by Mary Wood
Looking over at Ella, Flora thought she still had a wary look about her. As if she had found herself where she wasn’t sure she should be. Ella had told them that her nanny had brought her to England from Poland at the age of three, and had taken care of her. She had no knowledge of any family and knew only that there was a monthly allowance for her.
She had begun her training as a nurse at the age of eighteen, but after six months had been taken ill with a mystery illness that had rendered her weak and unable to function properly. Her nanny, who had become her companion, had nursed her back to health. But by that time war had been declared and so, instead of resuming her training, Ella had joined the Red Cross. She undertook further training with them and became a volunteer.
Impulsively Flora took Ella’s hand. ‘We’re here – I can’t believe it. We’ll help each other through whatever we have to face. You’ll see.’
Mags joined in encouraging Ella. ‘We will. We’ll stick together through thick and thin. Come on, let’s try to bag a good room for the three of us.’
A feeling overcame Flora that she couldn’t do better than have Mags and Ella by her side. The three of them had gelled well and already felt like best friends. And who better to go into the unknown with than a best friend, let alone two of them.
PART TWO
Brussels, 1914–15
Flora, Mags and Ella
A Terrifying Invasion
Chapter Six
Before retiring, the girls had been given their orders. Many refugees and injured soldiers had been taken to the Royal Palace, so the three of them, along with one of the trained nurses, were to be assigned positions there. Others had orders that they would be shipped to various hospitals outside Brussels. And from now on, they must wear their uniforms at all times, as much for their safety as to be ready to take up their duties whenever called to do so.
The mood had changed since yesterday – excited anticipation being replaced by efficient delegation, as news came to them that the Germans had reached the gates of Brussels.
Matron’s voice boomed from the front of the assembled nurses: ‘Because of this new development, there will be no need of our services at the Royal Palace. The Allied wounded there are to be evacuated. Transport has arrived to ship out those of you already assigned to other destinations, but with this turn of events, all of you have an opportunity to leave for home. If you wish to return to Britain, please file over to the left.’
Flora couldn’t believe the number of girls who did so. Mags, who stood between her and Ella, whispered, ‘What’s it to be, girls? I’m for staying.’
‘Me, too. From what Matron has said, we’re going to be needed.’ Flora leaned forward and looked at Ella as she said this. Ella nodded. ‘What was it you said, Mags? We go through thick and thin together? Well, that’s what we’ll do.’
Matron’s voice brought their attention back to her. ‘Right. Those remaining and designated a placement will be given a number. When we reach the station, each train that pulls in will be numbered, so make sure you get on the correct one. Those who were assigned to the palace must remain here to await further orders.’
Why hadn’t new orders been decided for the three of them? A seed of fear entered Flora. This was going to be a dangerous place, if the Germans managed to invade Brussels. She’d heard talk of them not treating the Red Cross with the respect she’d been told to expect from all nations. At supper the night before, one girl had told of how her friend had been taken prisoner, along with another nurse, as soon as they had landed in Serbia. Looking at the fear on the faces of those who had elected to go home, Flora thought the story had probably contributed to them wanting to flee.
Although they had thought there were just four in their group assigned to work inside Brussels, there were seven girls left behind, once all the others had left, although she, Mags and Ella were the only volunteer staff amongst them. This seemed to set them apart from the four qualified nurses, as none of them showed any signs of wanting to be friendly.
‘How about we take a walk out? See what the mood is. You speak French, Flora, you can find things out.’
‘I’m game, Mags. It’ll be good to see our surroundings and gauge what is truly happening.’
‘Me too. I think it will be better than sitting in our room, speculating.’
With this from Ella, they linked arms and stepped outside.
The streets of Brussels were uncannily quiet. Four coaches were waiting for those assigned to be shipped out. Flora briefly wished that the three of them were part of this, but shrugged off her fear as they crossed the road and stood for a moment by the beautiful monument in the centre of the square. With its tower adorned by figures, it looked almost defiant, as if nothing could prevail against it. The sound of the water gushing from its many fountains soothed Flora’s nerves.
‘It was erected in 1897 to honour Jules Victor Anspach, a former Mayor of Brussels.’ She translated from the plaque on the side. ‘He championed the working class.’
‘Good for him! I like the old fellow already.’
Flora smiled at Mags. ‘Me, too. Now which way shall we go?’ Looking around her, Flora loved what she saw. The square was flagged by beautiful tall buildings and many little shops and pavement cafes.
‘I think we should head towards that cafe over there – it looks busy, so maybe we can find out what is happening?’
Ella’s word, ‘busy’, didn’t quite describe the one table being occupied by three women, but none of the other bars in view had any customers, so their presence made the little cafe more inviting.
Flora greeted the women as she and the others took a seat. ‘Bonjour, Mesdames.’
The women smiled a greeting. Though dressed fashionably, and in a manner that spoke of wealth, they had what Flora would describe as a ‘care-worn expression’.
