Mrs Boots Goes to War

by Deborah Carr

  He patted her hand. ‘You’ve had a nasty shock and you’re bound to miss your home, especially after what’s happened, and with your birthday nearing. But we will get through this as we have done every other sadness in our lives. You mark my words, my dear.’

  He was right, she knew it. ‘I’ll be fine once I come to terms with what’s happened,’ she reassured him, not wishing Jesse to fret unnecessarily about her when he had so many other things to concern him at work. ‘Let’s just sit here quietly and savour being together, shall we?’

  Jesse smiled at her. ‘I’d like that. If we clear our minds and breathe in the scents of the flowers and the freshly cut lawn and listen to the birdsong then we might even be able to fool ourselves that all is well with the world.’

  Florence doubted she would be able to do as he suggested, but liked the idea and closed her eyes. Whatever happened, she knew that as long as she had Jesse by her side, she would find a way to cope. He was her soulmate and the one person who could reassure her when all else seemed to be falling apart.

  ‘I’m glad I went against my mother’s wishes and married you, Jesse Boot,’ she whispered.

  ‘I’m relieved you did,’ he said. ‘I can’t imagine having shared my life with anyone other than you.’

  Florence stared at him, tears welling up inside her. Here she was upset about her brother when next to her was the man who had given her so much. She hated to see him so frail, the constant pain of his rheumatism draining his energy each day. He would be seventy next birthday and she dared not think how she would cope without him by her side each day.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  1 July 1918

  Florence and Jesse decided to take their supper in the garden and make the most of the warm, sultry evening. ‘It’s my birthday in four weeks and after last month’s sadness at losing Willie, I thought I’d have a small dinner party here with whatever family are near enough to come. What do you think, Jesse?’

  ‘I think it makes sense. It’s not as if we could put on anything lavish anyway, even if we didn’t have food rationing to contend with.’

  ‘That’s what I was thinking,’ she said, taking a sip of the delicious cordial Mrs Rudge had sent up with their supper. ‘I don’t really feel like celebrating, if I’m honest. And, as with the past three years, it wouldn’t really be seemly to put on too much of a celebration even if I did.’

  Jesse dropped the bread he was lifting to his mouth and Florence watched as he struggled to take hold of it once more. She wished he would accept help with his eating, but he refused most of the time, insisting that while he had the strength to feed himself then he was determined to do so. She supposed she would be just as determined as him, so didn’t bother to argue. Jesse had his pride and, despite the mess he always made at mealtimes, she respected him for it.

  ‘We will have a lot of celebrating to catch up on after this is over,’ Jesse said, finally taking hold of the lump of bread and smiling triumphantly at her.

  Florence agreed with him but the last thing she felt like thinking about at that moment was celebrating, especially after so much had been lost. No, she was going to enjoy this peaceful moment away from the office at home with her darling Jesse.

  Florence opened her mouth to speak when a distant thud echoed around them. Had she imagined the earth shuddering at her feet? Or was it just the sound that had shocked her? She stared at Jesse, frightened to imagine the cause of the sound. ‘What was that?’

  All amusement had vanished from his face and he lowered his hands to rest on the table. ‘It sounded like an explosion to me.’ He fell silent, his eyes moving as he listened with her for any further noise.

  Florence shivered despite the warmth of the evening air. ‘Where do you think it came from?’

  Jesse shook his head slowly. ‘I’ve no idea, but I have a horrible feeling that something terrible has happened.’

  Florence stared up at the sky, searching the deep blue, scattered with a few white fluffy clouds. ‘Could it be another bombing raid? Should we go inside, do you think?’

  Jesse followed her gaze. ‘I can’t see any Zeppelins.’

  Neither could she. ‘What could have made that sound, if not a bomb exploding?’ Florence asked, a sense of foreboding working its way through her body. She thought of her girls and those that had left Boots to go and work in munitions. ‘You don’t think it was an explosion at one of the arms factories, do you?’

