Wings of the Morning Read online

  *

  Reid Lascells wandered into his brother’s room at Tangmere airfield. He’d had a few hours to kill before going to see his brother so he’d borrowed a truck and headed for Bognor. It had been bitterly cold but he’d enjoyed the invigorating tang of sea air before heading for the West Sussex airfield. He picked up a photograph and studied it intently. The girl was quite lovely but the artificial pose wasn’t right, it didn’t seem to suit her somehow. Not that he’d ever met her, of course.

  ‘Hey! Big brother.’ Paul strode into the room, shrugged out of his flying jacket and collapsed on to the bed. ‘Keep your lecherous eyes off my girl.’

  ‘It’s a bloody awful picture. Who took it?’

  Paul removed the photo from his brother’s hand and frowned. ‘What’s wrong with it? I’ll have you know that this was taken by one of the top photographers at her magazine.’

  ‘The glamorous pose doesn’t suit her. Who is she?’

  ‘Annie, and I think she’s beautiful.’ Paul looked offended.

  ‘Oh, she’s lovely enough, I grant you that, but she’d look better in something more natural.’

  Paul fished in his pocket and produced a dog-eared picture. ‘Like this?’

  ‘Hmm, that’s much better.’ Annie was sitting on a fallen tree and laughing as the wind whipped at her hair. Then Reid turned his attention to the other woman in the picture and whistled through his teeth in approval. ‘Who’s the impressive woman she’s with?’

  ‘That’s her eldest sister, Rose.’ Paul laughed. ‘But the word I’d use to describe her is formidable.’

  ‘Yes, I can see that from the photo, but what a beauty!’

  ‘Forget it, Reid,’ Paul chided. ‘She’s a happily married woman with two children.’

  ‘Pity, I’d have made you introduce me.’ He handed the picture back, wondering if Rose was as stunning in the flesh as she was in the picture. ‘Annie doesn’t look like her.’

  ‘Different fathers, I understand. Rose is the eldest of nine children, and Annie’s next to youngest.’ Paul tucked the picture into his pocket again. ‘What are you doing here, anyway?’

  ‘Heard you were back and as I’ve got a weekend pass I thought I’d come and see you. How was France?’

  Paul shrugged. ‘All right, but I couldn’t understand a word they said.’

  ‘You should have paid more attention to your lessons at university.’

  ‘Nah.’ He grinned boyishly. ‘I leave all that stuff to Annie, she speaks the language fluently.’

  Reid didn’t pursue the subject. His brother would never change, and with the situation they were in it didn’t seem important any more. Things might be quiet enough at the moment but he had a very nasty feeling that wasn’t going to last. ‘Have you got time for a drink?’

  ‘Sure.’ Paul sprang to his feet. ‘Where are you stationed now?’

  ‘Kenley.’ This was close to London; Reid knew that if things started to get rough they would be right in the thick of it.

  ‘Hey, I’m going to Biggin Hill in Kent next week. They’re not far from each other and we might be able to meet up now and again. I’ll try and get Annie down here and then you can meet her.’

  Reid noted his brother’s jaunty stride and smiled to himself. ‘Are you going to marry her?’

  ‘Of course I am. The only trouble is, she doesn’t know it yet.’

  ‘Haven’t you asked her?’

  ‘Yes, three times, but it will be fourth time lucky,’ Paul stated confidently.

  Reid didn’t comment but he couldn’t help wondering about the two women in the photo. Annie was fair and delicate looking and Rose tall, dark and magnificent. He regretted not having taken much notice of Paul’s babbling about his girl. They looked an intriguing pair.

  ‘Can you get leave for Christmas, Reid?’

  ‘No. What about you?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve managed to wangle two days. I’ll spend one with Mum and Dad and the other with Annie and her family.’

  ‘Wish I could join you.’ And he really meant that. Christmas at the base would be lively enough but he’d rather be with his parents. They were going to be lonely this year without both of them there, and it was tempting to tell his brother to spend the two days with them, but he didn’t. Paul would naturally want to see his girl.

