by Rosie Hendry
After a few minutes, when the talking showed no sign of abating, Winnie tapped on her cup with her teaspoon to attract everyone’s attention and gradually the room fell silent once more.
‘What’s going to happen to this place?’ Sparky said.
‘I have no idea – it may return to its previous use as accommodation for chauffeurs and their families and garaging for the cars, or there may no longer be a requirement for them, things have changed.’ The crescent of grand terraced houses opposite Station 75 who’d used these buildings to house their staff before the war had had to manage without chauffeurs since 1939, and perhaps would never return to their pre-war needs. ‘All I know is that officially the station will cease to be operational from the tenth of May. All of us will be released from our work as part of the London Auxiliary Ambulance Service and will be free to resume our former jobs.’ Her eyes met Bella’s who, like everybody else, was watching her intently. ‘Or may pursue new careers.’
‘Like motherhood, eh, Winnie!’ Sparky said, making everyone laugh.
‘Indeed,’ Station Officer Steele said. ‘And if Winnie is as good a mother as she has been an ambulance driver then she will do an amazing job.’ She looked at Winnie whose cheeks blushed prettily. ‘In the meantime, we will continue to keep up the high standard that we have always maintained throughout the war and I encourage you all to also look ahead and consider what comes next for you.’ She paused for a moment. ‘It has been the greatest pleasure to work with you all and I am immensely proud of all that we have achieved together in extraordinarily challenging times.’
Sparky started to clap, and the rest of the crew rapidly joined in, adding their appreciation wholeheartedly. Swallowing back the lump in her throat, she smiled at them all, doing her best to commit this moment to her memory to treasure for the rest of her life.
Chapter 60
Frankie had known that it would only be a matter of time before Station 75 closed its doors for the last time and she would be out of a job. The thought made a hard knot form in her stomach, and it wasn’t just because she’d have to find new work. It was the loss of all she’d held dear working here; not just being with her friends but actually doing the job itself.
She looked around at the courtyard where others, like her, were taking their break, sitting out in the sunshine, talking, laughing, some reading or just quietly soaking up the warmth of the day. She remembered how she’d felt on that first morning here, walking in under the archway, so thrilled at joining the Ambulance Service, having learned to drive – something girls like her from the East End didn’t usually do. She’d been so excited and was determined to do her utmost to do her job well, and she had. It hadn’t always been easy, and she’d had to face some difficult things – seeing innocent people injured and killed, going out while bombs were raining down. Despite all that, she’d loved it and the thought of going back to the job she’d had before, sewing clothes at Cohen’s factory, felt bleak in comparison. She didn’t want to go, she wanted to do more, to do something . . .
‘You all right, Frankie?’ Bella’s voice brought her attention back to the present. ‘Only you’re sitting there looking like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.’
She smiled at her friend and nodded. ‘Just thinkin’ about this place closing. We knew it was coming but . . . Hearing that it is, it was still a shock.’
‘I know, but we’re not needed any more, our job is done so it’s time for us all to move on and get back to normal life again, whatever that is now – it’s been such a long time since the war started. I like the idea of taking a holiday first though. Maybe we could all go somewhere together, me, you, Winnie and Rose.’
‘I’d like that, we’ll speak to the others about it. But what will you do about a job? You won’t go back to what you were before, will you?’ Frankie asked.
‘Definitely not! My days of clearing up after people who have more money than sense are well and truly over. I want to write for a living and I’m determined to do it.’
Frankie smiled at her friend. ‘Well, you’re already off to a good start and I ’ave no doubt that you will make a successful career as a writer.’
‘What about you?’
‘I’m married so my situation’s not quite the same. It depends where Alastair is working when he comes ’ome, I suppose.’
Bella frowned. ‘But it might be some time before he’s demobbed from the army. What will you do in the meantime?’
‘I’m not sure. Stanley will be ’ome again, and I’ll need to look after him.’ Frankie was aware she was avoiding answering Bella’s question properly but didn’t want to voice her fears. ‘How about a cup of tea? I’ll go and make us one.’
