Harpers Heroes

by Rosie Clarke

  ‘Beth!’ she cried. ‘It is so lovely to see you…’

  Beth Burrows was a good friend. They’d started at Harpers together and had remained the best of friends, even when Sally was moved up to the top floor and been made a buyer long before she could normally have expected such a promotion.

  ‘Ben told my father-in-law he was leaving this evening, so I guessed you would be on your own,’ Beth said. Sally embraced her and drew her in. ‘Fred told me to come over, so I did. He’s gone to meet a friend and play cards or something. I should have been on my own…’ Fred was the storeman at Harpers and his job was to make sure the new stock got checked in and delivered to the right departments.

  Sally nodded, because her friend’s arrival had lifted her feeling of loneliness. ‘Have you any idea when Jack will be home again?’

  Beth’s husband, Jack, was working on the merchant ships that brought the goods Britain so sorely needed into the country and, like other seamen, was constantly under attack. His life was precarious and Beth must live in constant fear of a telegram telling her his ship was lost.

  Beth shook her head, worry in her eyes. ‘He should be back in three weeks to a month – but you know how it is…’

  ‘Yes, I do, Beth. You must be worried to death…’

  ‘I do worry, of course I do,’ Beth agreed. ‘Jack says he’s lucky and I’m not to worry. He’s promised me he’ll come home safely when this is all over and I have to believe him.’

  Sally nodded. Every woman in Britain had the same nightmare at the moment. ‘Come into the kitchen and have a drink,’ she said. ‘What would you like – sherry or a cup of tea?’

  ‘Oh, I think a sherry this evening,’ Beth said and smiled. ‘I got a lovely long letter from Maggie today and I brought it to show you. I don’t know if you’ve heard recently?’ Sally shook her head. ‘No, well, you can share mine. I suspect our Maggie is exhausted. They work those poor girls in the VADs to death, I think…’ Maggie must be finding it harder than her work as a shop girl at Harpers.

  ‘Yes, I’m sure it is very hard work and the uniform is ugly,’ Sally said, ‘but I understand how Maggie felt and why she wanted to join. When I read of all the casualties over there, I wish I could help those poor men…’ Maggie was a volunteer to help the nurses and would be given all kinds of jobs to do out there.

  ‘You already work hard enough,’ Beth assured her. ‘Someone has to keep Harpers going – think of all the jobs lost if it just went to the wall because of the war. No manager is going to work as hard to keep things going as you do, Sally.’

  ‘No, that is true,’ Sally agreed. ‘I do go that extra mile to get the goods we need and I do seem to have a flair for it – though I still sometimes have to pinch myself when I remember how it happened.’

  She smiled as she remembered something that her husband had told her recently. He’d confessed that he’d fallen in love with her at the start. His sister, Jenni, had liked Sally, but she’d realised how Ben felt and so she’d recommended her for the post of buyer. She’d seen him first looking in the window at Selfridges and they’d discussed the window display but she hadn’t known who he was until that day at work when she was told the owner wanted to see them all and she’d realised that she’d seen him before.

  ‘You took a big chance,’ Sally had told her husband when he’d explained why he’d given her the chance to become so important to Harpers. ‘I might not have been any good…’

  ‘I sensed you had it in you,’ he’d replied, kissing her. ‘But I’ll admit that I might not have done it if I hadn’t fallen madly in love with you the first time I saw you looking in Selfridge’s window.’

  ‘You kept that to yourself a while…’ Sally had teased, but she’d known why. Ben had been married to a woman who lay in a coma in a hospital bed – and he’d blamed himself for her terrible injuries. Ben hadn’t said a word to Sally until after he’d returned from a sudden visit to America, during which time his sick wife had passed away. Only some weeks later did he speak of his feelings for Sally.

  ‘I wanted to make sure you didn’t disappear,’ he’d explained. ‘I couldn’t tell you how I felt – you would have thought me mad and it would’ve been wrong. All I could think of was to make you love working for Harpers so that you would be near me…’

  Sally had kissed him after he’d told her why she’d been promoted so swiftly. Once she might have felt a bit miffed that it actually had little to do with her abilities, but she’d proved her worth to Ben and to Harpers many times over. Jenni had always believed in her too and they’d given her a wonderful chance to prove her talent.

