A New Dawn
Chapter 10
February 1943 – Somewhere in Sumatra
They had been prisoners now for a year. They still weren't sure exactly where they were. Edna had been a good camp leader during that time. Interfacing with the Japanese commandant. She had even managed to get the commandant to ask for a list of POW's captured at Singapore and find out what happened to the men who were taken away when they were rounded up on the beach. While many women cried over the list as their husband's names weren't on it, the four women were pleased to find that their husbands at the moment were still alive and hugged each other with enthusiasm, so happy at the news, even Molly's dad was on the list.
What they hadn't known when they were taken prisoner in '42 was that Jacqui was pregnant. They had done their best for her. Molly had sold her engagement ring to a local trader for eggs so she had extra protein. But it wasn't to be, her baby was born prematurely and had died a day later. Even with Molly, Katie and Dr Mason doing everything they could they couldn't save her. Jacqui had named her Violet and she was now resting in their make-shift cemetery. One of the Dutch nuns had presided over the funeral, with both Molly and Edna holding her up as she sobbed uncontrollably.
Jacqui was distraught at the time that Brian would never know he had a daughter, it took a lot of time and effort on Molly, Edna and Katie's part to help her through that time. Molly thought that there would always be a sadness in her friend for the loss of Violet, she just wished she could make it all better and take her friends pain away.
Edna had grown very fond of Molly, Jacqui and Katie, she considered them her girls. She and Roger had never been blessed with children of their own, well only that one time, but she felt that Molly was the daughter she never had, she was immensely proud of the woman she had become in these circumstances. She felt very protective over all three women and they of her.
They were called for Tenko and told they were moving camp. Work was required for the Japanese army elsewhere so they had to pack up and move on none of them knowing how far or how long they would be walking for. All of them paying their last respects and a final farewell to the women and children in their makeshift cemetery. Leaving no one behind to tend to their graves.
Molly and Edna were walking together. Molly could see she was struggling with what little luggage they had, the heat, lack of food and water and she desperately needed to help her, she didn't know how she would cope without Edna. While Jacqui was her oldest and dearest friend and she would always have her back Edna had been her link to Charles. Made her feel safe in the same way he did, she was part of his world and treated her like she knew her mum would if she was here. Counselled her when she was unsure, helped her deal with the trauma of seeing the deaths of so many of the women and children.
-OG-
They arrived after two days of walking at their new camp already crowded with British, Australian and Dutch women and children. They were just adding to the numbers. Katie waved and called out to Lauren. Molly and Jacqui looking across to see their old neighbour. They didn't know her like they did Katie and never came across her at the hospital. But Katie was pleased to see a fellow Aus and her old roomie.
This camp was totally different from their old one. It was already set up, there was a medical area and proper latrines. Food was obviously still short and they spent long days in the factory making uniforms for the Japanese.
Edna and Molly were sitting under the atap getting some shelter from the sun
"Do you think they know we are here" asked Molly
"Who dear" replied Edna but she knew who Molly was alluding to and didn't want to think about it too much, she knew that if Roger knew he would be worried for her
"I know he's still alive, I can feel it" continued Molly and she touched her breast where she had her wedding ring pinned to her bra, hiding it from the Japanese and making sure it was always with her.
She was looking out onto the compound watching life go by, the women bringing back wood for the fires to cook with, the burial detail digging yet another grave and she noticed Lauren talking with a Japanese guard and follow him behind a hut. Edna had also followed Lauren with her eyes but neither woman said anything.
"I expect they realise now that something is amiss, we haven't written" and Molly nodded in response "Perhaps I should ask the commandant for paper for us to all write home, let people know"
"Me dad was probably taken in Singapore as well, so he will probably write to me Mum, but I would like Charlie to know I'm alright"
Edna patted her hand "I'm sure he knows same as you" nodding her head at Molly believing they would be alright. Like a lot of women with this heat, lack of water and nits Molly had got Jacqui to cut off her beautiful hair and while she had an elfin look about her with the short hair she couldn't help but wonder how these young women were going to get through this, as she took another look towards the hut where Lauren had vanished.
"Well I'd better get moving" smiled Molly "Jacs and I are at the factory tonight, Katie will be here though. You gonna be alright?"
"Of course, dear, tough as old boots me" smiled Edna back at her. "Off you go" she wasn't really feeling that well but didn't want Molly to worry about her. They had got very close since their incarceration.
Molly ran off to meet up with Jacqui to be loaded onto the truck and taken to the factory, giving a smile and final wave to Edna. They were sat at the back when Jacqui looked down at her blistered hands and commented on the fact that even though they were nurses she had never had this many callouses and wondered if her hands would ever be the same again.
