A New Dawn
Chapter 7
Charles was still in his office composing his letter when there was a knock on the door and he called for the person to enter. Corporal Wiggerty came in, he wasn't sure why he was here as he was not in his regiment, and Harte was his CO.
"Sir" he said saluting "Sorry to bother you but I thought you would want to know"
"Know what Wiggerty"
"About one of the ships that came in today with the fleet and HMS Repulse and Prince of Wales"
Wiggerty had a big smile on his face, so whatever it was couldn't be bad news
"Well on one of the merchant ships were the Royal Engineers" he hesitated "Well they were but they've been re-aligned with us Royal Artillery"
"Well"
"Sorry Sir" he smiled again "Dave Dawes was on it. He's part of the Searchlight Battery"
"Dave Dawes?" Said Charles but he had a feeling that name was starting to dawn on him
"Yes – Molly's Dad" he said "and he don't know that Molly's married"
"Wiggerty sit" ordered Charles and went to his cabinet and pulled out 2 glasses and a bottle of Whiskey, he poured a 3 finger measure in each glass feeling that he needed this "You don't ever tell anyone about this" and smiled at Brian before handing him a glass and sitting himself
"Did you tell him?"
"Nah! Not my place Sir" grinned Brian "But thought you would want to know pretty sharpish he was here"
Charles took a large swig of his whiskey "You know him Brian, how's he likely to react? I should probably meet him first before he goes to see Molly" running his hand through his hair.
Brian couldn't help but smirk. He'd seen this man holler across a parade ground and made grown men quake in their boots yet here he was nervous at meeting Dave Dawes.
"He's a good bloke Dave, salt of the earth" he nodded "Loves his eldest daughter Molly" he sniggered which caused Charles to frown "If you make her 'appy then he'll be 'appy"
"Right" replied Charles downing the rest of his whiskey "I'd better go and see him; do you know where he is?"
Brian's eyes were twinkling "Well actually I brought him with me, he's outside"
"Bloody hell" and stood up to get the bottle of whiskey topping up his drink "Well you had better show him in then" and he got another glass from the cabinet.
Brian went to the door to open it and motioned for the man on the other side to come in. Dave Dawes came into the office stood to attention and saluted the Captain, not really sure why he was being introduced to a Captain in the Infantry. Brian, he could see, still seemed to be very pleased about something.
Charles looked at his father in law. He was about five foot ten and dark haired although he could see a smattering of grey around his temples. He didn't really look old enough to have a daughter Molly's age so must have married very young.
"Would you like to sit down?" asked Charles and Dave's eyes narrowed with suspicion although Brian seemed very relaxed around him
"Is this about my Molly?" asked Dave "I said to Brian, sorry Corporal Wiggerty that I wanted to get a pass so I can visit her at the hospital. Her mum and I have been worried about her out here by herself, well just her and Jacqui" he nodded in Brian's direction "Wouldn't necessarily rely on this one to keep a proper eye on them" and the smile on Brian's face dropped a bit.
"Well yes it is about Molly actually" said Charles "Would you like a whiskey"
"Not really a spirit man meself, prefer a beer" he said "So who is going to tell me what this is about, is my girl alright" getting a little agitated
"Well if things had been different I would have come to see you" he started "Told you about it sooner…..visited you to tell you in person…..".
"What are you trying to tell me that you have got my Molly in the family way" said Dave standing up, Brian now hiding his laughter behind his hand
"No…. No of course not" glaring at Brian and feeling his cheeks flush with what he was being accused of "We got married yesterday"
"YESTERDAY" shouted Dave "Her Mum will go mad not being 'ere to see it"
"Sorry … in normal circumstances I would have come to see you, asked for her hand" Charles replied looking down at his feet "We love each other and what with the war coming we didn't want to wait" he looked up and into the steady grey green eyes of Dave Dawes
Dave turned to Brian "Well did you know all about this"
"Yes Dave, Jacqui and I were there as witnesses"
"Is she 'appy, is this what she wants"
Both men nodded
"Well I think I might change me mind and have that whiskey now if you don't mind" and both men relaxed
"Don't know how I'm gonna write and tell her mother this"
"I can drive you over to their bungalow tomorrow if you like, when you've finished your duties of course" said Charles
Dave looked him squarely in the eye, swallowed his whiskey "Yes son, I think you'd better"
-O-
Charles had finished his letter to his mother and sent it to the mail room for posting. He was now waiting just outside the Woodlands barracks for Dave Dawes to join him.
"Nice car Captain" said Dave and gave a low whistle "If ever you need a hand to fix it, would love to work on a Lagonda"
"Thanks Lance Sergeant" he smiled "I'll bear that in mind. Get in"
They started driving across Singapore and back towards the harbour district.