On Flora asking if they had heard any news, one of the women told her that they feared the Germans would break through, and that there were rumours of many casualties lying outside the gates of Brussels. ‘We are all to do as we are told and to cooperate, as Burgomaster Max has said we must. He says that we cannot fight back, as we will be in less danger if we accept the invasion and carry on as normally as the Germans allow us to.’
Although Flora agreed, she felt sad that such a fate should befall these proud women and their countrymen. But this was the least of Mags’s concerns, when Flora translated the conversation to her and Ella. ‘We have to go to the wounded. They need us.’
Without paying any heed to the fear that crunched her stomach muscles at this statement, Flora asked how they could accomplish this.
‘Ask your ladies. Ask how we get to, and out of, the gates.’
The ladies shook their heads in unison. ‘No, you must not!’
‘No . . . no, it will be very bad out there. They say the fighting is intense. You will be killed!’
The third lady didn’t speak, but just stared out of wide, terrified eyes.
As if to give credence to their words, a loud explosion reverberated around them, sending shockwaves through Flora. Tables were upturned. The chairs they sat on were blasted from underneath them and Flora landed on the pavement, her body bruising as she hit the ground. Shards of glass splintered all around her, as a window shattered into a thousand pieces. And then a cloud of dust enfolded her.
Flora rubbed her sore, dust-filled eyes. She could see that Ella was still standing and looking around her. Her dazed expression spoke of her shock. But where was Mags? Although she opened her mouth to call out, Flora couldn’t hear whether or not she’d made a sound. Getting to her feet, she saw Mags on the floor a few feet away.
Another blast, and Flora was propelled forward. She grabbed Ella and pulled her down, to lie next to Mags.
‘Always hit the ground at the sound of a blast. First rule of safety. We can do what is needed, once the threat has passed,’ Mags shouted.
‘I didn’t have any choice, as it happened, but it’s good advice, Mags.
’
‘Come on, there’s no sight of any soldiers. I think the fighting is further away than we thought, and that was stray fire. Did any of you see what happened to the three ladies?’
This concern took away Flora’s fear for herself and the others, as they all rose and looked around for the women. They found them huddled together behind a table, which they had placed in front of them as if it were a shield. Flora spoke to them and discovered that they weren’t injured, just very shocked and afraid.
‘Do you live far from here?’
One of them shook her head and pointed to some apartments across the street.
‘We’ll help you get to your homes. Don’t be afraid – we don’t think the Germans are near. Can you stand?’
The larger lady of the three seemed more reassured than the others. ‘Oui, we are all right. Thank you. If you could just give us a hand up.’
Once standing, the women were more in command of their fear. The one who’d asked for a hand now took charge.
‘We will be fine. You girls get back to your hotel and safety. Thank you.’
With this, the three women, looking very vulnerable but determined, crossed the road together. It occurred to Flora as she watched them that being with friends helped. There was always the sense of wanting to protect them above yourself, and a feeling that they were there for you, watching your back. Those three women epitomized this as they clung to each other, and supported one another.
She turned to face Mags and Ella and knew that the three of them would be like that, and took comfort in the thought. ‘Let’s all make a run for it, eh? We’ll be safe in the hotel.’
Huddled together in their bedroom, drinking the tea that Mags had ordered, they listened to the silence that had fallen. ‘This can only mean one thing: someone has surrendered.’
The words had hardly left Flora’s mouth when a screaming voice had them running to the window.
‘What is he saying, Flors?’
For a moment, fear held Flora from answering Ella. The man’s words had filled her with terror. ‘He – he says . . . the Germans are coming.’
‘Oh, God help us.’
‘It’s all right, Ella, we have international protection.’
Flora noted that even the strong and capable Mags had a tremble in her voice. The story of the Red Cross nurses in Serbia flashed before her.
As they watched, the doors and windows of every building were shuttered and barred. Shops were closed, and cafe owners hastily brought in their street furniture. Flora watched the sheets of a dropped newspaper dance – an eerie dance along the now-deserted pavement.
Then, in the distance, a sound became increasingly loud. It wasn’t like anything Flora had ever heard before: the steady tramping of many feet – the Germans were truly coming! As they came into sight, Flora’s heart beat with the rhythm of the marching regiments of tired-looking men, flanked by gun carriages, and mounted troops with pennons fluttering on their lances.
Though none of them spoke, the fear in the air was tangible. It was a fear that took in the whole square, as Flora imagined thousands of Belgians standing behind their shutters, watching, terrified like she was, as the enemy came upon them. As the parade came to a halt, orders were barked out. To Flora’s horror, a contingency of troops came into the hotel.
An age seemed to pass, with the girls not talking, just waiting. Then the banging on their door held them suspended. Mags moved on the second loud knock and opened the door, to find the remaining four trained nurses standing there. ‘We’ve to move in with you. The hotel has been requisitioned. It is to become the German quarters, but we have been assured, by an English-speaking officer, that we are safe from harm while we await our orders. I’m Phyllis, this is Teddy, and Jane, and Martha. As senior, I have assumed leadership. Now which one of you speaks French? We’ve been told that one of you does, and we’ve had a jolly difficult job being understood. It seems that, in their fear, none of the staff can remember how to speak the little English they have.’
