Heartwarming and emotional story of one girl's courage in WW2

by Fenella J Miller

  ‘No problem at all. Miss Simpson has already proved her credentials. We’ll be sending you the first half a dozen on Monday.’

  ‘Do we get paid for doing this or is it considered our patriotic duty?’

  Rotherham guffawed. ‘Good God, old chap, you will be well remunerated for your trouble. Just keep turning out well trained pilots and the RAF will be happy to pay. We’re going to need as many young men as we can lay our hands on. Someone will accompany the trainees with the necessary paperwork. Toodle-pip.’

  The phone disconnected. Mrs B was lurking at the end of the passageway waiting to hear why a government official had been ringing him.

  She was as thrilled as he was when he told her. ‘Well I never! Imagine that! There will be brave RAF boys protecting this country because of our Ellie. Fred will be ever so proud.’

  ‘She doesn’t know yet. I hope Ellie will still be able to take time off. A young girl like her shouldn’t have to spend every waking minute working.’

  ‘When the war starts everyone will have to do their bit and I’m sure Ellie will be happy to do whatever she’s asked. A fine young man like you, Mr Reynolds, will be volunteering yourself I expect.’

  ‘Not initially, my job is to train pilots. I’ll be doing far more good for the war effort turning out half a dozen every couple of months.’

  ‘Will you have to teach them all the technical things as well?’

  ‘I don’t know until I meet up with the men in charge on Monday. Good job I brought back the appointment book – I’ve got to cancel everything in here.’

  It took him the remainder of the afternoon to get messages and speak to everyone. One or two had been disgruntled, but mostly they’d understood that the defence of the country came first.

  The blokes doing the Anderson shelter had finished so he thought he’d go and have a look at where they might be spending a considerable amount of time in the not too distant future. From what he’d heard Romford was close enough to both London and the RAF base at Hornchurch to be considered in danger from bombing when it started.

  Fred had been talking about the leaflets he’d been getting on a regular basis from the Ministry of Agriculture telling him what he should be doing to prepare. Every spare bit of land was to be ploughed and planted with cereal crops or vegetables of some sort – especially potatoes. The fact that all his farms now had tractors would make things a lot easier.

  Jack glanced at his watch. He had an hour before he needed to leave to meet the train. He could do with a pint and had plenty of time to visit the boozer near the station.

  The door to the Anderson shelter had been left open but the daylight didn’t penetrate the dismal, dark depths. There were wooden benches running down either side, and one at table height across the back. Presumably this was for candles and flasks of tea.

  He stood at the top of the three steps but didn’t venture any lower. He’d ask Mrs B to make sure there were blankets and pillows stored by the back door. There would be no point in leaving them down here as they would soon become damp and mouldy. Probably be a good idea to have a bucket with a lid just in case anyone wanted a pee. The thought of either Ellie or Mrs B using it made him smile. They would have to be bloody desperate.

  Tea was being pushed back and replaced by supper – a cold meal tonight – as neither he nor Ellie would be back before five thirty. Fred was visiting one of his tenants after he’d finished work so had been quite happy with the arrangement.

  Later at the pub he took his pint outside and sat on the wooden bench in the bit of scrubby grass that grandly called itself a garden. The interior of the pub was filled with miserable sods moaning about shortages, being called up, the bloody war and so on. It was far more pleasant to sit in the early evening sunshine and sip his warm beer and enjoy his own company.

  *

  Ellie enjoyed her day out with her erstwhile friends but came to the reluctant conclusion she no longer had anything in common with them. Although she’d been a qualified pilot while still at school she had kept that side of her life quiet. Mainly because her mother had only agreed to her being at the airfield if nobody else knew.

  Elizabeth and Anna wanted only two things – to enjoy themselves and find a rich husband. Neither of those was of any interest to Ellie. As she’d already agreed to go to London and meet Greg – and had spent a lot of money on suitable clothes to go in – she wouldn’t cancel this arrangement. However, she would make it perfectly clear she wouldn’t be seeing him again.