  ‘I hope not. I suppose we’ll soon find out when they report it in the papers.’

  Florence shivered. The thought of something igniting in a place where many people worked in close quarters horrified her. She hated having to wait to find out, but knew she had little choice.

  The following morning, Florence arrived in the dining room to eat breakfast with Jesse and found him already seated at the table reading his broadsheet. She could tell by the look on his face that he was reading tragic news.

  ‘Is it about the explosion we heard yesterday evening?’

  Jesse looked over the top of his newspaper. ‘It is, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘Oh, Florence, it says here it was at the National Shell Filling Factory at Chilwell.’

  Florence knew her mouth had dropped open, but it took a few seconds for her to make her brain work enough to close it. All those women and men. ‘Oh, no. How many?’

  ‘It says here that they suspect sixty people were killed.’ He shook his head, frowning. ‘If we could hear that explosion from here then I imagine they’re being very conservative with their reporting. Surely, more of the employees must have been caught up in that blast.’

  Florence thought of the young women who had left Boots to move to Chilwell and earn the thirty shillings a week offered for the dangerous work. She hated that they were sometimes referred to as the Canary Girls, owing to the yellow colour of their skin from the TNT poisoning that all the glasses of milk in the world, let alone the single glass they were offered after their shift ended, wouldn’t be able to rid them of. Her heart ached for those lost and for their families who would now be grieving for them.

  ‘It’s not only about those who were lost,’ Jesse said quietly. ‘What about those maimed by the explosion? This is a dark day indeed, Florence.’

  Florence felt as if there was a weight on her shoulders. Why hadn’t she been more forceful with those of her girls who had given notice to go and work in munitions factories? She had known the risks well enough.

  ‘These women and men should be awarded medals for the work they’ve done,’ Florence. ‘Surely, without the munitions they produced the British Army would have no way of defending our country?’

  ‘I agree, my dear. They are truly brave young people who work in these factories.’ He lowered his paper and sighed. ‘I’ve heard tales of young women losing legs when one shell explodes, others dying through poisoning from handling the toxic chemicals used in the shells, but this is too horrifying.’

  Florence was too sickened by the news to be able to say anything further.

  ‘I’ll try to find out more when I go to work. No doubt, there will be talk among the staff.’

  Florence nodded her agreement, trying to suppress the nausea rising in the pit of her stomach. All she could think of was Milly, so bright and full of life, and the girls like her who had come to them from school before leaving the safety of their stores and factories to go and earn a larger wage at Chilwell. She prayed that Milly had not been on the night shift the previous evening and had been spared.

  Later that day Jesse called Florence to his office to catch up over tea and a few biscuits. After kissing him on his forehead, she sat down next to him. He was looking tired and she could see he was suffering a lot of pain.

  ‘How’s your morning been?’

  ‘It’s been busy, as usual.’ He rubbed his face with his right hand. ‘I’ve been told by one of the directors here who knows someone on the board at Chilwell that they now believe more than a hundred a
nd thirty employees were killed in the explosion. He says that they also estimate now that around two hundred and fifty were badly injured.’ He stared at his desk silently for a moment. ‘Those poor people.’

  ‘It’s too horrible, isn’t it?’ Florence agreed.

  Jesse nodded slowly. ‘Apparently, much of the site was obliterated. I gather too that the explosion was so vast that windows were shattered a couple of miles away from the factory, as far as Long Eaton.’

  They sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts for a few minutes. Florence couldn’t bear to think of so much heartache in the factory only a few miles away.

  ‘I’ll leave it a few days and then make enquiries about the girls who left Boots to go and work there,’ Florence said. ‘If any of them were killed or injured then I’ll see if there’s anything we can do to help them or their families. They might have left Boots, but to me they will always be my dear girls.’

  ‘Yes, that’s a good idea.’

  A couple of weeks later, Florence was working in her office when Enid knocked on the door. ‘Lady Boot, sorry to interrupt you, but there’s a Miss Milly Jones asking to speak to you. I told her that you were busy this morning, but she asked me to please check if you have a minute or two to spare to speak to her.’

