said. ‘We are engaged, this is the least I can do. I’ll send you more whenever I can, after all, it’s now my place to take care of you.’
Hildy was overwhelmed. Ever since her father had left, she had been the one to take care of her own and her mother’s welfare. She who had to carry the burden that should have been her father’s. Now here was a man who was going to look after her . She put her arms around Milt and kissed him.
‘You have no idea just how much those words mean,’ she told him.
‘I told you, darling, that I had shoulders broad enough to carry all your worries, but now I have to go. I borrowed a jeep so I could come and see you, but I’ve got to go back to camp. I’m not sure when I’m going to be free as we are out on exercises from tomorrow, I’ll be in touch as soon as I get back.’
As he drove away, he knew that very soon they would be shipping out. He wasn’t sure when, but the rumours around the camp had been rife. The top military brass had been meeting to choose the day for the landings, that was all he knew, but he couldn’t and wouldn’t say anything to Hildy. He realised just how difficult the decision to leave hermother must have been for her and no doubt Mrs Dickson wouldn’t have made it any easier, but he was certain it was the right thing for Hildy.
During the next few days, Southampton became swamped with even more troops and vehicles. All along the streets surrounding the docks, tanks and their crew were lined up. As the local population went about their business, they saw the British Red Cross serving the troops hot drinks and sandwiches. Mobile canteens, run by the Church Army cared for the British troops. Every inch of the Empress Docks was filled with landing craft. The prime minister, complete with cigar, visited the troops to boost their morale and take a look at the final preparations for the forthcoming invasion.
Belle had seen little of Jackson Butler as most of the troops had been on exercises and she missed him. Of course leave had been cancelled for others who were also involved with final training, so business was slack.
The bar of the Horse and Groom was almost empty when Belle and Cora were sitting together that lunchtime chatting. Without the customers crowding the bar, the interior seemed even more dark and shabby, the stale smell of beer and tobacco seemed to cling to the walls, despite the fact that the bar doors were open trying to invite any casual drinkers. The pianist in the corner was sitting at the bar drinking a beer as it was hardly worth playing for a handful of people who were not exactly in the mood to celebrate anything.
Looking around the near empty bar, Belle asked, ‘Is itme or is there a strange atmosphere in here today?’
‘Funny,’ Cora replied, ‘I was just thinking the same. It reminds me of the Blitz, you know when you were having your supper waiting for the air raid siren to go, anticipating the worst.’
Belle finished her half of bitter. ‘Come on, love, let’s get out of here; its making me depressed. Let’s go to the pictures, at least that’ll cheer us up.’ So that’s what they did. But the British Pathé news, full of the troops fighting in various fields of battle, did little to lift their spirits.
The troops were at last given twenty-four hour leave. Although no information had been given out, the men knew that the invasion was imminent so they were determined to enjoy what they considered to be their last free time and they were hell-bent on enjoying themselves.
All the pubs around the docks were packed with all nationalities. The military police were out in force as were the local constabulary, ready for unrest, but on the whole, it was trouble free. Yes, there was many a drunken soldier who was taken back to their different camps to sleep off the excess of alcohol, but the others just wanted to enjoy the time they had before being shipped out. To drink and get laid.
The local brasses
Hildy was overwhelmed. Ever since her father had left, she had been the one to take care of her own and her mother’s welfare. She who had to carry the burden that should have been her father’s. Now here was a man who was going to look after her . She put her arms around Milt and kissed him.
‘You have no idea just how much those words mean,’ she told him.
‘I told you, darling, that I had shoulders broad enough to carry all your worries, but now I have to go. I borrowed a jeep so I could come and see you, but I’ve got to go back to camp. I’m not sure when I’m going to be free as we are out on exercises from tomorrow, I’ll be in touch as soon as I get back.’
As he drove away, he knew that very soon they would be shipping out. He wasn’t sure when, but the rumours around the camp had been rife. The top military brass had been meeting to choose the day for the landings, that was all he knew, but he couldn’t and wouldn’t say anything to Hildy. He realised just how difficult the decision to leave hermother must have been for her and no doubt Mrs Dickson wouldn’t have made it any easier, but he was certain it was the right thing for Hildy.
During the next few days, Southampton became swamped with even more troops and vehicles. All along the streets surrounding the docks, tanks and their crew were lined up. As the local population went about their business, they saw the British Red Cross serving the troops hot drinks and sandwiches. Mobile canteens, run by the Church Army cared for the British troops. Every inch of the Empress Docks was filled with landing craft. The prime minister, complete with cigar, visited the troops to boost their morale and take a look at the final preparations for the forthcoming invasion.
Belle had seen little of Jackson Butler as most of the troops had been on exercises and she missed him. Of course leave had been cancelled for others who were also involved with final training, so business was slack.
The bar of the Horse and Groom was almost empty when Belle and Cora were sitting together that lunchtime chatting. Without the customers crowding the bar, the interior seemed even more dark and shabby, the stale smell of beer and tobacco seemed to cling to the walls, despite the fact that the bar doors were open trying to invite any casual drinkers. The pianist in the corner was sitting at the bar drinking a beer as it was hardly worth playing for a handful of people who were not exactly in the mood to celebrate anything.
Looking around the near empty bar, Belle asked, ‘Is itme or is there a strange atmosphere in here today?’
‘Funny,’ Cora replied, ‘I was just thinking the same. It reminds me of the Blitz, you know when you were having your supper waiting for the air raid siren to go, anticipating the worst.’
Belle finished her half of bitter. ‘Come on, love, let’s get out of here; its making me depressed. Let’s go to the pictures, at least that’ll cheer us up.’ So that’s what they did. But the British Pathé news, full of the troops fighting in various fields of battle, did little to lift their spirits.
The troops were at last given twenty-four hour leave. Although no information had been given out, the men knew that the invasion was imminent so they were determined to enjoy what they considered to be their last free time and they were hell-bent on enjoying themselves.
All the pubs around the docks were packed with all nationalities. The military police were out in force as were the local constabulary, ready for unrest, but on the whole, it was trouble free. Yes, there was many a drunken soldier who was taken back to their different camps to sleep off the excess of alcohol, but the others just wanted to enjoy the time they had before being shipped out. To drink and get laid.
The local brasses
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