‘Oh yes, please.’ Bella smiled at her. ‘Thank you.’
Going up the stairs to the common room, Frankie couldn’t get Bella’s question out of her mind. She had the desire to do more, for this not to be the end for her. Passing by Station Officer Steele’s office, she glanced in and saw that the older woman was busy at her desk, working her way through a pile of paper as she so often had to do, keeping the records of the ambulance station up to date. She hesitated for a moment and the boss must have sensed her presence as she looked up and saw her.
‘Frankie. Is everything all right?’
She was the second person to ask her that in a matter of minutes – was her mental turmoil written all over her face? Talk to her, a voice in her mind said. Ask her advice. ‘Do you ’ave a moment?’
‘Of course, come in, and close the door behind you if you like.’ She indicated for Frankie to sit down in the chair beside her desk. ‘Is there something I can help you with?’
Frankie looked down at her hands for a moment before returning her gaze to the boss, whose brown eyes were warm behind her horn-rimmed glasses. ‘I don’t know what to do after this place closes. The thought of returnin’ to work sewing clothes again just . . . ’ She shrugged, spreading her hands wide. ‘After working ’ere it would seem so . . . boring and tame and pointless and . . . I just don’t want to do it . . . I want to do more, something worthwhile like we did ’ere. Going back would feel like I’m taking backward steps in my life, but I don’t know what to do.’
The boss looked at her steadily, taking a few moments before she replied. ‘Your circumstances have changed significantly though since you first came here: you’re a married woman now and your future is tied to Alastair’s.’
‘I know, but he’s still in the army and may be for some time yet. He’s even hinted in his letters that he may carry on longer while there’s still work to be done. I don’t know when he’ll come ’ome and we can begin life as a proper married couple. It might be months, or much longer. I don’t want to sit around waitin’ and doing the job I did before . . . I can’t ’elp thinking there must be something I can do, I want to help people like I’ve been doing here.’
Station Officer Steele nodded. ‘I understand. There is something you might like to consider, only it would mean going abroad and facing some very challenging situations, quite different to the ones you’ve had to face in this job. Have you heard of UNRRA?’ Frankie shook her head. ‘It’s the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, hence UNRRA for short. They’re looking for volunteers to work in the camps housing the thousands of displaced persons who were incarcerated by the Nazis, or shipped from their homelands by the enemy to work in their factories as slave workers. They need people to help look after them and return these victims of war back to their homes, or to new ones. Could you do that?’
Frankie recalled the images that she’d seen on the Pathé newsreel at the pictures – taken at Belsen concentration camp after it was liberated by the Allies – and how the stick-thin people had stared at the camera, their eyes huge in their emaciated faces. There’d been so many of them, far from their homes and families, ripped away from all they had known before the war and badly treated in the camps. The images had haunted her; she’d felt so angry and helpl
ess at their situation. Perhaps volunteering for UNRRA was a good idea, she’d be doing something worthwhile, she’d be helping people who desperately needed help, but it would mean going abroad for who knew how long, and there was Stanley to think about, and Alastair.
‘I need to think about it, but I do like the sound of it. Would my experience as an ambulance driver be useful, do you think?’
‘Absolutely, and your voluntary work at the day nursery: some of the displaced persons are children, many of them are probably orphans now, they’ll need looking after. Think about it and I’ll find out some more information for you.’ The boss reached out and patted Frankie’s arm. ‘I do understand how you feel about wanting to do more and this may well be ideal for you. Who knows, perhaps Alastair may want to volunteer for UNRRA as well when he’s demobbed?’
‘Thank you, I appreciate that. You won’t say anything to anyone about this, will you?’
‘No, of course not.’
Frankie stood up. ‘I was on my way to make some tea; would you like a cup?’
‘That would be lovely, thank you.’
