Brothers United: A Time of War Part Three
"You bastard!" Tom stormed into the cottage, his anger palpable. He had just learned that his brother, Thomas, had played a significant role in thwarting Tom's attempt to bypass his medical certificate for the army.
Thomas, on the other hand, appeared completely unapologetic, his expression a mix of defiance and determination. He knew that what he had done was for the best, but he also remembered Tom's heart condition, and he hoped his brother wouldn't get too worked up.
With measured steps, Thomas approached his furious brother. He placed a comforting hand on Tom's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Tom, listen to me," Thomas began, his tone earnest. "You're not thinking clearly right now. The army wants to assess me. Your plan has worked, believe it or not."
Tom's anger began to cool slightly, replaced by a mixture of frustration and concern. He had only ever considered joining the army because of Thomas, wanting to be by his side, protecting him.
"But if they want to assess me properly," Thomas continued, "it's likely because they see potential in me, particularly as an interpreter. That was our plan, wasn't it?" Thomas posed the question, making sure to emphasise his point.
"Yes, that was the plan," Tom admitted, his expression shifting to one of real fear for his brother's safety.
"Exactly," Thomas said with conviction. "And if I get a job and training from the army, it means I'm set for after the war. I can continue working as a translator, just as you always said, making connections and building a future."
Thomas watched as his brother began to understand the logic behind his actions. Tom's worry was evident, but he was slowly starting to see the potential benefits of Thomas's solo assessment.
"You're right," Tom conceded. "You'll make valuable connections in the army, especially if you secure a position as a translator. And that means you can get a proper job afterward, whether it's in business or as a civilian translator."
Thomas smiled, pleased that his reasoning was getting through to his brother. "Now is our time, Tom," he emphasised. "Social norms are breaking down, and they won't be too picky about our backgrounds."
"But I'll worry about you all the time," Tom admitted, still holding on to his protective instincts.
"And I'll worry about you," Thomas replied, slipping his arm further around Tom's shoulder and pulling him in for a heartfelt brotherly hug. It was moments like this that reminded Thomas of the fierce bond between them and brought a lump to his throat.
"Besides, as soon as you know where I am stationed, you can come and join me and get a real job," Thomas continued, trying to lighten the mood, "if you get a proper middle-class job, you might be able to persuade one of the Crawley sisters to marry you." "But not Edith, I don't think I could forgive you for that," Thomas said with a grin.
Tom chuckled, finally starting to relax. He playfully punched Thomas's shoulder. "Alright, alright, you win. Your plan is just as good. You just better ace that assessment."
"I love you a lot, you know," Tom said, sincerity in his eyes.
"I know how lucky I am," Thomas replied. "I can't imagine having a relationship like Edith and Mary."
Tom gave his brother a stern look. "You better write to me all the time."
"I will," Thomas promised, just as determined. "As long as you let me know what your plans are."
The brothers shook hands, accepting the situation they found themselves in. It might not have been what they initially envisioned, but they were in it together, come what may.
On the day of Thomas's departure for his army assessment, the atmosphere in the cottage was thick with tension and melancholy. The two brothers shared a desperate goodbye in the small dwelling they still called home. Tom struggled to hold back tears as he embraced his older brother, knowing that even though it was just assessments for now, Thomas could soon be on the front lines of the war. He didn't want to see his brother go, even temporarily.
After their heartfelt farewell, Tom decided he couldn't bear to watch Thomas leave for the army, even if it was just for assessments. He quietly slipped away and found refuge in the garage, away from the sombre parting scene.
Lord Grantham had shown kindness by extending Tom's employment for another four months. During this time, Tom's responsibilities would include covering for the new chauffeur and teaching estate employees, farmers, and farmers' wives how to drive. With the war causing a slow drain of laborers from the farms, other estate workers would have to step in to fill the gaps.
Tom's first student for driving lessons was to be Lady Edith. Tom wasn't particularly looking forward to this endeavour, fearing it might prove challenging. He had received a crash course from Thomas on assisting Mr. Carson with dinner service, although Tom's qualifications far exceeded the requirements of such a position. Everyone at Downton felt uneasy about asking an educated man with a university background to perform servant duties. While being a skilled worker as a chauffeur felt more acceptable within the social hierarchy, serving at dinner seemed discordant.
Before Thomas left, he paid his final respects to Lord Grantham and had been instructed to join the family in the library at 11:00, where they awaited to bid him farewell. In his new suit, which Tom had purchased for him using some of the money he had saved for Thomas's university fees, Thomas stood before the Crawley family.
Lord Grantham, in his usual hearty manner, extended his hand, saying, "Ah, Thomas, I wanted to wish you well and shake your hand." He then inquired about Thomas's return, asking, "Will you be back before taking your post, do you know?"
"I will try and get a couple of days of leave after my assessment and training, for Tom's sake," Thomas replied, grateful for the consideration.
Lady Grantham chimed in with her best wishes, accompanied by one of her peculiar head tilts for emphasis. "Good luck, Thomas," she said, her voice carrying warmth.