‘I do. I’m Flora.’
‘Jolly good, Flora. I want you to go to the manager and demand that three mattresses and bedding are delivered to this room by nightfall. They will be more inclined to follow the orders of the Germans first, but be forceful: use the fact that we are internationally protected, and that any stories of our ill treatment will not do the Belgians any good, in the eyes of the Allies.’
Flora didn’t want to leave the room, where she felt a small amount of protection, but she took a deep breath and marched towards the door.
‘I’ll come with you, Flors. Come on, we can do this.’
‘Thanks, Mags.’
As they went to leave, Ella’s cold hand grabbed Flora’s. ‘Me, too. We’ll all go together.’
It felt as though a thousand eyes watched them as their tread, softened by the deep-pile carpet, took them along the sumptuous landing with its magnificent chandeliers. Soldiers stood to attention. One gave a low whistle, which set the others laughing. A hand grasped her arm. She looked up into a handsome face. In French, he asked her name. She replied in English, ‘I’m Flora Roford, I’m a Red Cross Nurse and, as such, I have international protection.’
‘English, eh? How many of you are there?’
‘Seven. We are awaiting orders, and have been assigned one room between us.’
‘Well, you had better stay in that room. Pretty girls are sought-after, no matter where they come from.’
‘You insult my uniform, sir.’
He jumped back. ‘Get on your way.’
A few sniggers accompanied them as they walked on.
‘Well done, old thing. But why the English?’
‘I didn’t want him suspecting us of being anything other than what we are. I listened carefully to that tale the other night of the captured nurse. I heard the word “spy” mentioned, so thought they might think that of me, if they knew that I spoke the native language.’
Once the girls made it back to their bedroom, they found that their beds had been stripped.
‘You will take the mattresses, girls. We are senior to you.’
‘Senior?’ Mags sounded shocked. ‘You are trained nurses, that’s all. How does that make you senior to us?’
‘Volunteers take second place to trained nurses. You are here to assist – it is us who have the knowledge and will guide you. That makes us senior. Now, once the mattresses and bedding arrive, you will make our beds and your own. In the meantime, we need to rearrange the room, so set to and move the beds into a row against that wall. You three will have your mattresses under the window.’
‘Sorry, but no: I won’t fight you over who has the beds, as it is of no consequence, but if you want them, you can move them yourselves.’
The one introduced as Teddy stepped forward. ‘I agree. Look, Phyllis, we are in this together, and pulling rank is causing a rift. Once in a hospital situation, I’m sure these girls will agree that we should take the lead; but here, in a hotel bedroom besieged by German soldiers, no. We should all be equal – and friends.’
Phyllis looked nonplussed. ‘Very well, I’m sorry. I was afraid and found comfort in taking charge. Of course we will muck in together. Forgive me.’ A tear dropped from her eye.
Mags moved forward and took a very surprised Phyllis in her arms. ‘That’s all right, old thing, we all react differently in situations where we feel threatened.’
Phyllis’s face was a picture and made them all laugh.
‘Group hug is called for.’
‘Oh, Mags, you’re a card.’ Flora could hardly say the words, as she found herself in a huddle of laughing girls. The tension had broken. For all she was worth, Flora felt like picking up a pillow and bashing someone with it, as often happened in the dormitory in her school days, but she resisted the temptation and joined in the banter, as each girl relaxed and they began to get to know one another.
She felt safe in the company of these girls, and a feeling of being part of something
special settled in her. But what of the future? The look in the German soldier’s eyes came to her as he’d called them ‘pretty girls’. Please let our orders come soon. Please don’t leave us here.
Chapter Seven
‘Are you still awake, Mags?’
‘I should think we all are, with this racket.’
A chorus of ‘I’m awake’ and ‘I can’t sleep’ was almost drowned out by the sound of the singing Germans.
‘I wish they’d shut up and go to bed. They looked exhausted when they arrived.’
‘The drink has given them a new lease of life, Flors. I don’t think we’re going to get any—’
A scream cut off Mags. The seven of them shot up to a sitting position. The sound of a match being rasped and then light flooding the room, as candles were lit, brought some comfort, but the screaming overrode that and left Flora feeling that her blood had run cold.
Mags was the first one out of bed.
‘Wait. Don’t open the door. Make sure it is locked.’
‘No, Phyllis, someone is being attacked – we have to go to her.’
Flora grabbed her dressing gown and was by Mags’s side, unheeding of the protests from the others.
A cold draught hit them as they stepped out of the room, into a blaze of light from the chandeliers.
‘Please don’t, girls. You’ll get hurt!’
Taking hold of one of the tall candlesticks, Flora blew out the candle and discarded it. ‘I’ll hit them with this if they come near to me, don’t worry.’
The screaming turned to a hollow moan, giving flight to their legs, as the sound of despair put urgency into them.
Opening the door of the room from which the noise came showed a horrific sight – one of the hotel maids was being forced over the rail of the double bed. A soldier was raping her from behind.