As Frankie left the boss’s office, she felt a spark of hope; perhaps she could do something more, something worthwhile. She had a lot to think about.
Chapter 61
‘Is the boss going to give us the day off, then?’ Sparky asked, sitting down on the arm of the sofa next to Winnie.
‘I don’t know any more than you. She just asked me to gather everyone into the common room as they arrived at the start of their shift.’
‘Well, since today’s been declared a national holiday, she might. I hope so. If—’ He stopped as Station Officer Steele came out of her office and surveyed the crew members waiting for her, their chatter immediately falling silent as everyone wanted to hear what she had to say.
‘I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that today has been declared VE Day – Victory in Europe Day – the day that we have long hoped for is finally here. I . . . ’ She paused as the crew broke out into loud cheering and clapping. ‘And I know that it has been officially designated a holiday but I’m afraid it’s not one for us.’ Again, she paused, as this time people groaned. ‘We need to be here on duty as ambulances may still be needed today, perhaps not for injuries caused by bombing but with the number of people celebrating there could be accidents and we need to be prepared as always. But I’m sure we can have some celebrations of our own after the ambulances have been prepared in the usual way.’
‘How are we going to celebrate?’ Sparky asked.
‘Well, I’m sure that between us we can come up with some good ideas.’ The boss looked at her deputy. ‘I thought you could oversee organising celebrations, Winnie, so if any of you have any ideas that are practical and sensible, bearing in mind that we are still very much on duty and could be called out to an incident at any time, then speak to my deputy about it.’ And without waiting to hear any suggestions, the boss went back into her office.
‘Over to you then.’ Sparky nudged Winnie’s arm.
She got up and stood where the boss had been just moments before and looked at the assembled crew. ‘All right, so it’s bad luck that we’re on duty today, but I hope we can still enjoy ourselves. So, does anyone have any sensible ideas?’
‘Get some beer from the local pub,’ someone shouted from the back.
Winnie laughed. ‘Sensible ideas, I said. You know it’s strictly forbidden to drink alcohol while we’re on duty, even today.’
‘We could have a dance,’ Taylor called out. ‘We could take the gramophone and some records down to the courtyard – we’d have plenty of room down there.’
‘Good idea,’ Winnie said. ‘What else?’
‘Have a sing-song?’ Sparky suggested.
‘Yes, as long as you lead it,’ Paterson said.
‘I’ll put you in charge of that then, Sparky, shall I?’ Winnie raised her eyebrows questioningly at him, knowing that he would do a good job as he had a fine voice and had often led the crew in singing before.
He nodded. ‘I’ll ask the boss if she’ll play the piano for us.’
‘How about some decorations?’ Frankie said. ‘We could make some.’
‘Yes, no celebration would be complete without some sort of finery, we’ll have to see what we can do. Let’s make this a day to remember. I know thousands of people will be celebrating in the middle of the city, there were plenty of them already there last night . . . ’
‘Yes, look here!’ Sparky pointed to the front page of today’s Daily Mirror newspaper with its picture of some WRENs sitting on top of the lions in Trafalgar Square, waving Union flags. He’d splashed out on two newspapers again today: his usual Daily Herald and this one. ‘It’ll be heaving with people today and all around that area as well.’
‘Well, we’ll do our best to enjoy ourselves here,’ Winnie said, ‘but before we do, we need to get the ambulances ready, so let’s get to it, everyone.’
‘Shhhh!’ Winnie hissed as the clock on the wall reached three o’clock and the announcer on the wireless introduced the Prime Minister. The chatter in the common room immediately stopped as everyone listened to the familiar voice.
‘Yesterday morning, at 2:41 a.m. . . . signed the act of unconditional surrender of all German land, sea and air forces in Europe . . . Victory in Europe Day . . . let us not forget for a moment the toils and efforts that lie ahead . . . Japan . . . remains unsubdued . . . ’
At the end of Churchill’s speech there was a moment of silence before the room erupted into clapping and cheering.