  ‘Never mind.’ Paul held open the door of the bar and grinned at his brother. It will be all over by next Christmas, and we’ll get drunk for a week.’

  Reid nodded, but said nothing again. There wasn’t any point in squashing Paul’s enthusiasm, but he was certain that this war was going to last a lot longer than anyone was prepared to admit. And, as fighter pilots, they were going to be in the thick of things when it really started. He was glad he’d been given a Spitfire; it was fast and handled like a dream.

  ‘Right, everyone sit down,’ Rose ordered.

  There was an excited scramble for the table, made festive with Annie’s artistic flair. This was the first Christmas of the war and she was determined to make a real show this year to cheer the family up.

  When they were all seated, Annie looked at the happy faces, and if a brief flash of sadness flitted across her face it was soon gone. There was much to be grateful about. Rose’s children, James and Kate, were still at home, her brothers Will and Charlie had a two-day pass each, and Paul had turned up unexpectedly. George had tried to persuade them to spend the holiday in Wales, but Rose had insisted on staying at home. After much arguing Rose had managed to convince George that they should spend Christmas at Roehampton, and delay the move to Wales until they knew how things were going to work out. He’d agreed reluctantly, as he was clearly excited about the house he’d bought and was eager to get everyone there.

  The only person missing was Bill, and Annie knew her sister was disappointed about that, although you would never know by looking at her. But she couldn’t fool Annie; she never had been able to. She only had to look deep into Rose’s eyes to glimpse her innermost feelings.

  For a moment her mind went back to their years living in that disgusting hovel in London. She’d watched her big sister fight with grim tenacity to improve their lot. Rose had taken beatings from the old man and suffered all manner of abuse and bitter disappointment; she had never flinched in her determination to drag herself and her family out of Garrett Street.

  ‘Annie?’

  Rose’s call snapped her out of her reverie.

  ‘You were miles away. What were you thinking about?’

  ‘Garrett Street,’ she admitted.

  Rose visibly shuddered, and without a word continued with the Christmas dinner. Annie didn’t miss the flash of distress on George’s face at the mention of that street; she knew that he still felt guilty about his daughter growing up in such squalor because of his callous action as a young man.

  ‘Auntie Annie, where’s Garrett Street?’ James asked.

  ‘It’s where we used to live, but it doesn’t exist any more because your mum got it knocked down.’

  ‘Did you, Mum?’ he asked, searching her face with enquiring dark eyes, so like her own.

  Not for the first time, Annie marvelled at just how much James resembled his mother, in looks, intelligence and intolerance. He was only ten but he did not suffer fools gladly, and that didn’t make him an easy child to deal with.

  ‘She certainly did.’ Wally started to explain to James how dreadful conditions had been, and the struggle his mother had had to get the council to demolish the place.

  Annie was pleased that Wally didn’t go into too much detail about the vermin, dirt and violence. It would be enough to put everyone off their Christmas dinner.

  James’s eyes glittered with pride as he listened. ‘I’m going to be just like Mum when I grow up.’

  Rose turned round from the stove and grinned at him. ‘Don’t be too much like me, my boy.’

  ‘Why not? You’ve done lots of good things.’

  ‘Maybe, but I’ve also been difficult to live with,
and I hope and pray you’ve inherited some of your father’s gentleness.’

  ‘Where’s Daddy?’ Kate interrupted, her bottom lip quivering. ‘Why isn’t he here?’

  ‘I am here, sweetheart,’ a soft voice said from the doorway.

  Ignoring the squeals of delight, Bill threw his bag down and reached for his wife, holding her in a rocking embrace, and giving a heartfelt sigh of relief. Then he released her and bent down to scoop his children into his arms.

  Annie watched with tears of emotion clouding her vision. What an impressive man he was, and his gentleness did not detract from his masculinity. Of course, he’d needed both gentleness and strength to take on her sister.

  Bill rose to his feet, standing more than six feet tall, and smiled at everyone. ‘Is there room for one more?’

  James dragged another chair up to the table so his father could sit next to him, and Kate, who was now standing on tip-toe gazing at him, said in a hushed whisper, ‘Don’t you look lovely.’

