3 days later Kate awoke early. The eleventh day of the eleventh month. The day the guns fell silent on the western front in 1918. Pulling her phone towards her she looked at the time. It was just after 4 am. She was just about to put it back in its cubby when a face-time call popped up. Answering the call, she switched on the camera on her phone
"hey" she smiled "you're up early" she said looking at his face taking up the whole screen on her phone. Although she could see he was still in bed.
"well, I wanted to check in before you went on watch" he smiled
"well, I am not on watch till 8 so plenty of time" she smiled pushed herself up. "how are the kids" she smiled
"how is it out there?" Mike asked
"well not much to say at the moment and not much I am going to say" she grinned
Smiling knowingly there were few words that you mentioned in service but you knew ways of conveying the meaning without saying those words. It was like saying Macbeth in a theatre. Extremely unlucky and more than likely would result in the shit hitting the fan almost instantly.
"you going to the memorial today?" she asked
"of course." he smiled
"wish I was there" Kate sighed
"don't we all when we are at sea." Mike replied softly.
"yeah" she whispered.
Brushing the sleep from her eyes she sighed she wished she could be on shore at the service that was held at the base memorial where the names of all the fallen both past and present were carved in the vast cold white marble wall. Several names she knew well and had the honour of calling her family.
Sitting on the bridge Kate looked out at the waters ahead of them. It was calm and smooth sailing with the sun shining down on them. Reaching for the radio she sighed
"hear their captain speaking. All crew not on watch muster boat deck to commemorate the armistice at 11 o'clock. That is all" she smiled placing the hand set back in the cradle
Sliding from the seat she had 15 minuets to go. Plenty of time to make sure everyone was in order and out on deck. She also had to go to the stores and pick up the wreath she had made. It was a simple wreath made of poppies but also Gallipoli and ANZAC roses as well as sprigs of rosemary. The centre had Hammersley's badge and motto etched on.
Carrying it out on to the Deck she was pleased that some of the crew were already on deck Buffer was there with the bugle ready to play the last post at 11.
"Ma'am" he smiled taking the wreath from her standing it up
"thanks" she smiled looking at her watch.
The crew slowly filed out standing on the boat deck. Smiling softly Kate stepped forward
"today marks 102 years since the first world war ended. As the guns fell silent at 11 am so do we to remember the fallen from that war and all wars since." she turned to buffer who began to play the last post.
Standing still the silence was only broken by the sound of Hammersley as she cut through the waves. It was the loudest silence they had known even on shore at the memorial or in the hall of memory in Canberra. Despite the sound around it was somehow drowned out by the grief in silence
Once the 2 minuets were over Kate stepped forward once again picking up the wreath. Walking to the side of the ship she threw it over board watching as it bobbed slowly along the waves
"Dear Lord, I am just a sailor. A protector of our land. A servant called to battle when my country takes a stand. I pray for strength and courage and a heart that will forgive. For peace and understanding in a world for all to live. My family's prayers are with me no matter where I roam. Please listen when I am lonely and return me safely home"
Tuning back to the crew she smiled "Hammersley dismissed" she said watching as they walked away. Looking over her shoulder she could see Nav stood watching the wreath which was now just a dot in the distance.
"you okay" she smiled standing next to her
"I..." Nav sighed brushing a tear from her cheek.
"ET?" Kate guessed. It was just over 11 years since ET was tragically killed.
"yeah" she whispered back.
Wrapping her arm around her friend's shoulder Kate smiled. "he will always be with us" Kate smiled "in everything we do. In all we are"
"i know. Days like today just remind me he isn't here. And what I lost. He was my one" nav turned. "it was alright for you after Jim you had Mike..."
Kate turned closing her eyes wishing she hadn't brought up that. It was a hard reminder of the past. Of the fact she had let Jim believe she loved him more than she truly did and he died not knowing the whole picture
"shit Kate I didn't mean" Nav began closing her eyes regretting what she had said the second it had left her mouth
"its fine. Truth is me and Jim it was never true love not like you had with ET. My heart always belonged to someone else" Kate forced a smile.
Turning they, both watched the waves.
"Take as long as you need" Kate smiled giving Nav's shoulder a squeeze
"Thanks Kate" Nav smiled
Sitting in the mess that evening Kate staired in to her plate not really hungry. Fiddling with her necklace. It was a cross with the birth stones of mike and the kids on the points and hers made up a central stone. it had been a hard day for all. Some more than others.
Picking up her phone she sent a quick message saying she hoped to day went okay. She knew it was a tough day for him. He had been in charge of Hammersley when they had lost Swain and ET. Placing her phone back in her pocket. He wouldn't reply till late as he would be tied up in bath and bed time with the kids and he also knew she would probably be working. leaning back in her seat she downed the last of her brew before picking up her plate placing it back on the side in the galley, before heading back up to the bridge. It was quiet standing out on the fly bridge she looked up at the stars which were clearly visible in the night sky closing her eyes she held on to her necklace muttering under her breath. Tomorrow would be a new day and although today was raw in all their minds they still had a patrol to complete.
so hope you like this. the prayer Kate reads was shared by a friend who is in the Royal Navy, and the flowers on the wreath are all flowers of remembrance in Australia (so i read ). today marks 100 years since the unknown warrior was buried in Westminster abbey.
least we forget.
