Disclaimer: Sam, her father, her Uncle Aubrey, and (as far I can tell) the village of Leavenham, Hampshire, are all the creations of Anthony Horowitz; I have given a name and (I hope) a personality to Sam's mother, a character referred to in canon but never seen or named. You will also find some bits of Downton Abbey and Home Fires crossover tucked into this story here and there. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit sought.
To the reader: My revisions of this story reflect what I've learned since 2015 about the first weeks of World War II and the early history of the Mechanised Transport Corps. It remains a pleasure to thank OxfordKivrin for serving as beta reader way back when; annieplusmacdonald and rosalindfan for their answers to my historical questions; rosalindfan and artichokeheart, whose own stories gave me the courage to follow my instincts and use the present tense in the conversational sections of my story; and Gil Shalos I, whose stories inspired me to make Sam a diarist and to be unafraid of author's notes.
A few snippets from this new version first appeared on Tumblr.
An illustrated version of this story is available at Archive of Our Own, where I'm known as PaulineDorchester (one word). In both versions, the use of italics and underlining is intended to simulate handwriting. The gray line indicates that the date has changed.
•••••
Thursday 31 August 1939
Twenty years old today. Beautiful gift from Aunt Amy and Uncle Michael (they are here 'til Saturday! Huzzah!) – diary for 1940, bound in green Morocco, with my name on the front! Have therefore resolved to make real effort at keeping a diary, i.e. not simply thinking about what I would write if I did keep a diary. Unfortunately can't think of anything to write, excepting that Dad and Mother gave me very handsome copy of Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions (by John Donne, D's favourite) and Uncle Aubrey telephoned and I had lovely cards from other uncles and Cousin Laura B.
2.30 – Billeting officer (Mrs Prendergast from Crossbush) came after lunch and asked how many evacuees we can take, beginning tomorrow! (Also said that Women's Legion will provide transport from Arundel rail station to billets, so car and self in uniform will be needed.) D quite abashed and M actually looked rather frightened but D said perhaps mother and one small child or two older children, not until Sunday as Aunt A and Uncle M will be in spare room until then. Mrs P not best pleased by this. Aunt A then told her that one more place will open up when I leave home for war work! Mrs P a bit happier – D and M positively thunderstruck!
9.00pm – Women's Legion now topic of quite burning interest! Aunt A and Uncle M asked me to go for walk with them – not far, only up Lyminster Rd to bench by Brookfields. Aunt A sure that WL will disband if war breaks out – as they are both quite certain that it will! True that Lady Londonderry helped organise new Auxiliary Territorial Service – also true that WL now urging younger members to join this. Have read this in Times, etc. Uncle M thinks that ATS could be sent overseas in wartime, also that girls will be called up! Asked whether WAAF could be sent abroad as well – he said probably so. Told them I would rather join WAAF in that case. Looked surprised but Uncle M said he will ask Laura about this. However Aunt A thinks that I ought to join new organisation called Mechanised Transport Training Corps – gave me Times clipping about this. (From February!) Have to have driving license (do, of course); would be trained as mechanic and in first aid, map reading, etc. Address to write to. Promised to look into it but can see two problems straightaway: would have to move to London and as apparently no pay would need allowance. Really can't see Dad and Mother agreeing to any of this.
Uncle M spent rest of afternoon until tea talking w Dad in D's study. Politics and war, I think. D very gloomy afterwards but Uncle in high spirits. Plan for tea in garden scotched due to rain, but very nice anyway, though M in bad temper. Doesn't much like having Aunt A here at best of times, I think. Not best of times at present.
Quite late – Heard on wireless that blackout regulations to be imposed effective tomorrow – as in last war, Aunt A says. M says we still have blackout curtains from then, I am to bring them to house from shed and hang them. (What about chauffeuring evacuees?) Germany claiming Polish attack on wireless station, place called Glyvits.
Friday 1 September
Just heard on wireless Germany invaded Poland this morning! Quite odd to hear news on wireless this early, but nothing in Times or Sussex Express – must have happened too long after midnight. But Times has short item about Gleiwitz wireless station – Germany claims Polish spies forced their way in and sent out signal for Poland to attack Germany. Uncle most upset, says is undoubtedly German trick & we ought never to have let them re-arm after last war. Must now go fetch blackout curtains. Mother says Dad will hang them so there's a problem solved.
Almost lunch time – Aunt and Uncle leaving today after lunch rather than tomorrow as planned. Really too bad, but suppose that they feel they ought to go back to Braithfield straightaway under circumstances. Uncle M said Chin Up.