"Molly said you were the chief engineer at a brewery" he enquired "How come you ended up here?"
"Long story mate" replied Dave shaking his head "The chairman, he thought it a good idea we all join the Territorials so we can help defend Britain if necessary. Anyone under the age of 45 was to sign up or he would take a dim view" he sighed "He didn't know that Churchill would decide to send the TA out here did he. He tried to stop it, said it was a reserved occupation…. but…..we all had to come"
"Did many come across with you?"
"Thousands, butchers, salesman, tailors, draughtsmen all here now"
"What's it like at home, how are they coping" enquired Charles "I've been out here since the end of '39"
Dave shook his head "They had us down in Bristol before we came here, helping the fire service put out the fires after the bombings" he looked down "That's one thing I need to tell Jacqui when I see her. Their house was bombed and her parents are living in East Ham now"
"I'm sure Molly said they lived opposite you"
"They did, took all our windows out made a bit of a mess but at least everyone was OK no one hurt"
"I'm trying to convince Molly to go home, live with my parents in Bath until this is over. It will be safer there"
"Good luck with that one Captain" Dave smirked "I've never known my Molly to do anything she don't want"
"I'm just beginning to find that out" he laughed along with Dave
"So, what do you do when you are not in the army?" asked Dave
"I've always been in the army, it's all I have ever known"
"So, you would be away a lot then"
"Sometimes but on postings like this where we are away for year's wives would come with us" he looked at Dave out the corner of his eye "I will look after her" and Dave nodded and smiled
"So, what am I meant to call you?"
"We have no choice with army protocol I would be Captain James and you Lance Sergeant Dawes, but away from that my name is Charles" and he could see Dave smirk – what is it about his name?
"OK Charlie" Charles snorted a laugh and knew exactly where Molly got some of her character from.
They arrived at the bungalow and before he even had time to kill the engine and get out the car Molly was already running down the path to her father and threw herself into his arms
"How's Mum, what's Nan been up to and what about all the little bleeders, they still going to school" she rattled off question after question in her excitement she was so pleased to see him and not giving him any opportunity to answer.
"Come on Moll, let a man get settled and wet his whistle" Dave laughed hugging her back
She linked arms with him and walked him up the path to where Jacqui was standing in the doorway with a big smile on her face.
Dave turned to look at Charles, who nodded. They had news from home for Jacqui.
They had got in some Tiger beer and it was nicely chilled and they offered one to both Charles and Dave
"Don't you have any stout, it's a bit gassy ain't it"
"No Dad, haven't seen anything like that out here so far it's too hot"
Molly walked to the chair where Charles was sitting and sat on the arm next to him.
"So, I hear you got married Moll" she turned to look at Charles and they were both smiling and as she turned back to her dad he could see the happiness in her eyes.
"Yes Dad, we didn't know when we would be able to get home and we didn't want a long engagement"
"I know, he's already told me" she looked at Charles who shrugged
"We had a conversation yesterday" he said
"So are you happy Moll, I've got to write home and tell your mum and Nan about this" and he saw her beaming smile as she nodded
"When are you coming home?" he asked, she put her hand on Charles shoulder and looked at him again before smiling "I am home dad"
"Told you son, once she's made up her mind she won't shift it"
"Right Jacqui girl" he said turning to Jacqui "I have some news for you too"
Jacqui's face was ashen and the smile dropped from her face "Are they alright, did the bombing get worse". Molly got up and went to sit next to her best friend and put her arms around her
"Jacqui, they are all fine love. No one was hurt and that's the main thing ain't it?" said Dave "Funnily enough they were all in ours having tea with Belinda when the sirens went off, so they all went down into our Anderson shelter"
"Cor that must have been cosy Dad"
"Was a bit" he sniggered "Anyway the house took a direct hit nothing left of it" he paused while Jacqui took in the information "They have moved in with her brother and his wife up East Ham near the Boleyn ground"
"Anyway, you're Mum, Dad and brothers are all up there. She comes down to see Belinda from time to time and thinks when this is all over she might stay up there. You know your dad, he's even closer to the Hammers now. He don't need to pay to see the match, he just sits on the front step and listens to it. Knows when West Ham have scored by the cheers". He laughed
"Do you wanna' go home Jacs?" asked Molly. She could see that her friend wasn't as upset now she knew they were all alive and unhurt, but it still must be a shock that the family home had gone. Jacqui shook her head
"Nah mate not unless Brian is coming too and that ain't gonna happen is it?"
Dave looked at Charles with raised eyebrows "Loyal little bleeders ain't they?. Good luck with convincing either of them to go home".