  She travelled in a ladies-only compartment and was relieved that nobody else got in with her. She’d deliberately chosen to come home before the rush hour. Tramping about shops and trying on clothes wasn’t her idea of fun but at least she now had a lovely evening gown in oyster silk and two pretty cotton dresses.

  The train steamed into the station on time and she was waiting at a door with the boxes containing her new purchases, plus her handbag hanging over her arm. She’d require the help of a porter to get everything off the train and she hoped Jack had bought a platform ticket and would be waiting to meet her.

  Opening the carriage door was going to be tricky. This required her to put down the boxes in order to unhook the leather strap and lower the window so she could lean out and turn the handle on the outside. At least if the carriage door was open the train wouldn’t depart with her still inside.

  She was halfway through her tricky manoeuvre when he appeared in front of her. ‘You’re making a dog’s dinner out of that, Ellie, let me help.’ He lifted her out of the train as if she was a child and then stretched in and collected her parcels.

  ‘I would have managed, eventually, but I’m glad you came onto the platform to help me. As you can see I’ve had a successful day’s shopping.’

  He grinned, making him look younger. ‘Are we getting a fashion parade later?’

  ‘Absolutely not. I can’t tell you how glad I am to be back, I’m really not a city girl. If I hadn’t already agreed I wouldn’t go to London again.’

  He tossed the boxes onto the back seat and climbed into the front leaving her to make her own way around to the passenger side. She had barely slammed the door before he engaged the gears and the car moved forward smoothly.

  ‘I had a phone call from some guy in the Air Ministry, you’ll be pleased when I tell you what he said.’

  After he’d explained she could hardly believe it. ‘Does this mean we will be able to stay open after the war’s declared?’

  ‘Certainly does – but I doubt any training will be done so close to London once the Luftwaffe arrive.’

  ‘I don’t want to think about that. As long as I can keep flying for a few more months I’ll be happy. Do you think they’ll commandeer our aircraft?’

  ‘Very likely. A Tiger Moth is perfect for training – easy to fly but hard to fly well. Thank God we don’t have to do more than teach the blighters to be pilots. They can learn to navigate and so on somewhere else.’

  ‘I’m okay with a compass and map but have had no instrument training at all. You just peer over the side in our planes, but they can hardly do that in a plane with a closed cockpit.’

  ‘I’ll stay until the airfield is closed down. I’m hoping to be a fighter pilot rather than bomber or coastal command – but it’s not up to me.’

  The first thing they saw as the car drew to a halt in the yard at the back of the house was the humped mound of the Anderson shelter. ‘I’d forgotten that was going up today. It seems strange to have this in the yard, and gas masks, when war hasn’t even been declared.’

  ‘Let’s hope we don’t have to use it. I shouldn’t bother to investigate; it will only depress you. Mrs B is in charge of getting things ready in the event of an air-raid.’

  The housekeeper was in the kitchen when they walked past. ‘Did you have a lovely time, Ellie? Fred isn’t back yet so you’ve plenty of time before supper.’

  ‘I’m just going to put these away and change into something more comfortable and the
n I’ll come down and give you a hand. And yes, I had a good time, thank you.’

  ‘Go away with you, my girl, it’s not your place to help me. I’m here to help you. I picked a whole basin of raspberries from the kitchen garden so we’re having those for afterwards.’

  Jack followed Ellie into her bedroom and dropped the boxes onto her bed. ‘I’m going to sit in the garden until your dad gets back – why don’t you join me when you’re ready?’

  The evening gown now seemed too glamorous for her, she should never have allowed her friends to persuade her to purchase it. The summer dresses were perfect, she’d not feel uncomfortable wearing either of those.

  She pulled on a faded cotton skirt and an equally disreputable blouse, removed as much of the make-up from her face as she could – there was little she could do about her primped hair until she washed it. She was ready to join Jack in the garden. He’d made no comment about her new, sophisticated look – perhaps he’d not noticed. Greg would have paid her a compliment, but then he was interested in her and Jack wasn’t. This was a good thing as she couldn’t work with him if he started looking at her in that funny way men had when they wanted to kiss you.

