by Griff Hosker
As we approached the doors I said, "We are here for one night. We will probably just have time for a couple of pints and then back home." I was pessimistic.
As we pushed open the blacked out doors and before we had entered the pub through the blackout curtains we were assaulted by attacks on our senses. There was the smell of too many cigarettes and stale spilled beer. Then there was the noise. Women squealing and the forced laughter of men who were not certain if this was to be their last pint. London suffered almost nightly bombing raids. It was not as bad as it had been but having a drink in a pub was filled with risks.
After the darkness outside the pub the bright light made me blink. Although it was crowded I could see that we would be able to sit. Most men liked to stand at the bar. I never had. "You go and get us a couple of pints and I'll find us some seats."
"What are you drinking, Major?"
He shook his head, "Forget the rank for tonight Tom, call me Toppy. It is the nickname I have had since a kid and as for the pint I'll have whatever they have. Beggars can't be choosers!"
I squeezed in the bar between a private and a sailor. The soldier turned around aggressively and then saw my rank and my ribbons, "Sorry sir. I thought you were one of them skiving wide boys. This area is filled with them."
"Don't worry Private their day will come."
There was a great deal of bad feeling amongst the men about the black marketeers and draft dodgers. They managed to get petrol, have good cars and clothes and threw money around as though there was no tomorrow. Every town had some but London appeared to attract more than its fair share. I was surprised that they would frequent a pub used by men in uniform. They would extract a fearful retribution.
The barman had to be seventy and I suspected he was the landlord. He took in my rank, "Good evening, sir. Sorry I have no spirits."
I shook my head, "Two pints of bitter will do."
He leaned forward, "I would have the dark mild, sir. It's a better pint."
The Private had heard him and he nodded and added conspiratorially. "He's right sir. The bitter is donkey piss not fit for drinking."
I smiled, this was typical. Good landlords looked after their own and the Private was obviously a regular. "Two pints of dark mild it is then." I handed over the money. I took a swallow before leaving the bar. There was less chance of spillage that way. It had a dark nutty taste. There was a hint of milk stout about it. I nodded, "Nice pint. Thanks for the recommendation, Private."
"You are a Commando sir. As much as I hate wide boys I respect Commandos even more."
I turned to look for the Major. I saw his back at a table and an empty chair next to him. I headed for him. When I neared he turned and I saw that there were two ATS privates seated opposite. "Ah, here he is. This is Captain Tom Harsker. Tom, this is Doris and Susan. They are stationed in operations. Fellow operatives so to speak."
The one called Doris had bleached blond hair, bright red lips from which hung a cigarette. She amply filled out the uniform she wore. She smiled, "Pleased to meet you I'm sure!"
The one called Susan looked like a frightened mouse in comparison. It was like Jack Sprat and his wife. Susan was thin and looked as though a strong breeze would blow her away. Her hair was neatly tied behind her head and she wore just a smudge of lipstick. She too smiled but held out a hand, "I am Susan Tancraville. Pleased to meet you. Toppy here was just telling us that you are in for the Victoria Cross. You must be brave."
I wished he had not mentioned the award. I had heard nothing more. I might not even get it. I didn't think I had done enough to deserve one. "Not brave. There are braver men than me but they lie in graves in foreign fields."
Doris rolled her eyes. "That isn't very cheerful is it?"
Susan smiled, "It sounds like a line from a Rupert Brooke poem." I nodded. It seemed that these two girls were different in every way possible.
Doris said, "I'll have to go and powder my nose. You coming Susie?"
Susan wrinkled her nose at the use of the diminutive. "No that's fine, Doris."
Doris put her hand on the Major's knee, "Susie doesn't need a drink but I do. Could you be a dear and get me a port and lemon?"
"Of course."
When they had gone Susan said, "I have heard your name before tonight, you know?"
"Really?" I wondered if she had heard my father's name.
"Yes. I was in Operations for the Dieppe raid. I heard it then. You are wrong you know, you are brave. It isn't the medals that tell me that. It was the way the officers in operations spoke of your actions." She smiled. "I feel privileged to be talking to you." She briefly covered my hand with hers. It was soft.
I laughed, "Don't be silly." I quickly drank some beer and she took her hand away. She looked embarrassed. I realised I had been churlish. "Sorry, I don't get to talk to pretty girls like you very often."
"I am not pretty. I am plain. That's why Doris lets me come out with her. It makes her look even more attractive."
"Then why come out with her?"
"I wouldn't get out otherwise. We are the two youngest ATS in Operations. At least I see a bit of life here."
"Surely there must be lots of young men who ask you out? If I was here I would ask you out in an instant."
She smiled and suddenly her whole face lit up. She was more than pretty, "Then I will take you up on that."
"But I am only here for two nights."
Her face fell a little and then she smiled, "If you don't want to take me out tomorrow then just say so."
I felt awful. I shook my head, "I didn't mean that. I am just surprised that you would go out with me and I would be delighted to take you out tomorrow. In fact I wish it was tomorrow night right now."