  After a few moments’ silence, Rose, Bill and Annie burst into laughter.

  ‘That’s exactly what Annie said when she saw him in uniform just after the last war,’ Rose explained.

  Annie grinned affectionately at her brother-in-law. ‘But I do believe you’ve got more gold braid this time.’

  ‘Yes, and the uniform’s a better fit,’ he joked. ‘Now, how about this dinner, I’m starving.’

  Bill had clearly changed the subject, so Annie helped Rose serve everyone, and then they joined the family around the table.

  The talk was lively and never once touched on the subject of the war but Annie could feel Paul’s impatience to ask questions so she whispered in his ear, ‘Don’t you dare ask Bill what he’s going to do, he won’t say anything until he’s had a chance to talk to Rose.’

  ‘But I want to know,’ he complained. ‘They haven’t given him all that decoration to sail a desk.’

  Dear God! She hoped he was wrong. Bill had been at Jutland in the last war, and later had lost his ship and most of the crew; then spent days adrift in an open boat watching the remaining few die before his eyes. She could only guess how dreadful the prospect of facing something like that again might be.

  ‘You’ve got to admit it, Annie; they are going to give him a ship. He’s an experienced, professional sailor, and his father was an admiral, for heaven’s sake. Do you think for one moment they are going to let talent and experience like that go to waste?’

  ‘I’m not a fool, Paul.’ He was so tactless and it irritated her. ‘I know we need men like Bill but can’t you let us enjoy our dinner in peace. And if you can’t contain your curiosity you can leave right now.’

  ‘What!’ he exclaimed, ‘and miss Rose’s cooking?’ He smiled and took hold of her hand. ‘Stop worrying so much about everyone, by this time next year it will be all over.’

  She gaped in disbelief and studied his face. He really believed that. But at least he dropped the subject then and allowed them all to enjoy the festive meal without any more talk of the war.

  After they’d finished, Marj and Wally insisted on washing up, so the rest of them retired to the front room and handed out the presents. When the children were absorbed with their gifts, Annie watched Bill take hold of Rose’s hand and lead her from the room. He was about to tell her if he was going back to sea or not. Please God, let it be not, she prayed, but deep in her heart she knew it was a hopeless plea.

  Fifteen minutes later they were back and joining in the fun, but Annie couldn’t glean anything from their expressions.

  Wally came in carrying a tray of drinks, whisky for the men and sherry for the women. ‘I think we ought to drink to the fact that we’ve all managed to have Christmas dinner together, don’t you?’

  There were nods of approval, and they took a glass and raised it to toast the occasion. Annie studied her stepfather with affection, and wondered how many precious bottles of drink he’d managed to squirrel away before the war, because he always managed to produce something for a celebration. He was quiet, even tempered, and not at all like her own father who’d been killed in the last war. Her mother had had a wretched time with him, and it was lovely to see her and Wally still happy after twenty years of marriage.

  ‘How are things going, Bill?’ Paul asked, and yelped when Annie kicked his shin. ‘What did you do that for?’ he whispered.

  ‘I told you not to ask questions,’ she hissed at him. It was such a job to stop him when he wanted to know something; she didn’t want Bill pestered with questions just yet. He would tell them what was happening when he was ready.

  ‘It’s all right, Annie,’ Bill laughed. ‘I’ve told Rose now.’

  James had been watching with curious eyes, taking in every small detail, and clearly picking up on the tensions. He left his train set and went and stood by his father, then asked the question everyone wanted to know and had been wary of asking. ‘Have they given you a ship, Daddy?’

  ‘Yes, James, I’m on active service.’

  ‘Gosh!’ The boy jumped up and down. ‘What is it?’

  ‘I’m afraid I can’t tell you that.’

  His eyes opened wide. ‘When are you going to fight the Germans?’

  ‘I haven’t received my sailing orders yet but I expect I’ll get them as soon as I’ve finished a spot of retraining.’

  ‘Why have you got to do that?’ his son asked, clearly puzzled. ‘You’re used to boats.’

  ‘It’s nearly twenty years since I took command of a ship and things have changed a bit in that time.’

  ‘Oh, I wish I was old enough.’

