Girls of the Great War

by Freda Lightfoot

  ‘A number of us have been ordered to join the battalion at Bapaume. It’s a small town close to the Somme, apparently caught up in another battle.’

  A sense of foreboding jerked within her. ‘I do hope you remain safe. I shall miss you.’

  Meeting the sadness in her violet-blue eyes, he gave her hand a small squeeze. ‘I shall miss you too, but I’m sure I’ll be fine. Let’s not assume that this war will get any worse. I reckon it will end fairly soon,’ he firmly declared, the resilience in his soft brown eyes sparking more admiration within her.

  ‘Let’s hope so.’

  ‘The thing is, we’ll be despatched at the end of this week. Before then we’ve been granted a few days’ leave, as is often the case. I thought I’d visit Salperwick, a village just a few kilometres from here, which has a magnificent river. I always enjoy fishing, sailing and swimming, and there’s a lovely forest for walks. I wondered if you’d find that fun too and would be interested in joining me for a short break. Your presence would give me great pleasure as I confess I’ve become quite fond of you.’

  Cecily listened spellbound, the thrill of this offer running through her like fire. Following that dance, they’d become quite friendly. She couldn’t imagine falling in love with him, her heart still wrapped up in Ewan. Nor was he declaring any love for her, which was a good thing. But if this lovely man was to be involved in another horrendous battle, why would she not assist him in having some fun before he left? And should desire arise between them, he deserved a little romantic pleasure. Didn’t she too, being a single woman facing a lonely life? ‘I too like fishing, sailing and swimming, having lived in Plymouth for some time. However, I don’t see myself as being very skilled at those leisure pursuits. I’m more into dancing and singing, and swimming,’ she said with a chuckle. ‘I’d be delighted to accept your invitation and come with you.’

  His expression lit up with delight. ‘Thank you, Cecily. That would be wonderful.’ Reaching up to put his arms around her, she found herself locked in his embrace and felt a tremor of excitement when he gently kissed her.

  ‘We have one double bedroom and two single rooms available,’ the concierge of the small hotel or pension, as the French called it, informed them.

  Louis softly asked Cecily which one she’d be happy with, lifting his brows with quizzical interest. She looked up at this tall, fit man with strongly muscled shoulders and a delicious twinkle in his brown eyes, to give him a broad smile. ‘Oh, the double room, obviously, being now a married couple.’ It seemed appropriate to claim that.

  With a smile and a nod, he turned to the woman behind the reception desk and said, ‘That would be splendid, thank you.’

  Picking up both their small cases, the concierge led the way up to the second floor. Unlocking the door at the end of the passage, she placed the cases on a rack then quietly left. Whether she believed in what Cecily had stated about their relationship was perhaps open to question, but they had not been dismissed. Looking around the room, not least at the large double bed in the centre, to her surprise Cecily felt her limbs start to tremble. Foolish as it might seem, the sight of it filled her with a sudden panic. Had frustration made her agree to join him on this trip, and tell that lie? No, she’d simply longed for a little fun in her life. What was wrong with that?

  ‘This is splendid,’ Louis commented, also glancing around.

  He was so close to her that she could smell not a whiff of smoke or alcohol, only soap and a lingering odour of his uniform. Their eyes met, an electrifying, sensual and certain wild courage in his, while she felt warmth start to glow in hers, her sense of panic quickly subsiding.

  It was late morning, and having unpacked their few items of clothes to hang them in the wardrobe, Louis suggested they should go and find themselves some lunch then explore the river. ‘I did promise you some sailing, today being sunny and warm, so this could be the best chance we’ll get.’

  And probably the last they’d have for some time since he’d be leaving in just a few days to Bapaume, and then the troupe could be moved on to Malta. They enjoyed a delicious lunch of pâté, toast and black coffee. The concierge then brought them each a slice of homemade sponge cake, the meal a real treat after the poor food available in camp.

  Louis told her how much he had enjoyed their concerts. ‘Your singing is superb, and you’re quite a talented actor too.’