Lady Sybil, always full of kindness and empathy, assured him, "We will keep an eye on Branson for you." Her sisters nodded in agreement.
"I am sure I will distract him enough with my terrible driving," Lady Edith added with a kind smile, trying to lighten the mood.
"Thank you," Thomas replied, touched by their words. "That's very kind of you to say, my ladies." With those parting words, he bid them farewell and left to say his goodbyes to the staff below stairs.
The farewell below stairs at Downton was far more emotional than Thomas had anticipated. As he made his rounds among the staff, he was met with tears and warm wishes.
Mrs. Patmore, who had always shared a special bond with his brother Tom, surprised him with a tearful hug. She quickly excused herself, dabbing at her eyes with her apron. Tom had always been like a cheeky nephew to her, and the prospect of his brother going off to war and the brothers being separated was deeply affecting.
Mrs. Hughes wished Thomas well with sincere and warm sentiments, shaking his hand firmly. She assured him that they would do their best to keep Tom's spirits up while he was away. Thomas appreciated her support, knowing that being separated from Tom was his primary concern.
Daisy, who had once harboured a crush on Thomas, handed him a packed lunch she had prepared for his journey to Leeds, where his army assessment and training would take place. He thanked her kindly and wished her the best.
Young William, the second footman, expressed his desire to join up but mentioned that his father had forbidden him from doing so. Thomas bit his tongue, knowing that it wasn't the right time to discourage the young man. Hoping Tom's influence still held sway over William, and Thomas hoped he'd have a chance to talk some sense into him in the future.
Surprisingly, the last two people to say goodbye were Anna and Mr. Bates. Anna offered Thomas warm wishes for his journey, while Mr. Bates imparted some last-minute advice based on his own army experience. He emphasised the importance of appearing well-groomed during parades and inspections but warned Thomas to get himself muddy in actual combat to avoid becoming a sniper's target. He also advised Thomas to conceal his rank insignia if he ever rose above the rank of a sergeant during combat.
Mr. Carson, who was dismayed at the thought of a mere footman achieving a higher rank than a sergeant, shot a disapproving glare at Mr. Bates. Ignoring Carson's disapproval, Mr. Bates knew that Thomas wouldn't be subjected to further assessments unless the army had a specialised role in mind for him, though he couldn't fathom what that role might be.
With a faint flush on his face from all the attention, Thomas finally announced his departure, acknowledging that he needed to catch the 12 o'clock train to Leeds. Everyone said their goodbyes and waved as he made his way to the driveway, headed for Downton's train station.
Just as he began walking down the road, Thomas heard the sound of a motor approaching from behind. The motor pulled up beside him, and when Thomas glanced over, he saw Tom behind the wheel.
"I couldn't let you walk to the train station," Tom explained, avoiding eye contact.
Thomas got into the motor and took a seat next to his brother. He nodded in appreciation for the gesture.
"Write to me as soon as you've had your assessment and let me know how you got on," Tom insisted.
"I will, I promise," Thomas replied.
It wasn't long before they arrived at the train station, and the distant sound of the approaching train filled the air. Tom parked the motor and walked around to Thomas. They embraced tightly, neither wanting to let go.
"Watch out for yourself," they both said simultaneously, their voices filled with concern and love.
With one last look at his brother, Thomas picked up his case and made his way to the waiting train. He found a seat by the window and leaned out, waving vigorously to Tom as the train slowly pulled away from the station. Tom stood there, waving back until Thomas disappeared from view, leaving him with a sense of emptiness and longing.
Dear Tom,
I trust you're managing well in the absence of my dashing presence. Quite a lot has unfolded in these past few days. As soon as I arrived at the training station in Leeds, I was promptly kitted out with a uniform and assigned to a room with four other chaps. Not surprisingly, they were all university men, and I was the sole working-class bloke amidst them. The raised eyebrows when they found me among their ranks were almost comical. You'll be amused to know they could all speak either French or German. However, I kept my linguistic talents a well-guarded secret; didn't see the need to share that I'm fluent in seven languages.
The mornings here start with a harsh wakeup call at 6 a.m., followed by a rather gentle five-mile jog, as the Drill Sergeant liked to call it, or hell as the rest of us called it. I'm starting to appreciate the benefits of all those years in service, lugging around the luggage and trunks of Downton's esteemed guests. If you can endure one of Carson's lectures, you can certainly handle a drill sergeant. I held my own during the run, not leading the pack but close enough. If they keep up this regimen, I might be forced to give up the cigarettes.
Post-run, we indulged in a hearty breakfast, although it pales in comparison to Mrs. Patmore's culinary delights. The blokes around me were abuzz with speculation about what lay ahead. It was hard not to notice that I've been placed among quite a few toffs, including lawyers and accountants.
After breakfast, we proceeded to an examination room where we were presented with a series of tests. Mine covered the languages I'd listed on my enlistment form—Russian, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and Greek. The questions were quite uniform for each language: discussions about a book I'd read in that tongue, basic historical and political knowledge about the respective countries, and some rudimentary geography. Thank heavens for your relentless drills, as I certainly held the upper hand over my fellow recruits. Some of them seemed to break into a sweat, finally realising they'd enlisted in the army and not the Boy Scouts.