For Arundel after lunch.
10.00pm – Quite trying afternoon – certainly not dull, but very long. Alas, evacuation leads to scenes of disorder & misery. Arrived Arundel station half past two, found crowd of locals waiting for evacuees. Reported to Commandant Mrs Ramsay-Jones, was told we are expecting infant school (pupils & staff) from Tooting in London as well as mothers w 'under 5' brothers & sisters of some of them (pupils, not staff). Mothers & children arrived half past three (an hour late) in three coaches – party larger than expected, apparently. Some took one look at Arundel and refused to disembark! Must have looked far too quiet to them after London. Not at all sure that I blame them. Rather sad looking company, though – all obviously quite hard up and probably worn out as well. (And hungry – sandwiches & buns set out for them gone in blink of an eye.) Mrs Prendergast & helpers began process of assigning hosts to guests (or other way 'round, I suppose). Drove one family to Tortington, returned to Arundel. Still no sign of school train by this time – finally arrived at a quarter to five – heard driver say had been sent to Haywards Heath first, had to go backwards & then come to Arundel!
Gave new arrivals what food was left, then began process of sorting them out. Must say am rather surprised this wasn't done beforehand. (Sorting out, not feeding.) Mrs Prendergast made Hattie Powell & me Deputy Billeting Officers for Lyminster – each took six children about village looking for places for them to stay. Several people said no – Mrs Clark shut door in my face! Finally found places for all except twin brothers, 6 y.o., who refused to be separated. Was about to bring them to vicarage for tonight at least, but Miss Mitchell volunteered to take them in. Hope that this will be alright as don't think that she has much experience w children.
Was hoping to go to Wick to get copy of Brighton Evening Telegram but obviously not possible! Wireless to rescue – invasion by ground troops just before dawn today, followed by air raids on cities. Absolutely not provoked. We are mobilising along with France. Have promised in past to support Poland & will fulfill promise. As well, all regional wireless services shutting down w immediate effect – only one programme in future & vast number of news bulletins.
Dad organizing Vesper service for tomorrow eve. Can hear him on telephone now, asking people in parish to spread the word.
•••
Braithfield
Fullerton Road
Red Rice, Andover, Hampshire
1st September 1939
My dear Sam,
We have arrived at home within the past hour, and I will write a bread-and-butter letter to your parents momentarily; but first I must take a moment to share with you a few thoughts that presented themselves during the journey back to Hampshire.
The situation in which we now find ourselves is without question very grave indeed; but my prayer for you is that it will present you with an opportunity to create some place for yourself in the world, and that you will be able to grasp that opportunity. I am increasingly concerned, and convinced, that this will never happen if you remain at home in Lyminster.
We are all bound by the Lord's commandment to honour our parents, and we owe them duty while they are alive. But the smallness, the isolation and the far-flung character of your father's parish, combined with the physical toll that seems to have been exacted from your mother in bringing you, her only surviving child, into the world, have combined to place you in great danger of remaining forever a shadow of what you might become. No one at all is to blame for this, but it is a problem that must be addressed. If we go to war, as now seems inevitable, you may be able to broaden your horizons — but only if you can wrench yourself free of your home. That will not happen, I fear, if you continue to throw in your lot with the Women's Legion.
I can well appreciate your interest in joining Laura in the W.A.A.F. — but truthfully, my dear, I am doubtful that it is a realistic idea. I have said nothing to your Uncle Michael, as he naturally considers anything to do with Laura to be within his exclusive purview; however, the fact is that a few weeks ago I made so bold as to ask her whether she thought that there might be a place for you in the W.A.A.F. She was pretty candid in her reply: even amongst other ranks they are looking for a higher educational attainment than you were permitted to achieve. She believes that the same is true of the Women's Royal Naval Service. The A.T.S., it seems, might be more of a possibility; but in any of these you would be liable to be sent to the other side of the globe whether you want to go or not! While it would be quite understandable if you were to regard such an adventure eagerly, we must bear in mind that for the next year you will need your father's permission to join any of these organisations. I strongly suspect that in the end this will be much easier to obtain vis-à-vis a civilian body, such as the new Mechanised Transit Training Corps, rather than the Forces (although even there he is likely to require some persuasion), and I encourage you to write to them as soon as you possibly can.