  ‘I love singing best of all. We might go on to perform an extract from one or two of Shakespeare’s comedies: Much Ado About Nothing or A Midsummer Night’s Dream. That would be such fun and make a change from the other plays we’ve done. I will continue to sing before and after each play extract.’

  ‘You devote so much time and energy to this project, much appreciated by all. This war can leave us pretty shattered, riddled with fear and grief, or completely crackers as a result of shellfire. What you offer us Tommies nurtures and lightens our minds and spirits. You are very brave.’

  ‘So are you, having opted to fight in this war. I do hope you remain safe.’

  A small frown creased his brow. ‘I believe this battle already taking place in Bapaume is being supported by troops from New Zealand and maybe Australia. I’ll find out for sure when I get there. I believe it will finally bring this war to an end. That is the plan it’s involved in, part of a series of Allied victories that began with the Battle of Amiens and could well expand again to the Somme, Ypres and many other places. We have to drive the Germans out.’

  Seeing the grip of determination in his face, Cecily grasped his hand with both of hers to give it a gentle squeeze. ‘Enough of this war talk. Let’s put all of that worry out of our minds and enjoy this break. We need to have some fun.’

  He laughed. ‘We do indeed. An excellent idea.’

  Walking through the woodlands down to the river, he hired a small boat and sat opposite her as he began to row. With the sun shining, the sky and river appeared to be melding together like molten gold. A fickle breeze came along to disturb the blue-grey ruffle of waves. It felt a little startling as the boat bobbed up and down, the water slapping against its sides.

  Louis laughed. ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘I am. You are excellent at rowing,’ she said, taking pleasure in watching his skill. And this man had never looked more inviting.

  They continued for some distance, Cecily covertly studying him till finally he asked if she’d like to have a try.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘We could row together,’ he said, and passing over one of the oars, he locked it in place then told her to make sure it was held properly in the water. ‘Now bend forward, roll your wrists and pull it through the water as you lean back. Don’t jerk, just apply strength.’

  She made an attempt to do as he instructed, which didn’t prove to be easy, and she ended up laughing. ‘You are so much stronger than me. I think we’re just moving round in circles.’

  ‘I’ll use less pressure,’ Louis said, joining in her laughter. He rowed much more slowly and it worked perfectly. After a while, he brought the boat safely back to shore with his considerable skill. Helping her to climb out he gave her a hug, which lit her with anticipation. ‘Thank you and well done.’

  Following dinner, they returned to walk along the riverbank, hand in hand. The soft lapping of water slipping over stones echoed magically in her ears. Ruffled by the breeze and bathed in a pool of pale moonlight, the river glimmered a beautiful shiny grey. They talked quietly, sharing dreams for their future, Louis saying how he ached to return to his hometown of Quebec where he hoped one day to run a restaurant.

  ‘Heaven knows what I will do. I assume I’ll continue singing as I can’t think what else I’d be any good at,’ Cecily said with a smile. ‘Assuming I can manage to get taken on by a theatre.’

  ‘You’d be more than welcome to come and sing to us in Quebec. Unless you have a fiancé whom you plan to marry,’ he quietly remarked, his brows lifting in query.

  She briefly reminded him of how losing Ew
an was the reason she had no wish to do that. ‘He too loved to sing, although in a much deeper tone of voice, as well as fish and swim,’ she said with a chuckle. ‘I like to remember the enjoyable time we had together when we were young, not dwell upon his death.’

  ‘Quite right,’ he agreed, holding her close to give her a comforting hug. ‘You look beautiful,’ he murmured, smoothing her cheek with the palm of his hand then admiring the pink silk dress she’d chosen to wear that evening. ‘Most enchanting.’

  Finding the gleam of admiration in his eyes alluring, it caused a bubble of exhilaration to flow within her. ‘You look pretty handsome too.’