  Florence waved for Enid to show her in. ‘I have a few minutes, Enid. Please, show Miss Jones in to see me.’

  Florence waited for the girl to be shown into her office. If she had expected to see someone acting a little nervously, which most younger people did when coming to her office, she was surprised to see that Miss Milly Jones seemed far more confident than she had the last time Florence had met her.

  The young girl, whom Florence now recalled as being one of the more popular girls in their factories, strode into the room. Her skin, Florence noticed, did have a slight yellow tinge to it, but if she had been working filling shells for the past year then that was probably to be expected.

  ‘Welcome, Miss Jones,’ Florence said. ‘Please, take a seat and tell me what I can do for you.’

  Milly Jones took off her hat and sat, holding it and her small leather bag on her lap. ‘Thank you for seeing me at such short notice, Lady Boot. It’s very kind of you.’

  ‘I believe the last time I saw you was when you left us to go and work at the arms factory at Chilwell.’

  Milly cast her gaze down to her hat. ‘Yes, I thought I was being clever leaving here to go to a job there, Lady Boot.’ She looked back at Florence, her expression sad, and Florence noticed she seemed a little lost.

  ‘My husband and I heard the explosion from our home.’ She still couldn’t believe that they had been eating a light supper when so many young people were killed or horribly injured. Florence shuddered and pulled her mind back to the matter in hand. ‘I made enquiries about our girls who had left to work there and was greatly relieved that none of you were working that evening.’

  ‘That’s very kind of you to check up on us, Lady Boot. I appreciate you doing something like that, especially after we left you to go there.’ Milly’s expression appeared somewhat haunted, which Florence thought wasn’t surprising after what her colleagues had gone through. ‘I was supposed to be working that night,’ she said quietly. ‘My ma insisted I swap shifts with a friend and accompany her to visit my dad. He’s in hospital, you see. Broke his leg falling off a low roof at work a month ago. I tried to argue with her, but she wouldn’t listen.’ She gazed out of the window briefly before returning to look at Florence. ‘I’m glad now that I had to do as she insisted.’

  Florence was relieved, too. She wondered what had happened to Milly’s friend but hesitated, unsure whether she should ask.

  ‘You’re probably wondering what happened to my friend who covered my shift that evening?’ Milly said, as if she had read Florence’s mind.

  ‘Only if you want to talk about her,’ Florence said.

  Milly clasped her hands together and Florence noticed they were trembling slightly. ‘We were best friends, me and Lucy.’

  ‘And is Lucy all right?’ Florence asked tentatively, not wishing to pry but sensing that the girl needed to share her thoughts with someone.

  Milly shrugged. ‘She survived the blast, if that’s what you mean. She’s in hospital with burns to her arms and one leg,’ she added, sadly. ‘I think she’ll be there for a few months yet.’

  Florence listened as the girl spoke. She could tell Milly was carrying a lot of guilt, aware that her friend was suffering in her place. Florence’s thoughts turned to Milly’s mother. How terrifying it must be for her to think what could have happened if she hadn’t insisted Milly swap shifts that day. Then she thought of Lucy’s mother now coping with a badly hurt daughter because her child had been generous enough to agree to take Milly’s place. The back of Florence’s eyes prickled with unshed tears.

  The next thing Florence knew, Milly let go of her hat as she opened her bag and rummaged around inside. Tears were streaming down her face. She sniffed a few times and Florence realised the girl was frantically looking for a handkerchief. Florence pulled open the small right-hand top drawer in her desk and retrieved an ironed handkerchief. She shook it so that it unfolded and leant over the desk so that Milly could take it from her.

  Milly grabbed the material and quickly dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose. ‘Thank you, Lady Boot,’ she said with a sniff. ‘I’ve no idea what came over me just then. I’m so s-s-sorry.’

  ‘Hush, now,’ Florence said, trying to calm the distressed girl, ‘you have had a terrible shock and it is not surprising that you’re upset about your friend. Would you like a cup of tea and then we can start again?’