"Brian ain't gonna like be touched by these 'ands" causing Molly to laugh and look at her own which were in no better state than her friends "Think you might be right there" she replied
"Look Jacs I wanna ask you something" Molly hesitated and spoke in a very low voice not wanting anyone to hear her "I saw Lauren go behind the office hut with a Jap soldier this afternoon" and Jacqui nodded insightfully
"I was beginning to wonder" and she shrugged "Not too clean some of 'em she better make sure she don't end up with a dose of the Surries" and both girls giggled
"You know Jacs" whispered Molly "I don't think I ever saw her at the hospital"
"Now you come to mention it neither did I" replied Jacqui making sure no one could hear them "She's very friendly with Blanche ain't she? And she was a hostess in one of them private members clubs weren't she?" Molly nodded
"Do you think Katie knows" asked Molly and Jacqui shrugged
"Dunno, doubt it" she said "I expect we only twigged cos you and me had to get me dad and your uncle out the pub down at the docks"
"Blanche is alright" said Jacqui and Molly nodded
"Yeah she is", replied Molly "Tart with a heart", both women smiled knowing that she had managed to get the odd bit of Quinine for the hospital and not just fags as payment.
"What I find surprising is how she gets on with Georgina and yet she turned her nose up when she met me in Raffles"
"Well Molls that's one thing about this bloody place, it's been a great leveller" she smiled "Look how Edna has taken us under her wing"
"Yeah but she was nice before, look how she was at me wedding"
"She told me that she had lost her only child when it was born and how she got through it. Think I will always have a soft spot for our Edna now" Molly nodded and linked her arm through her friends knowing that the loss of Violet was still very raw and that she didn't even have somewhere to go and remember her.
-OG-
February 1943 - Saigon
They had settled into working in the docks. It was very long hours which were worked in shift patterns. Through the night loading and unloading ships that were making their way back and forth to Japan or other docks in the captured Japanese territories.
Things had settled down somewhat since they signed their papers saying that they wouldn't try and escape. But that hadn't stopped Captain Harte, three American pilots and a private from the Heavy artillery. They thought that the French locals might help them, but they didn't and were soon captured. They saw them being led away by the Kenpeitai down the perimeter fence to the old French Foreign Legion building. Lt Colonel Beck kept trying to get information and ask when they would be back but apart from the rations being cut again and some significant beatings as punishment there was no news.
A burial detail came back about two weeks later and said that they saw 5 new graves up there and no markers so an assumption had been made that they were shot although they weren't entirely sure as there was a particularly unsavoury method for despatching prisoners that didn't bear thinking about. Charles felt bad that he had lost one of his oldest friends had thought that one day they may have regained that friendship, sorted their issues, been as they were. But now they never could. Although they hadn't been close in the last year he couldn't believe that he was gone, he hoped with all his heart that it was quick and painless at the end and they hadn't suffered too much.
-OG-
The officers although not required to work like the men did make daily trips to the docks to see what was going on. When they saw the equipment being loaded and realised that some of it was theirs that had been abandoned during the retreat Beck gave the order to sabotage it.
"Don't let them see you do it but use whatever you can to smash it" he told them using his own walking stick that he had taken to using since capture, he walked up sat in the cockpit of the planes and smashed the instrument panels.
So started the systematic sabotage by the prisoners as ordered by their Officers. They may look like a rag tag band but they still considered themselves British Army and would follow Lt Colonel Beck wherever he ordered. After the incident about not escaping he had gone up in all their estimation. So, they started dropping ammunition into the river, putting sand and sugar into petrol drums and breaking hundreds of packing cases.
However, if the men didn't work hard enough or were caught sabotaging it was the officers that bared the brunt and were beaten. Even the two RAMC doctors were beaten when they wouldn't send the sick out. Charles along with Beck, the RAMC doctors and one of the Majors were all taken. Their wrists tied to a post above their heads where they were beaten with bamboo sticks and Charles could not remember feeling pain quite like it. They were left there all day with no food or water and he was beginning to believe that he would never see Molly again as he lost consciousness.
At dusk they were cut down and carried face down to their medical hut. Their wounds bathed.
Charles was being looked after by Wiggerty and Dawes with Beck who was in the cot next to him.
"Look I know you think we are doing the right thing and that but maybe after this beating we need to stop with the sabotage" said Dave quietly while bathing Charles open sores on his back and shaking his head. "My Molls ain't going to be too impressed if you peg out on her"
"No, we continue" muttered Beck and Charles nodded in agreement although right at this moment he wasn't sure that his back could put up with another beating.