  When he kissed her, she felt utterly intoxicated. Linking her arm with his, they strolled happily back to the hotel and upstairs to the bedroom. She eagerly helped him to remove her dress, making no protest as he lay her down upon the bed. As he caressed and kissed her with increasing passion, desire flared within her, a sensation far more intense than she’d ever known before. Instinctively, she slid her hands around his neck, drawing him closer, barely able to suppress her need for him. Assuming all hope of intimacy had died, this was an event she’d never believed possible. Not that she and Ewan had ever made love, being far too young and perfectly content to wait until they were married. Now that she had lost him, Cecily felt she had no reason to believe she’d ever fall in love again. And holding fast to her independence would save the risk of choosing to marry simply because of a sense of despondency or loneliness, which could prove to be a disastrous mistake. The prospect of spending her entire life as a virgin no longer appealed. Why should she confine herself to celibacy when she surely had a right to a little fun and satisfaction? And this lovely man was not that dreadful Oberstleutnant who’d attempted to rape her.

  ‘Are you sure you’re happy about this?’ he murmured.

  She gave him a sweet smile as he tenderly kissed her lips, cheeks and breasts, promising to take appropriate action to protect her. When finally he entered her, she found herself instinctively moving with the rhythm of his body, the bliss between them escalating to a glorious pinnacle of happiness.

  NINETEEN

  FOLLOWING A rehearsal and taking into account the amount of work she’d done for months, let alone the last few days without Cecily around to help, Queenie demanded Johnny take her to the nearest estaminet, a local café bar close to the railway station. He’d bought her Malaga wine and a pint of stout for himself, together with a Dutch cigar, each costing only a few coppers. They sat at a table for some time just outside the café, Queenie deliciously relishing her third glass. ‘Thank goodness you didn’t invite Merryn to join us or tell her where we were going. She’s my darling daughter but being very anti-alcohol, never allows me a sip. We should take a walk together later, to help me sober up. Will there be any possibility of doing that here in town before we return to the camp?’ she asked, flicking her eyelashes at him.

  Glancing around at the messy state of the road packed with shell-holes, Johnny shrugged. ‘Couldn’t say for sure. Depends whether there are any more likely attacks. Doesn’t feel safe enough to risk a walk, not here in Saint-Omer, let alone out in the woods.’ Hearing a train approach, he looked across at the railway buildings on the opposite side of the street and saw Cecily walking up the road towards the station. ‘Good Lord, your other daughter is back. Nor is she alone.’

  Queenie jerked, startled and annoyed that Cecily should appear just when she was enjoying this day out. ‘You’ll have to hop it, Johnny Boy!’

  Leaping up, he edged around the corner of the estaminet. Keeping his glass of stout and cigar in hand, he crouched down on the pavement, remaining close enough to hear what Queenie was saying.

  ‘Thankfully, she hasn’t noticed me sitting here. She’s walking to the station accompanied by a man. Could he be that German PoW she saved?’

  Johnny shook his head. ‘I doubt it. He apparently escaped some time ago back in Ypres. Hadn’t you better move away too, Queenie?’

  ‘I will, just as soon as I’ve finished this glass of wine,’ she hissed, hugely irritated to be under pressure to leave, her love of booze far too strong for her to abandon it. ‘What a nuisance! I was so enjoying this treat, but she’ll be furious if she finds me drinking. Her attitude is even worse than Merryn’s.’

  Johnny frowned. ‘That chap looks vaguely familiar. He could be one of those soldiers who help us perform, or else that French-Canadian bloke she danced with.’

  ‘Ah, yes, you may well be right.’ Closely watching as Cecily entered the station, Queenie guessed she’d probably spent these last few days with him. So she liked sex too. Now feeling the urge to escape, she said, ‘Oh dear, when she comes back out of the station, she’ll be walking towards us.’

  ‘We could go and find another estaminet,’ Johnny whispered, sounding slightly desperate. ‘So long as Cecily hasn’t seen us, we’re free to go elsewhere.’

  ‘Let’s go now,’ she said, and quickly gulped down the last few drops of wine. Moments later, her glass emptied, the pair of them quickly crossed the bridge over the Canal de Neuffossé and scurried away.

  Cecily gazed up at Louis with sadness in her heart as she walked with him along the railway platform packed with Tommies. How she’d enjoyed their short relaxation together. They’d spent those few days exploring the area and enjoyed rowing, swimming and fishing, let alone making love numerous times throughout the night and first thing each morning when she would wake to find his arm around her. It almost felt as if the war was over and she was allowed to be happy and peaceful at last.