  Milly gave Florence a watery smile. ‘Th-thank you.’

  Florence walked around her desk and rested a hand briefly on the girl’s left shoulder. ‘There, now, you take your time. I’ll just pop next door to speak to my secretary about that tea. I won’t be a moment.’

  She opened Gladys and Enid’s office door. ‘Please, bring in two cups of tea as soon as you can. And some of those lovely bourbon biscuits, I think.’

  Without waiting for them to reply, she hurried back to her office and sat at her desk. Milly seemed a little calmer now. Florence watched as she dabbed at her eyes once more and then at the end of her nose.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Lady Boot. My mother would go mad if she thought I’d come here and behaved this way in front of you.’

  ‘There’s nothing to be sorry for, Milly. Anyone in your situation would be upset. It’s going to take time for you to come to terms with the sort of fright you’ve had.’ She smoothed down her skirts. ‘Now, do you want to let me know how I can help you?’

  Milly narrowed her eyes as if nervous of Florence’s reaction. ‘I was hoping you might have a place for me back in the factory where I worked before. I enjoyed my work there.’

  ‘You were working on the gas masks, isn’t that right?’

  ‘That’s right, Lady Boot. I have some friends in the department and they were saying it’s still as busy as ever. I thought— that is, I hoped you might still be looking for girls.’

  Florence was unsure if they were without checking first. ‘I’ll have to find out for you, Milly. But I can assure you that even if there isn’t a vacancy for you there, I’ll be able to find one for you, probably in one of the departments at Island Street. Would you be happy with that?’

  Milly beamed at her. ‘Yes, I’d like that very much, Lady Boot. Thank you ever so much.’

  ‘Not at all, Milly. We’ll be glad to have you back here working for us. And I’m sure your friends will be delighted to see you back on the factory floor once again.’

  ‘They will, Lady Boot. It was one of them who suggested I come here and speak to you. I thought you wouldn’t want to give me a job, not after I left to go elsewhere.’

  ‘I’m glad you did come to see me though. I’m sure I asked you to do so should you ever change your mind about working there.’

  ‘You did,’ Milly whisp
ered.

  Florence watched as Enid brought in the tea and biscuits, placing them on the desk in front of her and Milly before leaving again. She felt better knowing that this sweet young girl would be coming back to work for Boots rather than returning to the arms factory. ‘Your friend was right to encourage you to come and speak to me and I’m glad she did. Now, how soon will you be able to start work?’ she asked, sensing that the sooner Milly got to work and had less time to ponder on the explosion and her friend’s injuries, the better it would be for the young girl.

  ‘Whenever you like, Lady Boot.’ Milly lifted the cup and saucer, and after blowing on the hot drink, took a sip of her tea.

  ‘Then shall we say tomorrow morning?’

  ‘Yes, please.’ She placed the drink back down onto the desk, and stood up. Then, picking up her hat, placed it on her head. ‘My ma is going to be very grateful to you.’

  ‘Please, tell her there’s no need. I’m happy to help and we can always do with hard-working girls like you at Boots, Milly.’ She accompanied Milly to the door and opened it. ‘If any of your friends who previously worked at the factory are looking to return to work at Boots, tell them to come and speak to me and I’ll do what I can to accommodate them.’

  Milly grinned at her. ‘Thank you, Lady Boot, I’ll do that.’

  Enid walked out of her office and motioned for Milly to accompany her. ‘Let me show you out, Miss Jones.’

  Florence returned to her office and sat at her desk. She felt much better than she had in weeks. It was a relief to know that one of her girls was coming back to work for them. It wasn’t much but she felt as if she had done something to help after the dreadful explosion.

  Now, she thought, as she stood and walked over to her folder containing the lists of vacancies she needed to fill, was there a position available for Milly in the department where she used to work? She hoped so because not only would the girl be happier among old friends, she also wouldn’t need any training, since she had done the work before.