Your Uncle Michael and I are of one mind on the matters I have written about here, as well as in feeling that it would be best if you did not share the contents of this letter with your parents, at least for the time being. There is such a thing as a kindly lie, and if you need to tell them one, then by all means do so.
I am as ever,
Your most affectionate aunt,
Amy Braithwaite
•
Braithfield
Fullerton Road
Red Rice, Andover, Hampshire
1st September 1939
Dear Iain and Emma,
Michael joins me in offering sincere thanks for your hospitality over the past two days; I am sorry that he felt compelled to depart earlier than we had planned. Needless to say he is full of the old bluster, now quite eager to see us go to war against Germany – and probably happier just now than he has been for a couple of years! I am bound to admit that I don't entirely disagree with him. There would probably be no point in disagreeing now in any case; we have been listening to the wireless since we arrived and I think that we will hear the declaration very soon indeed.
It does sadden me to think that any family gathering in the foreseeable future will take place in the shadowed conditions of wartime, and in all likelihood consist solely of us 'old folk,' as the young people depart for service to the Nation.
Well, must get on with it! No grumbling!
Your affectionate sister,
Æmelia Braithwaite
P.S.: Great excitement here! I was about to fold this and put it into its envelope when our neighbor in Stockbridge Road, Marjorie Tazewell, whom Sam may recall from her visits here, came to summon us to her telephone. My step-daughter, Laura, who as I am sure you remember joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service last year, was on the line; her section was transferred to the new Women's Auxiliary Air Force in July, and she telephoned from Great Dunmow to tell us that they 'have been placed on highest alert,' as she put it, presumably to be sent off to somewhere or other. She sounded so happy! As for my boys, we are still waiting to hear. Perhaps Michael will now change his mind about getting a telephone line. (At least he doesn't talk about rejoining the Guards, at his age!)
Saturday 2 September 1939
Posted notice about Vespers on Church Lane notice board on way to Wick shops this morning. Felt as though entire High Street were holding breath. People a bit jittery, too – not surprising, I suppose. Returned home to learn that Mrs Ramsay-Jones telephoned – found a louse in her car! D quite upset! Have inspected ours but seems to be all right.
Long article in Times on civil defence – imposition of full blackout, plus air-raid warning system. Factory horns, etc., not to be sounded now except to warn of raid. (Important note: warning is series of short blasts, all clear is single two-minute blast.) Also, plans for food rationing already in place. Horrible.
Evening – Fifty-two people at Vespers. D quite pleased, I think! Letter from Aunt A in evening post w encouragement regarding Mechanised Transport Training Corps. Believes I need to leave nest – has been hinting to all concerned for a year or more – thinks this might be the way if war breaks out. (More question of when than if, as Aunt A says. Must face facts.)
Sunday 3 September 1939
We are at war. Was about to end previous sentence w exclamation point but in fact am feeling rather calm – not excited, not frightened. Am hoping this is good omen of some sort.
At any rate woke up quite early this morning but didn't go to Communion as did not fast. Dad says only seven people there. Not surprised – probably no one much feels like giving thanks just now. Gave D & Mother breakfast afterwards and we all went to Matins. Church rather crowded – would guess about 120 people. Some evacuees present. (D said from pulpit they are always welcome & we will make space for them in the Sunday School. Did not say precisely how we are to do this.) Then at 11.20 or so Mr Woodworth (freethinker or not) came into church, cleared throat, said 'Please excuse me,' and told us very calmly that Mr Chamberlain had just gone on the wireless to say England at war with Germany. Everyone very quiet and really quite calm, at least at first. (Perhaps only startled at seeing Mr W in church.) D at once began to read Prayer in Time of War & Tumults, but only got as far as 'merciful' before air-raid siren sounded! Complete pandemonium – people in west half of nave gone in blink of an eye, but D had still to proclaim banns for Harold Bartlett and Juliet Smith and bellowed at everyone else to stay in place! Turned out to be only a test. (Air-raid warning, not banns.) However did not get to say Litany – only us & Mrs Netley left by that time, so really no point – and D said afterwards we will say it at Vespers. Highly irregular.
Later – Church absolutely packed for Vespers, but matters did not go as planned. Mr W showed up again just before start to announce the King going on wireless at 6.00. So, no Litany – fortunately D had not told anyone but us. Did read Prayer in Time of War & Tumults again & got all the way through this time! Everyone left very quickly after the dismissal. We arrived home just in time to listen to the King. Absolutely tip-top speech & most moving, especially as HM is said to loathe giving speeches, but have to say war doesn't feel real. Except for blackout, of course. And air-raid siren. And possible rationing.
