A Moment to Remember (30 page)

When Milly finally got home that evening, she was thoroughly exhausted, but she had to tell Aunt Lil about some of the young men who had arrived that day.

‘They’ve only just got back, and to be blind must be really awful. We have been told to try and help as much as we can. I did ask a few if they would like me to write letters to the people at home, but they don’t want that. They said they didn’t want to worry them.’

‘It must be very hard for them. Give ’em time to adjust, love.’

 

For weeks Milly and her fellow workers attended the men, and some who hadn’t been in the thick of the gas seemed to be getting their sight back.

Milly had been looking after Reg. When she started writing letters for him, he told her all about his wife and two children.

‘When I went in the army, she went back up ter Scotland ter be with her family. Said she couldn’t stand the dirt and noise in London. She should have been where we was. Talk about dirt and noise. D’yer know, some of our lot went a bit funny with the constant bombardment, it was so bloody loud. As fer the dirt and mud, I tell yer, girl, don’t go over there fer the sunshine, cos they don’t get a lot.’

‘Did you manage to keep a photo of your family?’

‘No. They got lost in the mud.’

‘Perhaps I could ask your wife to send you another one.’

‘Not much point if I can’t see it.’

‘Reg, you mustn’t give up hope. The doctors can do such wonderful things these days.’

‘Can’t work bloody miracles though, can they?’

‘Now come on, Reg, this is not like you. We rely on you to keep everybody cheerful.’

‘Leave me be.’

He turned over and Milly left him. She knew that was the best thing to do when they got down.

A few days later Reg was back to his old self and Milly was pleased to tell him he had a letter from his wife. She was beginning to recognise the wives’ and mothers’ handwriting. ‘Reg, you’ve got a letter from Kate. Shall I read it to you?’

‘Yes please.’

When she’d finished, she said, ‘She sounds lovely, and at the bottom is a kiss from Jimmy and one from Connie.’

‘That’s a bit daft. She knows I can’t bloody see ’em.’

‘But we can tell you about them.’

‘S’pose so.’

‘Right, it’s time to change your bandages.

She took the old bandage off, and turned to take a fresh one from the trolley.

‘Milly,’ Reg said. ‘Have you got a red cross on the front of your apron?’

‘You know I have.’

Reg sat up and put his hand out. ‘I think I can see me fingers.’

Milly looked at him sitting with his eyes screwed up. ‘Are you sure?’

He only nodded.

‘Just a minute. Nurse!’ Milly hurried down the ward. ‘Please, Nurse, get the sister.’

‘Miss Ash, please control yourself. Now what seems to be the problem?’

‘No problem. Private Warren thinks he can see.’

‘I’ll get Sister.’ She hurried away.

Milly went back to Reg and took hold of his hand. Perhaps miracles did happen after all.

‘I hope I’m not just imagining this,’ he said quietly.

‘We shall soon find out. The doctor’s on his way.’

A
DOCTOR CAME HURRYING into the ward and the staff nurse took him to Reg’s bed. There was an air of anticipation as the curtains were pulled round and Milly and the other nurses went about their duties.

‘What’s happened to Reg?’ asked another patient with bandaged eyes.

‘We don’t know,’ said a nurse.

‘I can tell there’s something,’ said the man. ‘We can pick up on the slightest sound that’s unusual.’

‘So?’ asked the nurse. ‘What’s so unusual?’

‘Footsteps. One lot was the staff nurse’s, and she don’t usually rush about, and the other lot was a man’s, so I suspect it was a doctor.’

‘And what conclusion did you come to?’

‘They stopped at Reg’s bed so something’s wrong with him.’

The nurse went up to the patient and touched his hand. ‘I can tell you, there is nothing to worry about.’

‘You know we all worry about each other in here.’

‘I know, and I can tell you honestly that everything is fine.’

‘I hope so.’ He settled back on his pillows again.

Milly was watching and waiting for the curtains to open. She too was worried about Reg. It would be wonderful if his sight had come back, even if it was only partially.

Eventually the curtains were pulled back, and Milly waited until the doctor and staff nurse had gone to her desk before she ventured over. ‘Everything all right then, Reg?’ she asked as she went about tidying his bed.

‘Milly.’ He clasped her hand. ‘I can see a bit. It’s very blurred, but I can just about make out shapes and bright colours.’

‘I’m so happy for you, Reg. What’s going to happen now?’

‘The doctor said I shall be here for a bit, to make sure it’s not just temporary. Then if it carries on improving, I can go to one of these houses that’s being set up for us.’

Milly squeezed his hand lightly. ‘I’m really pleased for you.’

‘I’m looking forward to seeing if you’re as pretty as you sound.’

‘I can see I’ll have to watch you when you start running round the ward.’

He laughed. To Milly, it was one of the nicest sounds, and now Reg really did have something to laugh about.

Reg had mentioned the houses that were being set up as places for soldiers to convalesce and adjust to the outside world. The nurses and Red Cross workers had been talking about them too. Although it was still a new idea, some wanted to go and work in these places, but others, including Milly and June, weren’t so sure. They were very happy at the hospital.

‘That lad must be over the moon,’ said Aunt Lil when Milly told her about Reg. ‘Sit yourself down, love, and I’ll get you a cuppa. I expect you could do with one.’

‘Yes please.’

‘June was telling me about some of the lads in her ward. Got a lot of problems with their lungs.’

‘I know. They will never get better.’

‘Neither will a lot of your lads.’

‘That’s true.’

‘Terrible stuff, that gas. Let’s hope they don’t drop it on us.’

‘Please don’t say that,’ said Milly.

‘So where’s these new places June was talking about?’