-OG-
Charles was in his office sorting through the mountain of paperwork and pamphlets that were due for distribution on just about every subject from Malaria to VD from what to do if there was bombing to how to dispose of equipment so the Japanese couldn't use it.
There was a knock but it opened and Lt Colonel Beck came in looking ashen
"It's started" he said "the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbour. The Americans are in the war"
"Well …." Started Charles
"There's more" said Beck raising his hand silencing Charles "They also launched attacks in the Philippines along with Thailand and have also attacked Malaya"
"Captain Hodgson is up there" Beck nodded
"In the thick of it I'm afraid"
"I think we need to make sure that the men have more training exercises in preparation. Get them to write letters home. Give them some leave in rotation up to Christmas and we will review again then." Beck shook his head "The Highlanders have already left for Penang but I think we will be left defending the island. The Aussie Battalions along with the Indian and Gurkha regiments have moved up as well. We will send the searchlight battalions up to Jahore". He paused "The last stop before Singapore"
Charles could only nod
"No declaration of war" Beck shook his head "They just attacked with no warning; we need to be prepared"
Little did he realise when he was talking with Charles that 2 days later that is exactly what happened they attached the RAF base in Singapore. There was only one squadron there but the damage was substantial and has now left them with very little air cover. Two days after that and although HMS Repulse and the Prince of Wales valiantly tried to shoot down the bombers they received no air support from Singapore and were sunk.
Molly and Jacqui were inundated with casualties all the doctors and nurses working round the clock helping the surviving sailors and RAF pilots that had been injured in the bombing raids. Both girls were absolutely horrified at what they were witnessing, not having dealt with injuries on this scale. Molly wished that she could see Charles and hold him know that he was safe and give her that feeling of calmness he always did when he held her.
-OG-
There were a couple of minor bombing raids on the RAF bases in Malaya but they were already evacuating their planes after the Navy lost its two battleships.
Whenever he could, when he wasn't on duty he collected Wiggerty and they drove to the bungalow to check on the girls. If he couldn't then Wiggerty would go and take Dave with him.
They were very lucky that they all had Christmas Day as leave and Molly and Jacqui with help from Katie were preparing Christmas dinner for all of them.
They couldn't get turkey but had a lovely Capon and all the trimmings. They were all wearing their hats and pulling crackers.
Charles was looking at Molly closely and he could see the dark rings under her eyes and there was a sadness there he had never noticed before. He knows she must have seen some sights in the hospital recently the burn victims alone from the sinking of the battleships must have been bad let alone the other raids.
It was agreed that Dave could bunk down in Katie's spare room. Lauren always taking night shifts at the hospital.
Charles after all this time still hadn't met Lauren and from what he could gather neither had Brian
"Did Lauren not want to spend Christmas with you then Katie, you both being away from home" he asked
"Well funny you should say that but she has never worked days, always preferred the nightshift" Katie shrugged "I didn't know her before we came out here and she needed someone to room with her help with the rent, so I moved in"
This piqued Jacqui's attention "Well now you come to mention it I can't say I have seen her at the hospital when we have covered nights, have you Moll" and she shook her head.
"I don't want her coming back in the morning and finding some strange bloke in her bedroom" said Dave "Gawd knows what your Mum would say" he chuckled
"You'll be alright Dave" laughed Katie "I expect Captain James will have you all up and out early" remembering the times he had agreed to take them to the markets and thinking how early in the morning he wanted to go.
"Well I really can't see the point in wasting a day in bed if you are awake and there are things to be getting on with"
Dave could see that Charles wasn't like them, probably brought up in public school, and wouldn't mind betting it was Eton or some other posh school. He thought he might have a little fun with him
"So, Charles" he started "You got any brothers or sisters?"
"No, unfortunately I'm an only child" and Dave was grinning
"Your dad like you is he, you know doesn't like wasting time in bed" Brian nearly spat his drink out, Molly went red as Jacqui and Katie howled with laughter
"DAD" admonished Molly looking across at Charles who was colouring up himself
"What" he smirked "You know full well I am going to have to write to your mum and tell her all about this and she's going to write back asking when I think she is likely to be a grandma"
Charles was once again blown away with the differences between her family and his upbringing. Dave didn't seem to be at all embarrassed by the conversation that involved his eldest daughter, he couldn't ever remember having or likely to have a conversation like this with his parents.
"Well" he coughed "Might not be a good idea at the moment, what with the war" he grinned at Dave thinking he would play him at his own game "but after, I think we could manage a few"
"CHARLES" seems like he's back to Charles again as he grinned at Molly who was currently giving him a withering eye.
"You'll do son, my Belinda will like you" grinned Dave