She laughed, "You are right. You don't go out with girls very often."
Just then Doris toddled towards us on a pair of very high heels from the ladies' room and we both pulled back. We had been face to face. Major Foster negotiated the bar which had suddenly become crowded as people came in for the last half hour of the night.
Doris took the port and lemon, "Bottoms up!" She swallowed a good half of it and then took out another cigarette. As she lit it she said, "So what brings two such handsome officers into this godforsaken pub?"
Major Foster smiled affably, "It isn't that bad. I have drunk in worse believe me."
"But you two are officers. You shouldn't be mixing with the hoi polloi!" She seemed outraged that we would be seen in such a working class pub.
Mum and Dad would not have approved of Doris for one moment. They loathed snobbery of any kind and Doris was a snob. I took heart from the fact that Susan didn't seem to approve either. I now had the difficult task of arranging to meet Susan without Doris knowing. I don't know why but I suspected that she would make Susan's life a misery.
Before anyone else could speak the air raid sirens went off. Doris threw down the contents of her glass and, grabbing Susan's hands said, "Come on!"
I said, "Surely there is a shelter close by we can all use."
Susan shook her head, "Ours is just two streets away and we are under orders to return there. Sorry, I'll...."
I never heard the end of the sentence as Doris dragged her unceremoniously out of the door. The rest of the drinkers, mainly men it must be said, finished their drinks and began to leave in an orderly manner. They were used to this. The landlord shouted, "You two gentlemen are more than welcome to use my cellar."
Major Foster shrugged, "Why not? It should be safe enough!"
We took our beer with us and descended into the bottle and barrel filled cellar. It had been some time since I had been in an air raid. Having faced danger and German fire so many times it should have been easy and yet somehow this was much worse. Major Foster emptied his glass and said, "This must be hard for you. When the bullets and bombs start flying then you fire and fight back. You have to just take it here."
I nodded, "You are right. The civilians have it much harder than we do. No wonder my sister
became a ferry pilot. It is better to fight back than accept this."
The all clear went two hours later. As we made our way back to the flat Major Foster said, "That Doris was a little frightening wasn't she? But Susan seemed a nice girl. Were you getting on?"
"We were. I had asked her out."
He clapped me around the shoulders, "Splendid! Where are you taking her?"
"That's the trouble. We didn't get around to the details. Doris came back in and... I don't even know her second name!"
"It is Tancraville and she told you!" He shrugged, "It is like ships that pass in the night. It reminds me of a play by Noel Coward I saw before the war, 'Still Life'. That ends happily though."
"Real life isn't the same as films and books, Toppy." I gave him a smile, "At least I got to talk to a girl. That is a step in the right direction at least."
"It certainly is!"
On the walk back I took in everything I could remember about the girl. Perhaps when I came to London again I might meets someone half as nice as her.
We were early for our meeting. Major Foster had already told me that there would be some important people there. They could be late but a lowly Major and Captain had to be early. I was admitted a little quicker this time. It seemed the Major was well known. Hugo was already in the conference room and the lack of smoke suggested that Colonel Fleming was absent. Hugo smiled, "Yes the Colonel sends his apologies. He has a meeting with Eisenhower. He deemed that more important than Operation Bodyguard."
I had not heard the name before, "Operation Bodyguard?"
"Oh sorry, Tom, I forgot you didn't know. That is what you have been doing. It is the name we came up with for the operation to deceive and mislead the Germans. You have done splendidly!"
I shook my head, "I had no idea. No one bothered to tell me the results of what we did."
Major Foster shook his head, "That's my fault, Tom. Your two operations had the same effect as smashing a wasp's nest with a stick. The Germans have been racing all over the place. They have had to repair the damage you did as well as beef up their security on that section of the Atlantic Wall. Rommel himself has spent more time close to Calais. We have heard that he is beginning to change his mind about the intended invasion. He believed we would come through Normandy. Along with the other deceptions your two raids have made him doubt himself. They have moved two Panzer Divisions north! Believe me that is a victory!"
Hugo grinned, "And they think we sent two companies in rather than four men!"
I had no idea how Hugo knew that. I suspected he was aware of information which was at a far higher level than was disseminated to me. I felt a little better knowing that the deaths of the motor launch crew and the wounds to my men had been worth it.
The door opened and a gaggle of officers entered. Most had red around their collar which meant they were staff officers and all, bar one, were of a higher rank than me. Had Hugo not been there I would have been the most junior. I saw no one I recognised but there were at least three American Lieutenant Colonels.
A youngish looking Colonel came over to me, "I am General Marlowe. I am pleased to finally meet you. We shan't need you after this morning. I am certain a young buck like yourself has better things to do than listen to us old men. We need to pick your brains and then outline some ideas we have."
"Anything I can do to help, sir, of course."
I was then interrogated again. Without Colonel Fleming there I found it much easier. They seemed to value my opinion and I found myself answering questions from every part of the room. When they were satisfied we broke for a coffee break and everyone left apart from General Marlowe and his aide, Captain Webster. Hugo was still there. He had been taking copious notes, presumably for Colonel Fleming.
