Her brother almost smiled but he still didn’t look happy. ‘Now you can’t fly anymore you can work here – you know more about farming than either George or I do.’
They all assumed he was going to stay and that he didn’t have any plans of his own. Jack supposed he could hardly refuse after what both Fred and Ellie had said. Now Greg looked less than delighted. Bloody hell! Whatever he decided to do was going to upset someone. He decided to change the subject completely to give him time to make up his mind.
‘Is anyone going to tell Fred what you’re planning to do, Ellie?’
*
Before Neil could prevent her, she told her dad everything, including that she thought they should hand over the list of names before the police returned.
‘As it happens I had a letter from a solicitor this morning acting for your mother. It seems she wants to divorce me on the grounds of cruelty. I’ve never raised my hand to her so I’m not sure what that’s all about.’
‘Dad, how dreadful. What are you going to do? Will you contest it?’ Ellie asked.
‘The marriage is over; I don’t want her back and she’ll be happier with her own sort. Doesn’t do to marry out of your class, Ellie, you need to remember that.’
There was an uncomfortable silence but Fred seemed unaware that he’d dropped a clanger. Fred carried on oblivious to the embarrassment he’d caused his daughter and her boyfriend.
‘If I agree then I don’t have to pay any maintenance, make a settlement or pay costs. Seems fair enough to me.’ He nodded and looked better than he had for weeks. ‘You go ahead and do what you think’s right, love, it’s nothing to do with us now.’
‘I’ll do it, if you like. Might be better coming from me as it was my uncle got us into this mess.’
‘Jack, would you? I’ll go and get the list for you. Perhaps you could do it from the telephone at the airfield?’
‘Good idea, Ellie.’ He stood up and was collecting the empty mugs when Mrs B put her head around the door. ‘As you weren’t here for a proper Sunday lunch, Ellie, we’re having it now. In the dining room tonight as it looks like rain.’
No more was said about the police or the divorce which was a relief. Greg and Ellie went out to see to the new arrivals and Neil was on the telephone talking to his brother.
This gave Jack an opportunity to speak to Fred alone. ‘When I give this list of names to the proper authorities they might still decide to prosecute all of us for not handing it over when we first had it. We could be charged with treason…’
‘Don’t be daft, Jack, it won’t come to that. They’ll be so glad to have these names that they’ll forget it’s taken us a few weeks to pass them over.’
Jack left him to his cocoa. Despite being told that he was one of the family, tonight he felt he was intruding. Things would be easier when Greg and Neil went back to their bases tomorrow morning.
*
Ellie didn’t want to go to the airfield but Jack persuaded her. ‘You’ve been working with Sid for years; you owe it to him to say goodbye.’
‘All right, I’ll come. It’s going to be unbearable seeing the planes and not being allowed to fly them anymore.’ She swallowed the lump in her throat as they pulled up for what would be the last time outside the office.
The place was deserted – no sign of Sid or Gladys. ‘This is very strange, they are usually here by now,’ she said.
‘I went to see them yesterday morning so they already know what’s going on. I told them to come at ten o’clock to collect their wages and have a final cup of tea with us.’
She was clutching a cake tin and put it down on the packing case. ‘In which case, we’ve got an hour to take everything out of the office. I’m surprised you have buyers for the aircrafts as no one can use them until the war’s over.’
‘The Swallow is going to be locked in the hangar – but the two Tiger Moths are being bought by the RAF. They’re sending a couple of blokes over to collect them sometime today.’
The thought that one of the aircraft would remain was a comfort. When this wretched war was finished she’d be able to fly again.
‘I’d like to buy the Swallow, Jack, how much do you want for it?’
‘I’ve signed everything over to Fred; he was cheated by Joe and this is one way of putting things straight.’
‘I hope The Ministry of Agriculture doesn’t insist that the strip’s ploughed up to grow potatoes.’
‘It’s possible, but hopefully they won’t realise it’s part of the farm.’
*
Saying goodbye to Sid was difficult, but he promised to come back when things were back to normal so she could start the flying club again. Gladys was tearful but resigned.
‘My Bert says I can get decent money working in a factory, but I think I might try the telephone exchange. What are you going to do, Ellie? Join the WAAFs?’
‘I wouldn’t be let anywhere near an aircraft so I’m going to stay at home and help my dad with the farm. He’s got the pamphlets about the Land Army which will be starting up again in the New Year so I’ll not be the only woman working on the farm.’
‘I’ve been asked to work at Hornchurch – I’m a bit long in the tooth – but ground engineers are in short supply so I’m going to be working in a civilian capacity. Johnny has joined up,’ said Sid.
‘I’m glad everyone that worked here has found something to do. Jack’s staying at the farm for the moment but will join the RAF eventually.’
Jack was in the office sorting out the necessary papers to transfer ownership of the two Tiger Moths so wasn’t part of the conversation. In fact, he’d been in there most of the morning making calls and she supposed that one of them was about the list of names.
Just after one o’clock everything was done. Jack checked the hangar was secure and she did the same for the office. He solemnly handed her the keys. ‘This is all yours now, Ellie. Something to look forward to.’