  Seventeen

  The first six RAF trainees arrived at seven o’clock in the morning in a canvas covered truck. They were all young men, not much older than Ellie, and she thought that a couple of them would have been extremely rude to her if they hadn’t been in the company of an officer. These two were offended at the thought of having a young woman instruct them, but this wasn’t a problem as they ended up on Jack’s list.

  Instructing the three well-spoken, intelligent young men she was given proved to be a lot easier than teaching the mixed bunch that usually signed up. When they weren’t flying they were studying manuals and text-books. The Flight Lieutenant who’d accompanied them on the first day tested them on what they’d learnt and she picked up quite a lot of interesting information by just being in the vicinity some of the time.

  ‘I say, Miss Simpson, how are your three bods progressing?’

  ‘They are all doing okay, no problems so far, Flight Lieutenant.’

  ‘Good show. We want them solo ASAP so they can log as many hours as possible before the next lot arrive.’

  ‘We thought they would be here for several weeks – isn’t that the case?’

  ‘I’ll be for the high jump if I didn’t get them moved onto the next stage of their training in three weeks. I’m assuming you will use the de Havilland as well once they can fly solo.’

  ‘Yes, of course we will. Excuse me, I’d better get on.’

  *

  Extra fuel was delivered without being ordered and the trainees brought their own packed lunches so all Gladys had to do was make endless pots of tea. Mrs B baked biscuits or made a cake every day for their pupils which added an almost festive atmosphere.

  Ellie was logging more hours than she’d ever done before. The average needed for someone to go solo was around a dozen hours so this meant the first six achieved this by the end of week one. Then came the hard part. Virtually anyone could fly a Tiger Moth or Swallow when only required to do circuits but either she or Jack had to now make sure they could find their way using landmarks, a compass and map.

  By the end of the second week all six trainees were ready to learn how to control the plane if it stalled, do aerobatics and land without the aid of an engine. So far no one had come to grief but Ellie was both physically and mentally drained.

  ‘I’m supposed to be going away for the weekend. We’re expected to work on Saturday so I’m going to ring Greg and cancel.’

  They were driving home when she mentioned this to Jack. ‘You deserve a couple of days off. It’s already arranged. The Flight Lieutenant and I can deal with your three. As we don’t work on Sunday, thank God, you’ll be fine. Just make sure you get back here by Sunday evening.’

  ‘I will. To be honest, I don’t really want to go, I’m far too tired. The thought of gallivanting about town mixing with Greg’s friends doesn’t appeal.’

  He patted her knee affectionately. ‘You sound just like one of them when you want to. Pretend you’re in a film, swan about in your new clothes and don’t let them know who you really are. If you mention flying, don’t say you’re an instructor, just that you fly for pleasure.’

  ‘I used to love drama at school so I think I could do that. I’ll have to warn Greg; he’ll think he’s taking out a complete stranger otherwise.’

  ‘What time is he coming to pick you up tomorrow?’

  ‘Nine o’clock – I can have a lie in and listen to you and dad going off to work. Then I’ll have a leisurely bath and get ready. Pretending to be a lady of leisure will make a pleasant change.’

  She didn’t pack her overnight bag until half an hour before Greg was expected. The least time her evening gown spent rolled up in tissue paper the better. She applied a little rouge and a smudge of lipstick, ran a brush through her hair, and she was ready.

  The smart navy-blue dress with wide shoulders, matching belt and buttons down the front was, she believed, just right. The low-heeled shoes, also in navy, and matching handbag completed the ensemble.

  ‘I’m going now, Mrs B, see you tomorrow evening,’ she called as she dashed out with her case in her hand.

  ‘Have a lovely time, Ellie, you deserve it.’

  Greg met her at the door looking dashing in his RAF uniform. She dodged past and threw her case into the back of the open sports car before he had time to kiss her.