‘I don’t know about you, but I needed to hear it from Churchill himself to finally believe it,’ Station Officer Steele said, leaning close to Winnie so that she could be heard in the noise.
Winnie nodded.
‘I know what you mean.’ She smiled at the boss. ‘But it’s true, they’ve surrendered – we’re at peace with them again.’
‘But not the bleedin’ Japs!’ Sparky said.
‘Not for much longer, I hope,’ Winnie said. ‘But let’s not dwell on that just now. We should be celebrating this victory, we’ve waited long enough for it, so let’s enjoy it.’
‘How about that sing-song now?’ Paterson called out. ‘To get the celebrations going.’
‘All right, if you’ll provide the music, boss?’ Sparky stood up.
Station Officer Steele smiled. ‘I’d be delighted to accompany you – what shall it be to start with?’
‘How about good old “Knees Up, Mother Brown”?’ Sparky suggested. ‘It never fails to get people in the mood.’
Winnie watched as the pair of them went over to the other side of the common room where the piano stood and prepared to entertain the crew as they’d done so many times before over the years. The top of the upright piano had been decorated with bunting which they’d made from newspaper and string. More bunting was draped around the walls of the common room, and stuck up on the beam running across the centre of the ceiling, were large letters cut out of newspaper spelling out the word ‘VICTORY’.
As Station Officer Steele began to play the piano, other crew members abandoned their conversations and hurried over to gather round, ready to join in.
‘Come on, Winnie.’ Bella stood up from where she’d been sitting next to Winnie on the sofa and held out her hand to her. ‘You don’t want to miss Sparky’s singing, it might be the last time we hear him.’
Chapter 62
The piping sounds of the clarinet introduction to Benny Goodman’s ‘Wang Wang Blues’ filled the courtyard and Bella began to dance with Sparky, joining other crew members filling their impromptu dance floor. Station Officer Steele was partnering Paterson, while Winnie and Rose were doing their best, with a baby bump making the usual dance positions difficult. Everyone was enjoying themselves, the happy, vibrant, toe-tapping tune bringing out energetic dancing.
‘You’re quite the twinkle-toes these days,’ Sparky said, twirling Bella round. ‘I thought you always said you ’ad two
left feet?’
‘I did, but Stefan taught me how to dance. He’s very good and I just followed him and got the hang of it. I love it now.’
‘I suppose he’ll be going back to Poland now the war is over.’
‘No, he’s not going back, sadly his family have been killed and as Poland’s going to be under Stalin’s watch, it won’t be the free country he’s been fighting for.’
‘Can’t say I blame him, I wouldn’t want to live under Stalin’s thumb.’ Sparky twirled them around again so that he was facing the archway leading out of Station 75. ‘Aye, aye, talk of the devil.’
Bella frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
Sparky spun her around in response so that she was now looking the way he’d just been, and coming in under the archway was Stefan. He spotted her and headed straight for them.
‘You can take over here, you’ve done a good job improving Bella’s dancing.’ Sparky handed Bella over to Stefan who bowed his head and quickly took the older man’s place.
‘What are you doing here? I thought you’d be celebrating at West Malling?’ Bella asked as they danced together, seamlessly fitting in with each other, his hand moulding to her waist and her hand resting on the shoulder of his air force blue tunic. She smiled. ‘It’s very good to see you, the loveliest surprise.’
‘We have been celebrating, but I wanted to celebrate with you too. I have two hours then I must go back.’ He smiled, his eyes holding hers. ‘Is good they have surrendered at last.’ He paused, a shadow passing over his face. ‘I wish it was a different end for my country though.’
Bella touched his face. ‘I know.’
He took hold of her hand and kissed it. ‘We should enjoy now, is not VE Day every day.’
‘Oy! Don’t just stand there in the middle of the dance floor, looking all lovey dovey at each other, you’re meant to be dancing,’ Sparky shouted at them. He was now partnering Pip in an energetic dance.