She was too upset to answer, just nodded and scrambled into the car blinking back tears. He left her to sniffle and didn’t speak until they pulled into the yard.
‘It took a while but eventually I was connected to someone in intelligence. I had to go through everything that happened again. Then all I had to do was read out the list of names. They said as far as we’re concerned the matter is over.’
She blew her nose loudly. ‘Today’s been the end of everything I love. I’ve lived for blue skies and Tiger Moths since I was a child and now it’s all over. Mum has gone, the airfield has gone – from now on I’m just a farm girl.’
‘Don’t feel so sorry for yourself. You’re young, healthy, have got plenty of money in the bank and whatever happens next, Glebe Farm is going to carry on as usual. When the bombing starts, I doubt anything will drop here.’
She glared at him. ‘I’m not stupid, Jack, I know that. But, unlike you, Greg and my brothers will be in grave danger. Farming is a reserved occupation so you can hide away here for the duration of the war.’
Again, his reaction surprised her. Instead of being angry he laughed. ‘I’ll do my bit – don’t worry about that. But I’m more use working here now than I would be hanging around at a base with a lot of snooty public-school boys.’
Twenty-one
Now that petrol was rationed, visiting by car became almost impossible. There was still fuel for the tractors but not enough for pleasure jaunts. Ellie met Greg most weekends in Ipswich, which she could reach by train quite easily.
Then the weather worsened and travelling anywhere became more difficult. At the end of November, after a particularly unpleasant journey on the train, Ellie had decided to tell Greg she wasn’t coming again until the spring. He had abandoned his sports car in favour of the train himself.
The cinemas had initially been closed but the government had now reopened them as they believed the morale of the population was important. When they came out of the picture house after seeing Wizard of Oz they headed for the usual teashop.
They burst into the cafe bringing a gust of icy air behind them. The half a dozen customers glared at them and Greg hastily pulled the door shut.
‘I think it’s going to snow, it’s certainly cold enough,’ Ellie said as she removed her outdoor garments. ‘It’s horrible on the train. There’s no heating and I never get a seat. The carriages are always crammed with men in uniform carrying bags.’
‘Don’t a lot of them get off at Colchester?’
‘The soldiers do, but the airmen get off at Ipswich or stay on the train. There must be loads of bases in East Anglia.’
‘Not that many, they’re mostly in Lincolnshire. But freshly trained ground and air crew are arriving all the time. Although nothing much is happening, we all know it’s coming. Don’t forget we’re sending our lot all over the Commonwealth to train and some overseas pilots have started to arrive in England.’
The waitress didn’t need to ask for their order as they always had the same thing – scones, sandwiches and cakes plus at least two pots of tea. Ellie wondered how much longer these delicious treats would be available.
‘Jack is leaving next week; did I tell you?’
‘You mentioned he’d been for an interview at Lord’s cricket ground and I can’t see why they wouldn’t be pleased to have such an experienced flyer.’
‘He doesn’t have to do the basic training so won’t be sent abroad. Do you think it will take as long for him to be active as it did for you and my brothers?’
‘I shouldn’t think so – he’s already got more hours in his log book than most of us. As he’s done acrobatics he’ll be ideal as a fighter pilot. I seem to remember him telling me he’s got instrument training too.’
‘He has. He’s also qualified as a flight and ground engineer. He doesn’t seem to mind what he does as long as it’s aircrew.’
‘Is something bothering you, sweetheart, you seem a bit quiet today?’
‘I’ve decided I’m not coming to Ipswich again until the spring. I’m needed on the farm and can’t really take a whole day off anymore.’
He reached across the table and took both her hands. ‘I’m surprised you’ve come as often as you have, Ellie. I can still ring a couple of times a week and you can write to me. I’ve got Christmas free and was rather hoping I could spend it with you.’
‘Of course you can, but don’t you want to be with your family?’ He rarely mentioned his parents or his older sisters and she didn’t think he was particularly close to any of them.
‘I haven’t seen them since the summer. Ma has pushed off to America and Pa is doing something at the Home Office. Both my sisters have retreated to the country with their families so seeing them isn’t an option even if I wanted to.’
‘If your father is going to be on his own…’
‘He’ll be with his mistress. The last person he’d want to spend time with is his son.’ Greg didn’t sound particularly unhappy about this.
‘Mrs B is already planning something special. Even the government is telling us to celebrate and not give the Germans the satisfaction of seeing us frightened over the festive period. Which reminds me, I think that she and my dad are getting rather fond of each other. I wouldn’t be surprised if they make a go of it when the divorce is finalised.’
‘I’m hoping you might change your mind as well. I love you and want you to marry me.’
She withdrew her hands and put them in her lap. She hated to disappoint him but she wasn’t ready to become anyone’s wife at the moment. ‘I promise I’ll think about it. When I do want to get married it will be you who’s top of my list. Now, can we talk about something else?’
His smile made her toes curl. ‘Then I’ll settle for that. How many on this list of yours?’
She smiled back. ‘Oh, dozens, I’m a very popular girl. It’s the smell of pigs that attracts men you know.’