  James looked crestfallen and went back to play with his toys again, so he didn’t hear his father murmur, ‘I thank the Lord that you are too young.’

  3

  February 1940

  ‘What a day,’ Ruth, one of the girls in Annie’s hut, moaned. ‘We’ve been marched here and there, stripped, examined, had needles stuck in us, then issued with these.’ She held up a brassiere with one finger and grimaced in disgust.

  ‘And what about these?’ howled Kath, holding a pair of blue winter knickers in front of her.

  Annie was crying with laughter. In her job as a fashion editor she’d dealt with elegant clothes and she hadn’t been aware that such abominations existed. She’d never seen so many pretty faces with expressions of pure horror on them. Not only were the underclothes and lisle stockings dreadful, most of the uniforms were ill-fitting. Skirts were too big or too small around the waist; one girl couldn’t even fasten her jacket without taking a deep breath in and holding it. They were going to have to find someone in their hut who could sew!

  ‘We can’t wear these,’ wailed another girl. ‘Even my granny’s don’t come past her knees with elastic in them.’

  ‘They will keep us warm.’ Annie put her hand on the stove and found it practically cold. The West Drayton camp in Middlesex was lacking all the home comforts they’d been used to. Some of the girls had been horrified to find they would be sleeping in huts, but it was only what Annie had expected. ‘It’s freezing in here and that bucket of coke isn’t going to last long.’

  ‘We’ll soon see about that!’ Dora, a rough-and-ready Londoner, stated. ‘I spotted a wooden fence just around the back, I’ll get some of that.’

  ‘Put your knickers on,’ roared Kath, ‘it’s freezing out there, as well.’

  ‘I’ll come with you.’ Annie stood up, put on her peaked hat at a jaunty angle – at least that fitted properly – struck a model-like pose and slowly lifted her skirt. ‘I’m already prepared.’

  There was uproar as the entire hut of girls started to stamp their feet and whistle, with varying degrees of success.

  Dora came and stood beside her, copied her pose and also lifted her skirt. The noise was deafening as the two girls rushed out of the hut, doubled over with laughter, and headed for the fence Dora had seen.

  ‘You’re something to do with fashion, aren’t you?’ she asked, as they made their way
over the icy ground.

  Annie nodded. ‘Yes, I was fashion editor for a women’s magazine.’

  ‘Where do you live, then?’ Dora asked.

  ‘Roehampton.’

  ‘Ah, I thought you was posh.’

  ‘I haven’t always lived there,’ Annie said. ‘I grew up in Bermondsey, in Garrett Street.’

  The girl stopped and spun to face her. ‘Wow! I’ve heard about that place. My gran said it was a filthy hole and so rough that the police had to go down there in threes for safety.’

  Dora started to walk again, but this time she slipped Annie’s hand through her arm in a gesture of respect and comradeship. ‘If I remember rightly, some woman got the place condemned and knocked down. Can’t remember her name though.’

  ‘Rose Freeman,’ Annie told her with pride. She never ceased to be amazed how much Rose was remembered after all these years. ‘She’s my eldest sister.’

  ‘Bloody hell,’ Dora gasped, ‘I had you worked out all wrong. When I first saw you I thought you was some snooty bitch.’ She gave an evil leer. ‘Until you showed your knickers.’

  ‘Where’s your home?’ Annie asked, wanting to know more about this friendly girl.

  ‘I come from Stepney and it’s a bit rough in our street, but not as bad as the one you came from, if my gran’s stories are right.’ Dora rubbed her hands together and grinned at Annie. ‘I’m glad to be out of there though, and even if it is bloody cold here, this place is still better than Stepney. I hope I’m sent somewhere in the country when we’ve done our basic training. I’d love to be surrounded by open fields instead of concrete.’

  Annie knew just how Dora was feeling. She remembered how she’d felt the first time Bill had taken her and Rose to Richmond Park and then on to the terraces with the River Thames winding its majestic way in the sunshine. It was hard to believe such places existed when all you saw were buildings day in and day out.

  ‘You’ll love the countryside in the spring,’ Annie remarked.