. It was only making her anxious speaking to him about it now. However, she loved him dearly and, even if there was little hope of her achieving any changes in his daily routine, she had to try to make him listen to her, at the very least.

  ‘We need a vermin powder and also an anti-fly cream, especially for the hotter months,’ Jesse continued, reaching out for her to take his hand. ‘I’m sorry, my love. I know how you worry about me, but this is who I am and, at my great age, I am unable to change.’ He grinned at her then, cheekily.

  Florence shook her head, smiling slightly. He might be old now, and sick, but he still had that boyish side to him that she couldn’t resist. ‘I suppose you’re going to continue to increase the laboratories and production side of the business until you’re able to deliver these items in a number that you believe is acceptable, aren’t you?’

  He shrugged. ‘I think you know me well enough to be aware that you’ve answered your own question.’

  Florence realised he was right and that was exactly what she had done. Standing, she kissed him on his forehead. ‘I have to be going. I’ve lined up several interviews for more girls to add to the number I’ve already approved to come and work in our gas-mask department.’ She thought of all the respirators she suspected they would need to make. ‘I think I’m going to have to employ quite a few hundred of these girls to allow us to manufacture enough of them. It’s going to be quite a task, especially as so many women are joining the FANY’s and the Voluntary Aid Detachment, hoping for a little more excitement.’

  ‘I have the utmost faith in you, my dear,’ he said, smiling. ‘You’ll find all the girls we need, I know you will.’

  ‘Do we have an idea yet of how these are to be made so the necessary supplies can be sourced?’ She knew that Jesse would have already thought of this but was interested to hear his plans more fully.

  ‘It’s a simple enough respirator,’ he said, his enthusiasm increasing with every word as it did when he explained things that he was passionate about. They’ll be made up of cotton wool and crêpe that we will have treated with chemicals. I can’t deny I’m excited about this new product, Florence.’

  ‘I can see that,’ she said, smiling, happy as always to see the light in his eyes shining brightly.

  ‘And, yes, you will need to bring in quite a few new members of staff, if we’re to keep up with the numbers needed at the Front, but I know you’ll find a way.’

  Florence nodded. She was fighting this dreadful war in the only way open to her, by helping Jesse find ways to ensure that Boots could deliver everything possible to help the war effort.

  Florence and Jesse were horrified to learn of the sinking of the Cunard liner RMS Lusitania, after it was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of Kinsale on its way to Liverpool from New York.

  ‘Over one thousand people perished, according to the paper,’ Jesse said, his voice sombre. He shook his head sadly. ‘Not to mention all the supplies that have been lost that they were delivering to Britain. Sometimes I despair,’ he admitted quietly. ‘I can’t help fearing what is to become of us all.’

  ‘I’ve no idea,’ Florence said, miserably. She pictured her and her children on a similar voyage, grateful their journey had taken place in more peaceful times and that they hadn’t had to face such terror.

  ‘I wish John and Margery were here now,’ Jesse continued. ‘I struggle a bit to think of them on the other side of the channel, especially as the news seems to become worse with each passing day.’

  ‘I feel the same way,’ she admitted, thinking of all those families and loved ones grieving those lost off the coast who would now be receiving telegrams giving them the worst news possible. It was all too heart-breaking. ‘It seems that no one is safe right now.’

  Chapter Ten

  4 June 1915

  Florence made the necessary arrangements with an agency to find a replacement for an assistant to Miss Tweed. Now that Gladys Lightbody was leaving Boots to be married, their excellent team would be splitting up. It seemed that every part of her life was now filled with worries. Florence left the two women to work through as much outstanding administration as possible during their last day in the office together.

  Later, Miss Tweed came to Florence’s office to take dictation. Always highly efficient, her speeds impressive, today she seemed to falter a couple of times, which was very unlike her, Florence thought, concerned.

  ‘I’m sorry, would you mind repeating that last sente
nce, Lady Boot?’

  Florence looked up from her notes and frowned. ‘Is everything all right? You seem a little distracted today.’

  ‘Do I?’ Miss Tweed patted her immaculate bun absent-mindedly.

  ‘Yes, that’s the third time today you’ve asked me to repeat something. It’s very out of character for you and makes me worry that something is amiss. I do hope you know you can confide in me, if ever you have something on your mind that’s troubling you?’

  Florence watched Miss Tweed thinking. She seemed to be considering whether or not to say something. ‘Please, tell me whatever it is that’s worrying you. Maybe I can help find a solution.’

  Miss Tweed looked down at the dictation she had taken and, just when Florence thought she was about to ask her to continue with the letter, she replied, ‘It’s only that I feel I’m letting you down badly, leaving you to go to visit my sister. Miss Lightbody is to be married and will be leaving your employ and I worry that you have too much to deal with as it is, without me taking time off work while you find her replacement.’

  Florence was touched but not surprised by her secretary’s thoughtfulness. She rested her right hand on her chest. ‘That’s just like you to think of others’ happiness before your own. However, I won’t hear of you thinking about anything other than having a pleasant time with your sister while you’re away. You deserve a holiday more than most. I hope that although your time with your sister will be marred no doubt by the loss of her husband, the two of you will be able to enjoy each other’s company while you are there.’

  Miss Tweed’s shoulders relaxed visibly. ‘Thank you. You’re very kind. But I don’t mind delaying my trip to see her until you’ve found Miss Lightbody’s replacement and I’ve had time to train her.’

  Florence shook her head. ‘No. I won’t hear of you doing any such thing. You’re to go and forget everything at Boots and make the most of your days staying with your sister in Hull.’