His laugh turned several heads but they ignored the disapproving looks. No one seemed to laugh much nowadays. He raised her hands and kissed her knuckles. Then released her and carried on as if nothing momentous had just happened.
‘Will Neil or George be home for Christmas?’
‘Neil is coming but George is going to his fiancée’s family. Jack thinks he might be able to get home as well. I hope so as he’s part of the family now. He doesn’t have anyone else and I think of him like another brother.’
‘Do you have any family traditions I need to be warned about?’
‘My mother disapproved of anything remotely frivolous so we never had a tree or decorated the house. This year is going to be different. I suppose we’ll still go to church as it would look bad if we didn’t, but apart from that I’ve no idea what Mrs B and Dad have planned for us.’
‘What about gifts? Also, what should I bring to add to the feast?’
‘Don’t go mad; just bring something small for each of us that can go under the tree. If you can get hold of any chocolates, fancy biscuits or something like that, that would be marvellous. We always have a goose which Dad prepares. I don’t mind doing anything on the farm apart from ringing the neck of any of the chickens, ducks or geese.’
‘I should think not – it takes a strong stomach to do that. To tell you the truth, although I’m a good shot, I don’t like killing anything which is one of the reasons my pa thinks I’m a disgrace to the family.’ His smile faded and he looked away pretending to need something from his pocket.
There was no need to ask why he looked so sad. He was thinking that he was going to have to drop bombs on people, which would be far worse than slaughtering a game bird or two.
‘Will you have enough petrol to drive down? Although even with the top on your MG is horribly cold.’
‘It depends how much of my petrol ration I’ve got left. What I need is an old bike so I can cycle to the pub and not have to use the jalopy.’
‘I’m sure there are a couple of dilapidated cycles somewhere on the farm. My brothers both had bikes and they certainly haven’t taken them with them. I’m not sure how you’d get one to your base.’
‘If I come on the train and you picked me up at Romford and then give me a lift back in your dad’s truck, I can travel in the guard’s van. It’s only five miles from Needham Market station at the other end.’
The thought of having his own bicycle had cheered him up. Now she knew exactly what to give him for Christmas. One of the bikes could be renovated and would be an ideal present.
They walked hand-in-hand to the station and he waited until she boarded hers before crossing the line and catching his own train. Every time she saw him her feelings grew stronger and she thought if he asked her again to marry him she might agree. To be his fiancée – not to get married until the war was over.
She was squashed into a corner of the compartment by an overweight lady with what looked like a bowl of fruit attached to her hat. Watching this kept her amused until it was time to fight her way to the exit. The only good thing about being so crowded was that you hardly noticed the lack of heat.
*
The morning of Jack’s departure arrived too quickly. Mrs B cooked an extra special breakfast and Dad came in from the fields to eat it with him.
‘I’m going to miss you, son, even with Ellie working here full-time it’s hard to keep up. It will be a bit easier when they send us a couple of land girls.’ Dad waved his fork full of bacon in the air. ‘I don’t think I told you, love, that there’s going to be some sort of hostel in the village and the girls are going to live there so we don’t have to provide accommodation.’
‘We’ve got plenty of room here, I wouldn’t have minded them staying. I think we’re too close to London to get any evacuees.’
Mrs B put a rack of hot toast on the table and they all helped themselves. ‘When I was in the village the other day they were talking about evacuees. It seems that half of them have gone home again and they’re going to have to re-open the schools in London after Christmas.’
‘I’ve got to leave in twenty minutes, El
lie, if I’m going to catch the train. I’ve got to take a load of examinations in the next few weeks on navigation, instrument flying and so on. If I pass I can go straight to training in whatever capacity they want me.’
‘If you had a choice, Jack, what would you prefer to do?’
‘A fighter pilot, of course, and I’m keeping everything crossed that they agree I’m best suited for that.’
‘You take care of yourself, my boy, and don’t volunteer for anything – that’s my advice.’ Her dad dropped his cutlery and drained his tea in one gulp. ‘I’ve got to get back to work. Goodbye, Jack, hopefully you’ll be here for Christmas.’
He stomped out so quickly Jack didn’t have time to reply. ‘It’s going to be hard for all of you having four of us in the firing line.’
‘At least you’re all based in England. The army in France is freezing in this terrible weather because they haven’t got enough blankets. But even that’s better than being a sailor.’
He flung his kitbag into the back of the car. ‘Next time you see me I’ll be in uniform. Take care of my car, no speeding.’
‘It’s very kind of you to leave it here for me to use. I promise I won’t do anything silly. Aren’t you going to drive?’ He’d opened the passenger door.
‘No, no point. It’s yours for the duration.’
The car was quiet on the short journey to Romford as neither of them had anything more to say – it had all been said over the last few days.
She pulled up expertly by the kerb and twisted to say farewell. To her surprise he leaned across and cupped her face in his hands and then kissed her on the lips.
‘Goodbye, Ellie, I’m going to miss you.’
Heartwarming and emotional story of one girl's courage in WW2 Page 19