‘Don’t know. They’re calling them auxiliary hospitals, but they might only be a rumour.’

‘June don’t want to go.’

‘Neither do I.’

‘But if you’re told to go, you’ll have to.’

‘I know.’ Milly didn’t want to leave Aunt Lil. She was so very happy here.

 

It was late spring, and Milly knew she had to call on her family. It was something she had been meaning to do for months, and when she had told Aunt Lil about them, she had encouraged her to go. So one Sunday afternoon she found herself knocking on the front door of the house in Winter Street.

Pammy opened the door and stood looking at her. ‘What d’yer want?’

‘Nothing. I just came to see that you were all right.’

‘No thanks to you we’re fine. Mind you, we could ’ave all bin dead and buried for all you care.’

‘Please, Pammy, I do care.’

‘Not enough to visit.’

‘So how are you managing?’ Milly could see that Pammy was looking a lot smarter. ‘I’m sorry I’ve not been able to send you much money lately, as I work for the Red Cross now and we don’t get a lot.’

‘Don’t worry about us. This war’s been a godsend. I work in a factory and get good money, and Dad’s got work as there’s plenty of fings he can git hold of and sell. So yer see, we’re doing all right.’ She went to shut the door.

Milly put out her hand to stop her. ‘Can I come in?’

‘No.’

‘How are Freddie and Iris and Rosie?’

‘All right. Now bugger orf. We can manage without you.’

‘But Pammy, please . . . ’

‘I said go. Now clear orf.’ She shut the door.

Milly stood on the doorstep. She felt utterly rejected, but it was all her own fault. She should have kept in touch. Slowly she walked away, without looking back. She knew they were all watching her from the window.

 

In the summer, some of the men were being moved to one of the auxiliary hospitals that were being set up. Sergeant Johnson was one of the men who were going. Milly had grown fond of him and was sorry to see him leave.

‘I shall miss you,’ he said.

‘And I shall miss you,’ she replied.

‘Mind you, the ward’s not been the same since Reg left us.’

‘That’s very true. It is a lot quieter.’

‘It was nice of his wife to write to us,’ he said.

‘Yes, it was. And you must get someone to write to us for you, just to let us know how you are getting on.’

‘I will.’

‘You never know, you might finish up in the same house as Reg.’

‘That would be great.’

‘Sergeant Johnson, your carriage awaits,’ said the old porter who wheeled the lads around.

‘Ready and waiting, James.’ He turned to Milly and held out his hand. ‘Bye, Milly, and thank you.’

‘Look after yourself.’

‘I will.’

Milly swallowed hard as she helped him into the chair, then stood with a few of the nurses and watched as he was wheeled away. It wasn’t any good waving; he couldn’t see. Like all the men in the hospital he was wearing the blue uniform that told everybody he had been injured. At least he’d never get one of those terrible white feathers that were being sent to some young men.

 

It wasn’t long before the beds were full again. The war had been going on for over a year now, and more and more young men were being killed and injured.

‘I’m sure they’re getting younger,’ said Milly one evening as she sat with Aunt Lil, who was busy knitting socks for the soldiers. ‘Either that or I’m getting older.’

‘I’m always surprised that young girls like you and June haven’t been snapped up by some nice young man.’

Milly smiled. ‘Not allowed to fraternise.’

‘What about a doctor? Any of them you like?’

‘No, most of them are old; they’ve been called out of retirement to help out, as a lot of the young ones are at the front.’

‘That must a terrible job.’

‘Yes, I expect it is.’ Milly was thinking about Tom. He had told her he was going to France, and Lizzie was beside herself. There had been a lot of tears. Lizzie had told her that as soon as he got back to England they were to be married. Milly was pleased about that. She hoped that Tom had got her out of his system, and genuinely hoped that he and Lizzie would be happy.

 

A few days before Christmas, Milly was called to the matron’s office. She knew what was coming, as some of the other Red Cross women had been sent away to one of the auxiliary hospitals.

‘Please, Miss Ash, sit down.’

Milly did as she was told.

‘I have been more than pleased with your work here.’

‘Thank you.’

‘As you know, we are sending some of our nurses to these new hospitals that are more like convalescent homes. They help the men to adjust to the outside world. Although they are run by doctors and nurses and the VAD ladies, we have been asked to send a few Red Cross workers, as they are known for being very efficient in helping nurses. I think you would be able to cope very well, and you will be going in the new year.’

Milly tried hard not to let her face show her feelings. She was happy here, but there was a war on.

‘I know it will be hard for you to leave, but I’m sure you are more than capable of adjusting. That’s all. I will give you more information nearer the time.’ She stood up.

‘Thank you,’ said Milly, and left the room.

That evening as she told Aunt Lil her news, she felt like crying. ‘I’ve been so happy here.’

‘I know, love, and I’ve enjoyed having you here.’

‘I’d better write to Lizzie and tell her where I’m going.’

I
T WAS A BEAUTIFUL spring morning when Milly arrived at Waterloo station. She looked about her and saw two other women in Red Cross uniform talking to a man.

‘Excuse me, is this where we have to meet?’

‘Miss Ash?’ asked the man.

Milly nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘Good, now you are all here. You are going to Billington.’

‘Where’s that?’ asked the older of the two women.

‘It’s in Surrey. Here are your train tickets.’ He handed out the third-class tickets. ‘There should be someone at the station to meet you. Hope you enjoy your new location. Goodbye.’

‘Goodbye,’ they all said together, and made their way to the train.

Milly put her small suitcase on the rack above her head and settled down.

‘I’m Nancy Stevens,’ said the older woman. She leant forward and shook hands with Milly and the other young woman.