  The time came when they had to return to Saint-Omer for Louis to move on to join the next battle near the Somme, not something either of them wished to discuss. In silence, they packed their few belongings and returned to the camp. He changed into his uniform, collected his kit and Cecily accompanied him to the railway station. She would feel so alone once he had left. How she would miss him.

  ‘I suspect it will be a slow journey. I’ll spend it remembering the thrill of the time we’ve spent together, not least the long nights,’ he said, holding her close as they approached the train.

  ‘I will remember it with great affection too,’ she murmured, giving him a shy smile. ‘And I do appreciate being taught more about rowing and fishing, as well as lovemaking.’

  He grinned. ‘That’s good to hear.’

  At that moment, the crowds of soldiers began to climb on board. The pair of them stood staring at each other for some seconds, then holding her tight against his chest, he kissed her with renewed passion. ‘I loved every minute I spent with you. What a treasure you are. Take care of yourself, Cecily. I’ll write to you whenever I get the chance.’

  ‘I’ll write to you too,’ she said, feeling a prickle of tears flood her eyes. As he turned to board the train, she ran after him to wrap her arms around his neck and give him another kiss. His gaze flickered with a mixture of sadness and desire.

  Once all the Tommies had climbed on board, the train shunted out of the station and, moments later, it had vanished and Louis was gone. Filled with a sense of despondency, Cecily made her way slowly back to camp. What a horrific life these brave men were caught up in. She could but hope that Louis was right when he said this dratted war would end soon.

  Over the next few weeks, Cecily received several letters from Louis telling of his experiences. He described their endless marching in fierce wind and rain, how they slept in the woods or hid in ditches, dugouts and trenches to avoid the heavy shelling. He spoke of watching the artillery come by, their galloping horses very often panic-stricken and with nostrils flaring.

  There are shells striking all around and many casualties. We find ourselves picking up abandoned rifles, guns and hand grenades since we always feel in need of more ammunition. The bombardment goes on and we listen painstakingly to the sound of an oncoming shell to ascertain whether it might fall within yards of us. We pray the enemy will finally withdraw, then we could too. I so look forward to seeing you again
but rumour has it that we’re about to be moved on to a new front line, so you may not hear from me for a week or two. Once we’ve settled some place else, I’ll write again. Take care and keep strong.

  Best wishes,

  Louis

  Cecily found it heartrending to read his latest letter, pleased as she was to receive it. Following this, his silence brought a sense of despair within her. How painful it was that having developed a fondness for this man, his life was once again rife with danger. Going to speak to Lena, she asked if she’d heard any news of the men who’d joined the battalion at Bapaume, close to the Somme.

  Giving a sad shake of her head, Lena said, ‘Sorry, I believe many have been injured and killed, but who and where they now are is not easy to discover. Is there anyone in particular you wish to know of ?’

  ‘I care about all of these Tommies and I have become quite friendly with Louis Casey, a French Canadian.’ Cecily went on to explain how he claimed there would be a slight delay before he wrote again since they were to be moved on to a different front line.

  ‘Let’s hope he writes once he settles wherever they send him,’ Lena said with a sympathetic smile. ‘I’ll make a few enquiries and if I hear anything about him, I’ll let you know.’

  ‘Oh, thank you, it’s much appreciated.’

  ‘I appreciate your help too. More prisoners are being herded along roads by the German enemy. God knows where they are being taken or how we’ll manage to save them. I found one unconscious and tied to a tree, very close to death but managed to save him.’

  ‘Thank God for that.’

  Valiantly putting her personal worries out of her mind, Cecily continued to work hard with their concerts and thankfully no more PoWs needed rescuing. She then received the expected order from Lieutenant Trevain saying that their concert party was to be taken to Malta, where they felt in sore need of entertainment. Being a small island in the Mediterranean a reasonably safe distance from battles on the front line, it was packed with hospitals for thousands of men, and was viewed as a sanctuary. Cecily was looking forward to entertaining them if feeling sad at leaving Lena. They gave each other a fond farewell, promising to keep in touch.