  ‘I saw something of myself in you,’ she’d confided. ‘I knew you could do it.’

  Beth recalled her wandering thoughts. ‘You deserved it. You always had potential…’

  ‘Or perhaps Ben just fancied me,’ Sally said truthfully. ‘Mind you, he kept that a big secret for long enough. There were times when I thought he didn’t much like me at all…’

  ‘Ben was in a terrible position,’ Beth said, because she’d been told about Ben’s previous wife and the terrible tragedy that had overtaken their lives before he became the owner of the Oxford Street store. ‘He had an invalid wife to support, no backing and a store to run that he could barely afford – he must have had great faith in you, Sally love.’

  Sally nodded. ‘Yes, I suppose I know that deep down – and Jenni had been put in a similar position by her uncle, though I think it was even harder for her because he was critical when she made mistakes and she says there were quite a few. Both Ben and Jenni have been supportive even when I’ve bought something that didn’t sell.’

  ‘I don’t think that has happened much.’

  ‘Oh, there was a line of the hobble skirts that didn’t sell through,’ Sally said ruefully. ‘They were popular and then they weren’t and I’d ordered more – I had to reduce them to cost price in the after-Christmas sale.’

  ‘They went then,’ Beth reminded her. ‘Everything was snapped up within days.’

  ‘Yes, that’s true. They were good skirts.’ Sally smiled. ‘I noticed a customer wearing one recently. She’d very cleverly put a little pleat in the back so it kicked out when she walked. If I’d thought of that, Minnie could have done it to all the skirts and they would have sold at full price…’

  ‘True – Minnie is so clever with her needle,’ Beth said. She was fond of the middle-aged woman, who did fancy sewing for Harpers, and was married to the manager, Mr Stockbridge. Theirs was a true love story, because they’d found love again after being separated for years. It was only after her sister’s death that Minnie had found work and then discovered that her former sweetheart was the manager at Harpers.

  ‘Yes, she is,’ Sally agreed. ‘We’re lucky Rachel introduced her to us.’ Rachel Bailey was their friend and the floor supervisor for the whole store, her expert eye making sure that everything was as it should be throughout the day.

  Beth nodded, but her eyes clouded with concern. ‘Rachel had that batch of letters from her William at Christmas; it seems they’d been held up and all came at once – and now it is happening again. She hasn’t had a new letter for weeks and she’s worried about him…’ Rachel’s husband was in the Cavalry division and she worried that he might be in the thick of the fighting somewhere in France.

  ‘It’s awful for Rachel,’ Sally sympathised. ‘And all the other women who have husbands fighting. I do hate this war, Beth.’

  ‘We all do,’ her friend agreed. ‘But it is happening and all we can do is keep going despite everything.’ An affectionate smile touched her lips. ‘Just like poor Maggie.’

  Sally nodded in fervent agreement. ‘Maggie is so brave to put herself through all that, Beth. She doesn’t say much, but I know from her letters that she is very tired and her hands get terribly sore. I sent her some special hand cream, but I don’t know if it helped.’

  ‘I miss her,’ Beth sighed. ‘I think what she is doing is wonderful, but I miss
her…’

  2

  ‘Well, young ladies, this is the day you’ve all been waiting for,’ Sister Harris boomed as her sharp eyes moved along the line of young women. They were all gathered in a meeting room at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and a buzz of excited chatter went through the girls as they waited expectantly. ‘Today is the day we allow each of you onto the wards as a probationary nursing assistant. I never expected some of you to make it this far and I’m surprised and pleased with all of you. Those of you that finished the course this far have worked hard and can be proud of yourselves.’ She paused and turned to look at the man standing quietly to one side. ‘This is Captain Morgan and he is looking for volunteers for the front line – but I shall let him speak for himself.’ She stood back and indicated he should take her place.