Past midnight – Have just heard on wireless SS Athenia, passenger ship for Canada, torpedoed in North Atlantic – 1,100 passengers, 300 crew. As well, cinemas etc. to be closed until farther notice! No doubt government worried about casualties in case of bomb, but bad for morale, surely? (Rather unimportant though, compared w ship.)
Monday 4 September 1939
Uncle Desmond telephoned from Manchester to say he will rejoin his regiment from the last war – The Duke of Manchester's Own, sounds quite romantic – but of course as a chaplain this time.
Noon – Wireless reports SS Athenia sunk at 10.40 this morning. Most people on board rescued.
Later – Dad quite irritated by article in Times about evacuation claiming children happy in new homes & hosts delighted w their charges. Spent most of day hearing decidedly otherwise from various in parish. However Times quite full of interesting items today, including letter protesting closure of theatres – says noone killed in theatres during last war. Nice photograph of King & Queen standing arm in arm at home, as well as rather dull ones of War Cabinet, etc., the whole text of HM's speech yesterday (it really was awfully good, and a copy is to be posted to every home), instructions for motorists in air raids, etc. Mr Hanley called after tea, told us both Giles and Wilfred enlisting. Quite upset. (Mr H, this is.) Left us his Brighton Evening Telegram w story about SS Athenia on front page, but not as much information as wireless.
Mother in bed with headache most of afternoon.
Have decided quite definitely to look into organisation in Aunt Amy's clipping – Mechanised Transport Training Corps. Wireless began series on first aid this eve, most interesting, will continue through Friday.
•••••
Author's notes:
Making Sam as young as I have made her here seems to create a conflict with "Fifty Ships" (September 1940) in which Sam describes her billet-mate Jenny Wentworth as being a year her senior at 23. She does this in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic incident and on insufficient sleep, so let's suppose that she is simply confused at that moment.
Sam's account of the events of September 3rd, 1939, in Lyminster is loosely based on the one given in And Hitler Stopped Play: Cricket & War at Lyminster House, by George Cooper (Cambridge, U.K.: Vanguard Press, 2001).
Red Rice, Andover, is an actual place in Hampshire, although it appears that in reality there was no freehold farming there until the 1960s.
The Women's Legion was founded in 1914 by Edith Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Marchioness of Londonderry, to fill shortages of cooks, clerical workers, drivers, and other personnel created by the need for troops during the First World War. Most of its members joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps when that body was formed in 1917, but the Mechanical Transport Section – about 5,500 personnel – remained a freestanding body, serving abroad as well as in Britain. Mrs. Grace Muriel Cook was second in command of the M.T. Section in France and was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1919 in recognition of her efforts.
The Women's Legion disbanded after the war, but Lady Londonderry relaunched it in 1934, putting Mrs. Cook in command of the M.T. Division in London. The War Office recognized this new Women's Legion up to a point, but the revival of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1938 – under a new name, the Auxiliary Territorial Service – raised questions about the Legion's future. (Surprisingly, an article in The Times on May 6th, 1938, reports that Lady Londonderry herself was involved in founding the A.T.S.)
At some point thereafter, Mrs. Cook received Lady Londonderry's approval to set up a separate all-woman corps of drivers and mechanics, and in January, 1939, the members of the London M.T. unit voted unanimously to create an independent organization. The new Mechanised Transport Training Corps was announced in The Times – and nowhere else, as far as I can tell – on February 13th, 1939. (The word training was dropped from the name by May 1940.) The Women's Legion appears to have carried on, although on a much smaller scale and with a narrower scope than previously.
This information comes primarily from Ernest J. Martin, "Women's War Work with the Army: Short Account of the Dress and Badges of the Women's Auxiliary and Nursing Services, 1900-1945," Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, vol. 23, no. 94 (Summer, 1945), pp. 54-65; and Jon Mills, Within the Island Fortress: The Uniforms, Insignia & Ephemera of the Home Front in Britain 1939-1945, No. 4: The Mechanised Transport Corps (MTC) (Orpington, Kent: Wardens Publishing, 2008). The latter seems to be the closest thing to a published history of the M.T.C. that we currently have.
The Brighton Evening Telegram is fictional; news stated as appearing there was actually printed in various Sussex weeklies. All other newspaper & magazine items are authentic. I have also made use of Radio Times, although of course I have no way of knowing whether broadcasts actually took place as announced.