There was a commotion outside the med hut and the Japanese looked like they were rounding up men in the quadrant. They took 700 of them away including a number of officers who hadn't been on the last punishment detail, they heard later to build a railway.
"Perhaps you were lucky this time Charlie and lady luck was shining on you" said Dave as everyone in the med hut was spared.
Charles barely acknowledged the comment and could only close his eyes and fall into a fitful sleep. In his mind's eye he could see Molly smiling at him on their wedding day.
Charles hoped they didn't get another beating quite like that one, he thought he preferred the threat of being shot over this. It took many weeks for the wounds to heal and he was appreciative of both Brian and Dave helping him and Beck, getting them extra rations to help with their recovery.
-OG-
They had made a contact with a Frenchman whom they nicknamed Sparks because he was the resident electrician at the docks and regularly came to the godowns. He filled them in with news about the war and how the allies were doing although the news wasn't that good. If he could he gave them money so that they could buy things from local traders and when some of the men's boots disintegrated and they were left barefoot he did his best to source new boots. He also managed to smuggle out the list of POW's to the Red Cross so that at least people from home would know they were alive and not missing or dead.
While down at the docks he had an opportunity to talk with Sparks, whose English was very good but as Charles could speak French he spoke with him in his language knowing it to be unlikely the Japanese could speak French.
"Sparks" asked Charles "I know you have contacts with the Red Cross, I am wondering if I could ask a small favour" Sparks looked around to see if anyone was near or approaching before nodding
"My wife along with my Lt Colonels and Corporals wife were on a ship that left Singapore just before it fell destined for Australia we've not had word could you find out if it got there and if they are OK"
Sparks nodded and whispered to give him the names and he would try but it may take a while to find out and get the passenger list.
It must have been at least a month before Sparks motioned him over and handed him a piece of paper which he quickly hid in his pocket to read later.
He moved to the back of the warehouse "Wiggerty" "Sir" and he flashed him the paper "Keep an eye while I look at this"
He went deathly pale and drew in a deep breath before tearing it into tiny pieces and pushing it between the wooden floorboards to the water below. He lent on some sugar sacks as he came from behind and Wiggerty was looking at him intently
"Sir is everything alright"
"Not exactly" he replied, "but I will tell you all when we get back to camp." He felt like crying but couldn't in front of his men. Everything he had thought and hoped for the last year had just come crashing down and now he had to tell his friends.
They collected their meagre portion of rice and weevils in the canteen when they got back to camp and he along with Roger Beck, Brian Wiggerty and Dave Dawes wandered into the main part of the camp and sat on the floor.
"The reason we haven't heard from our wives" and he looked at Dave "your daughter, was the ship never made it to Australia" he hesitated "seems it was torpedoed a day out to sea"
Dave had gone pale and couldn't think of what to say a lump in his throat about his eldest daughter and if they did get to write home, what would he say to Nan and more importantly Belinda. So far they had only had the opportunity to send a postcard home with a pre-written phrase saying they were well and working for pay. Maybe that was a blessing after all.
"Are they gone" asked Brian and Charles could see even in this light his eyes looked glassy
Charles shook his head "No they survived but they too are prisoners of war on one of the islands"
"Oh God" said Beck "They will be getting this treatment too"
Now that he knew his Jacs was alive Brian asked after Katie and Charles nodded "Yes she is on the survivors list so if we come across Alex we must tell him….So was Georgina Harte but of course we can't tell Captain Harte now"
"They're strong girls Jacs and Molly" said Dave forcibly "they will look after each other" Brian nodded too and they looked at Beck who had his head down
"Don't worry too much Sir" said Dave "They're good girls, they'll keep an eye out on your wife Sir"
Roger Beck couldn't lift his head at the moment his own eyes a little misty at Dave's certainly that his 50 year old wife would be OK. That last beating he had nearly finished him he didn't know how his wife would cope with this. He had seen the treatment that the Chinese and Korean women were getting, why would European women be any different.
Charles was no longer wearing his wedding ring making sure that it was safely round his neck with his dog tags. He had lost weight along with all the others in the last year and he didn't want it slipping off and losing it. He put his hand on it and started twisting it in his fingers before bringing it to his lips and kissing it. He knew that Molly was out there somewhere he could feel it, she was still alive.
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Thank you all for your lovely reviews much appreciated. I wasn't entirely sure that an historical CJ/Molly would be liked so thanks too to Debbie who not only did the edits but said I should whenever I wobbled about publishing