  ‘Thank you, Sister Harris,’ Captain Morgan said and stepped forward.

  Maggie was surprised when she saw the officer who had spoken to her at her first-aid classes, before she’d joined the VADs. He’d taken her and Becky Stockbridge home in his car, because Becky’s purse had been stolen and she’d had no money for the bus fare. She’d known he was recruiting nurses for the Front because he’d asked if anyone was interested, but it was still surprising to see him here, addressing these young trainees.

  ‘I know that all of you young ladies have worked like Trojans to reach the standards we set for you before we allow you to help our nurses and wounded – well done.’

  Maggie touched her friend Sadie’s arm and smiled at her. Pleased that they were both a part of the final team, she felt at one with her friend; they’d shared the hardships and won through. Over a hundred girls had started the course and no more than thirty-five had stuck it out, most falling by the wayside in tears over the harshness they had to endure from Sister’s tongue. They had all suffered Sister’s tongue lashings, but some had managed to get through despite it, and she and Sadie felt proud of themselves for surviving.

  There was a murmur of relief from the young women around Maggie, some smiles and a few giggles. All of them had endured rigorous training and could now feel satisfied that they’d passed the first of many hurdles in their nursing careers. As yet they were only there to assist, but all those assembled had been chosen to try for the actual nursing training and were the best of their class. Despite all the hardships of the past weeks, Maggie hadn’t let go of her goal, which was to help the men being injured at the Front, and she was proud and happy to be amongst the chosen few.

  Captain Morgan’s smile seemed to embrace and caress them all. ‘Every single one of you will be aware that our men are being killed and injured each day and that you will be much needed to help care for the wounded. I know you’ve all been through a lot, but now I am going to ask you for more…’ His gaze moved from face to face, seeming to dwell here and there as if looking for something special. ‘Not everyone will want to volunteer for work overseas, of course, but we desperately need nurses and nursing assistants to go out there right now, to be close to the action.’

  Maggie listened intently. She’d already been asked by her superiors if she would be interested in serving in Belgium and she’d said yes – this was the opportunity she’d been waiting for.

  Once again, Captain Morgan paused to let his words sink in, then, ‘The field hospitals are the front line for tending the wounded and they are overflowing. Also, it is my duty to tell you that nurses who volunteer will have to suffer uncomfortable living conditions. We try to make you welcome, but it’s spartan to say the least. However, it’s where we have to face up to the most appalling wounds and do what we can to save lives – and it’s often hopeless.’ His gaze moved round the room, seeming to gather them all into his confidence. He had a warm manner and it drew the women to him. ‘I fear that too many will die no matter what we do…’

  ‘My trainees understand that they must be prepared to face hardship, Captain,’ Sister Harris said, frowning. ‘None of them would expect anything else.’

  ‘I’m sure you’ve trained them well.’ He smiled at her and she nodded her approval. ‘However, nursing here in the safety of a well-equipped hospital and out there on the front line are two different things…’

  One of the young women put her hand up. ‘May I ask a question, sir?’

  ‘Of course. I will answer if I can.’

  ‘Are the nurses out there in danger of being killed?’ She sounded a little tentative. Maggie listened to the answer with interest but she knew that nothing would change her mind.

  ‘We do not send young women up to the trenches. We have stretcher bearers who bring the wounded back – but it can happen. A stray shell or a deliberate attack from the air can cause casualties. Nurses have died. Accidents can happen around munitions – and the Germans don’t care if nurses are in the transport convoys, they drop their bombs on anything that moves, and shoot at them from their planes…’ Maggie nodded and smiled, because she had long ago accepted that such an undertaking could not be without danger.

  ‘How do volunteers get there?’ another young woman asked.

  ‘What is it like out there?’ put in her companion.

  ‘It isn’t easy to get there, though we provide the transport, but there is danger, and not all of you will be able to bear the tension – or the conditions when you arrive, which can break even the strongest spirit. You’ll be living in wooden huts or tents, with no proper sanitation, no proper baths and you often have to cross muddy fields to get to your stations. You will live with mud, blood and hardship every day. We’re often short of medicines and sometimes even food.’