"We would normally have Major Rose here but I think we can rely on you and Major Foster to make sure that the orders are delivered to your brigade safely." We nodded. "We think you have done enough in the Pas de Calais area. We want you and your section to be familiar with Normandy. You will be spending a great deal of time over there between now and April. When the actual invasion comes you will go ashore with Lovat and the rest of your chaps but then we want you to go behind enemy lines again. The difference is this time you won't have to get your feet wet to get to safety."
"That's a relief sir."
The General laughed, "Anyone who can sail a sinking fishing boat into a minefield and manage to sink his pursuer has nothing to fear in France. I am confident that you and your men will do a splendid job." He looked at his aide. "Captain Webster."
The Captain unrolled a map. It was a small part of Normandy. "On the day of the invasion, code named Operation Neptune, the 1st Special Service Brigade along with French Commandos will land here at Queen Beach on Sword. The task for the 1st Special Service Brigade is to join up with the Airborne Division who will have taken the bridge over the Orne. You, however, and your section will be tasked with getting through the German lines. You will be the first ashore." He smiled, "Lord Lovat is not happy about that. He wanted to be the first ashore but we need you and your chaps to get to the bridge over the Orne. You have to find a way through the defences to facilitate the rest of Number Four Commando. Speed is of the essence. Once you have reached the bridge then your work will largely be over."
"Sir, the beach will be heavily mined!"
"We know that. We have over forty swimming tanks. They are called Duplex Drive Shermans. DD for short. Some will be fitted with flails and they will clear the beach. We do anticipate that there will be heavy losses which is why you and your section have to lay the trail of breadcrumbs for Lord Lovat to follow."
Major Foster said, quietly, "It is why you and some of your section will be going over in February. As you showed at St. Nazaire prior knowledge can be vital. We want you to be as familiar with the area as possible."
The Captain pointed to a second map. This one was much better detailed. "This is what we know of the area around Bella-Riva. It has too many blanks. We want you to bring back detail, Captain Harsker."
"Without being discovered."
General Marlowe had the good grace to smile, "Yes, something of a magic trick I feel, but everyone seems to think you can manage it."
"How will we be extracted, sir? If I know that then I will be able to say if it will work or not."
He nodded approvingly, "Honest and forthright. I like that. Submarine. You will be dropped in the estuary, paddle ashore and then paddle back out again. That way you go in just after dark. We have chosen February. The nights are long and inclement weather may well aid you as it did on your last venture."
"That sounds feasible sir. I am guessing that we lie up during the day."
"That's right."
"The danger I can foresee is the submarine having to charge its batteries at night so close to the Atlantic Wall sir. There will be patrol boats, mines, listening devices."
The General smiled, "Exactly what the Lieutenant Commander of the 'Osiris' said. He seemed to think that they could manage it but that it would be tight. You will only have a very narrow window of opportunity."
"And I am guessing it will be another four man section I take in."
"Quite right. The submarine and the mission dictate that."
"From what you said earlier, sir, this will not be a one off."
"No, Captain. You will need to reconnoitre both sides of the bridge. That means two missions."
I began to write down ideas on a piece of paper.
The Captain coughed, "There are still some details I need to give you, Captain."
I looked up and smiled, "Like what?"
"Well you will need to know what units are there and their weaponry for a start."
"I thought that we were going to find that out, Captain. If you have that sort of detail then it seems pointless sending four men in. It is almost two months until we go in. Anything and everything could change by then. I have more than enough information to begin to make a plan. Any more detail can w
ait until nearer the time. It will not affect my plan overmuch."
I saw the Captain open and close his mouth. He looked like a carp! The General smiled and said, gently, "Sit down Captain Webster. So, Captain Harsker, you have a plan?"
"I have the bones of one, sir. There will be a curfew and anyone wandering the streets at night will be stopped and questioned. We need to be invisible. My men and I acquired some German great coats and caps when we were in Italy. We will take them and German weapons."
The Captain jumped up and said, "But that means you could be shot as spies! It is madness!"
I saw the General shake his head as Major Foster said, "Adolf Hitler has ordered that any Commando who is caught will be shot on sight. What can they do? Shoot them twice?"
Hugo coughed to cover his laugh and the embarrassed Captain sat down. "You see, sir, the rules that bind ordinary soldiers do not affect us. I have six weeks to teach my men enough German to pass muster although from what I understand the Germans have brigades made up of all sorts of nations fighting for them. My plan is not to hide but to move around in the open. In fact, sir, It might be easier if we are dropped closer to dawn and spend the day there."
"That is a little extreme, Captain."
"It will make life easier for the Navy sir. However we will go in as planned for the first recce."
The General nodded, "And where will you acquire the German weapons?"
I grinned, "We already have them, sir."
He laughed and slapped the table. "I wish they would let me go in with you Captain. If you survive this you can eat for free for the rest of your life!"
I closed the notebook, "And that is the trick isn't it General, to survive?"