  ‘You haven’t told me where we’re going, is it somewhere very grand?’

  ‘I’m taking you to our London house in Hanover Square, then I thought we could have tea at the Ritz. We’re meeting my friends for dinner at La Coquille and then we’re going on to the 400.’

  ‘The 400? I’ve never heard of that.’

  ‘It’s a nightclub. It’s in cellars next to the Alhambra Theatre in Leicester Square. It’s where everyone goes nowadays.’

  ‘It all sounds very jolly. I’m not looking forward to meeting your parents as I’m sure they won’t approve of me.’

  ‘Relax, sweetheart, neither of them is in Town at the moment. Both my older sisters are married and busy bringing up a load of squalling brats and I rarely see either of them.’

  ‘I’m sure they both have perfectly adequate nannies and don’t have to spend time with the children if they don’t want to. One thing my mother did tell me was that wealthy families spend as little time as possible with their children.’

  ‘A bit harsh, Ellie, but more or less correct. But then you and your brothers went to public school, didn’t you? I noticed that you don’t always speak like your father.’

  His implied criticism of her beloved father made her reply less than friendly. She spoke in a crystal-cut accent. ‘Are you implying, Gregory, that my father is somehow inferior to you? I do hope not, because if that is the case then I shall insist that you return me to Glebe Farm immediately.’

  His reaction was unexpected as he ignored her question. ‘That’s absolutely perfect, Ellie. Talk like that and no one will suspect…’

  She interrupted him, no longer in the slightest bit amused. ‘Suspect what exactly?’ She shifted as far away from him as possible in the sports car and stared at him icily.

  He finally grasped his error. She watched his neck, and then his face, turn an unflattering shade of beetroot. Instead of answering he swerved dangerously and screeched to a skidding halt on the side of the road much to the annoyance of the vehicles behind him.

  He ran his finger around his collar and cleared his throat noisily. For the first time since she’d met him he wasn’t in control of the situation. ‘I’m sorry, I’m a complete ass, wide open mouth and both feet straight in.’ He swivelled so he was facing her and she glimpsed moisture in his eyes. ‘Please, will you forgive me for being so crass? I think the world of Fred; I wish he was my father. I love you and I’m sure my friends will too.’

  He looked genu
inely upset and she couldn’t bear to see him like this. She reached out and touched his hand. ‘It’s all right, I’m just a bit touchy at the moment.’ Then she remembered what she and Jack had been discussing last night. ‘Actually, I think it might be a good idea if I do pretend to be from the top drawer. I won’t be seeing any of them again and I don’t want to put a damper on what will be my only jaunt around London.’

  ‘You really don’t have to – just be yourself.’

  ‘Admit it, Greg, if they think I’m one of them, things will go more swimmingly, won’t they? In fact, you need to fill me in on all the things I’d already know if I was a debutante.’

  ‘That won’t work, if you were on the circuit they would know who you are. If we’re going to do this, let’s think of a spiffing story.’

  On the remainder of the journey to Hanover Square they came up with her new identity. She was Miss Ellie De Wolfe, recently returned from America where she’d been living with her grandparents.

  ‘I’ve learned a few Americanisms from Jack which I can throw into the conversation.’

  ‘I shouldn’t do that, sweetheart, I doubt anything you’ve heard him say would be acceptable in company.’

  *

  They drove through an impressive archway into the courtyard at the back of his London home. He whisked her through the magnificent Georgian house and almost pushed her into the room she would be using that night.

  ‘I expect you want to powder your nose and hang-up your evening gown. The bathroom and lavatory are at the far end of the corridor but you have a sink in your room.’ His eyes crinkled endearingly at the corners as he smiled before continuing. ‘Don’t try and pee in it. A young lady, who shall be nameless, tried and the sink collapsed. I won’t go into details but you can imagine how embarrassing it was for her.’

  She couldn’t repress a giggle. ‘I promise I won’t. I suppose the gentlemen can do so with impunity.’