  ‘We don’t care about that, sir,’ Sadie piped up. ‘We just want to do our bit for the men…’ Maggie nodded agreement.

  ‘Good.’ Captain Morgan smiled. ‘That is as I expected. No one will be criticised or thought less of if they prefer to serve nearer home. However, we do need you – so please raise your hands if you wish to volunteer…’

  A forest of hands went up, including Maggie’s and Sadie’s. Captain Morgan’s smile grew wider, because none of the new nursing assistants had kept their hands down.

  ‘Excellent,’ he said, nodding his approval. ‘I don’t always get that response, but Sister Harris told me you were a tough bunch and that is just what we need. All I can say is thank you.’ He paused, then, ‘Any more questions?’

  Several young women asked for more details: what they would need to take, what they could tell friends and relatives, if they could write home. Captain Morgan answered them patiently until Sister Harris put up her hand and said that was enough.

  ‘Anyone who is prepared to go will get a fact sheet, money for travel and an itinerary, also advice on what you need to take with you, what you’ll be able to buy out there and what you won’t.’ She gave them what passed for a smile. ‘Kindly allow Captain Morgan to leave us – he is a busy man.’

  ‘I just want to congratulate you all,’ he said and turned to shake hands with the sister before leaving the stage.

  ‘You will all report to my office and be put on the list of volunteers,’ Sister Harris told the nurses with a pleased look. ‘Your orders will come through in a week and in the meantime, you will have three days leave, starting from six this evening. Now you can go to the wards you were assigned to and see what it feels like to do a bit of real nursing…’

  ‘Phew,’ Sadie whispered as they moved off. ‘The old trout can actually smile, though I thought her face might crack…’

  ‘Sadie!’ Maggie said and pushed her but laughed.

  ‘Miss Gibbs – or should I say Nurse Gibbs?’ Captain Morgan asked from just behind her left shoulder.

  Maggie swung round with a smile of surprise as the captain approached her. She hadn’t been sure he would remember her, much less speak to her directly. ‘Good morning, sir. I’m not a proper nurse. I need another couple of years training before I can call myself that – but I only signed up to assist during the war…’

  ‘When you get out there, you
will find yourself doing everything the nurses do before you know where you are,’ he said. ‘I know we throw you all in the deep end, but we can’t help it. We’re desperate for both nurses and nursing assistants. A lot of the girls are willing when they go out, but the appalling conditions, the terrible things they see and the sound of the guns combines to break them and some of them last only a few weeks.’ He looked grave, as if wanting them to understand what they were taking on.

  ‘We’re from the East End of London,’ Sadie piped up. ‘We’re tough, sir. Nothing ain’t gonna break us – if the dragon sister couldn’t, them bloody Germans can’t…’

  ‘Sadie is right,’ Maggie said, smiling at her friend. ‘We’ve already seen hell and spit in its eye, sir.’

  ‘Tell me that in two months’ time and I’ll believe you,’ he said and smiled at her. Then, changing the subject: ‘I saw your friend Miss Stockbridge a few days ago. Her father allowed me to take her out for tea and she says she will write to me…’

  Maggie was surprised. She hardly knew him and thought it would be the same for Becky Stockbridge, but since he’d been invited to hers to tea, their friendship had clearly progressed. She wondered that her friend had not written to tell her of her encounter with the dedicated doctor. She and Becky had been best friends while Maggie worked at Harpers, but perhaps Becky had other friends now. That thought made her a little sad and she decided to send Becky a postcard and see if she replied.

  ‘Is Becky well?’ Maggie asked. Her friends from Harpers all seemed a long way away, but she thought of them often. Harpers and her life there were still dear to her, though she wouldn’t have given up her experience here. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing her.’

  ‘I’m sure she will be delighted to see you,’ Captain Morgan said. ‘I shall not delay you any longer – but you may meet me again when we get where we’re going…’