Lunch consisted of a flavourful stew accompanied by tasty bread rolls. I managed to strike up a conversation with a couple of Irish lads, reminiscing about my Irish roots and upbringing in Bray. One of them, O'Flynn, attended Cork University around the same time you did, although he studied engineering and didn't socialise much with the "Arts crowd," as he referred to it. He inquired about why I hadn't gone to university, and I simply explained that I had to secure employment to support myself and save up for university fees. They seemed quite admiring of our determination to pursue higher education.
I believe I'll feel less alone here with a few mates around. While they might not sport the same Irish accent as you, it's comforting, nonetheless. Perhaps you could make a trip down when I get a day pass, and I can introduce you. You can regale them with tales of your university escapades and your favourite pubs.
Post-lunch, I underwent the most rigorous interview of my life. Four officers were seated at a long table, each conversing with me in a different language. The questions came rapid-fire, testing my patience as well as my language skills. However, I managed to maintain my composure and didn't let their barrage of queries rattle me too much. In fact, when the Russian officer asked for my opinion on Tolstoy's "War and Peace," I retorted that I thought it was "a thousand bloody pages too long." Surprisingly, he seemed to agree, bursting into laughter.
The German officer delved into questions about Otto Gunther, your foster father. I had to clarify that Gunther had immigrated to Ireland over 25 years ago, following a divorce and personal disgrace. I haven't seen him in person for over a decade, and I know little about his current family circumstances. Things got a bit uncomfortable when they inquired about my parentage, asking if I knew my father. I responded affirmatively but explained that I wasn't acknowledged.
I'll write again soon with further updates. Please take care of yourself and watch over everyone at Downton in my absence.
Yours,
Thomas
Dear Tom,
I hope you are not missing me too much and you are taking care of yourself. As promised, I'm keeping you updated on my adventures here at the army assessment centre.
The first week has been quite intense, but it's already almost over. By the time you receive this letter, we'll know the results and where we'll be dispatched for basic training and our assigned branch of the army. It's an anxious wait, but at least it will put an end to this uncertainty.
I should tell you more about the various exams, interviews, and group exercises we've been subjected to. My ability to follow instructions promptly has actually worked to my advantage. I've ended up leading quite a few of the exercises and assisting the other lads in my team to keep up. It appears that they grade us not only individually but also as a team, although this wasn't explicitly explained to us. I suppose it's part of assessing how well we work together under pressure.
Surprisingly, I've found myself enjoying the challenges presented here. For once, I'm not bored out of my wits. It's refreshing to engage in activities that require both mental and physical effort.
I've also made friends with a few of the Irish lads. They've added some much-needed camaraderie to this experience. I'll tell you more about them when I return. They might not possess your Irish charm, but they're a fine group of blokes.
I'll write again as soon as we have our assignments. Until then, take care of yourself and don't do anything reckless, especially behind the wheel!
Yours,
Thomas
Dear Tom,
I hope this letter finds you well. I can hardly contain my excitement as I write to you with some unbelievable news. The past week has been a whirlwind, and I'm thrilled to share it with you.
I have been selected for an intensive officer training course, and it's focused on languages and diplomacy. Can you believe it? It seems that the assessors were highly impressed with my language skills, and the other assessments, especially my initiative to help my team mates to complete the various assigned tasks, they said it showed good leadership skills, and they have decided to invest in my training for a unique role.
When I complete this course and become qualified, my assignment will be to serve on the general staff as a translator. I'll have the incredible responsibility of assisting a high-ranking general directly with communications. Unfortunately, I can't provide more specific details at this time, but you can imagine the importance of such a role.
The training itself will take place here in Leeds, but my primary station will be in London. However, due to the nature of my duties, there will be quite a bit of travel involved. I will be expected to accompany whichever general I am assigned to, ensuring smooth communication in various situations. As for uniforms and equipment, they have assured us that we will be given time to purchase what we need. I must admit; I'm not entirely sure what this entails, so it will be a learning experience for me.
Now, here's where I could use your resourcefulness. I've been hesitant to ask my fellow trainees about the particulars of our upcoming free time. You see, there are some among them who may be a bit envious of my opportunity. While they were gentlemen, some of their friends did not meet the requirements for officer training and have been assigned to the ordinary ranks as privates. I fear their reactions if I were to inquire too openly. So, if you happen to have any university friends in the army who might provide insights or guidance, I would greatly appreciate it.
I promise to keep you informed about the days when I'll have some free time, and we can arrange a day for you to visit. It would mean a lot to me to see a familiar face during this new journey.
Take care and send my best to everyone at Downton.
With love,
Thomas
Tom was indeed bursting with pride over his brother's opportunity to attend officer training. He recognized the immense potential this held for Thomas, not only during the war but also for his future prospects. It was a chance for Thomas to rise above his station and prove himself in a world dominated by gentlemen.
As Tom pondered Thomas's situation, he realised that appearances would matter greatly in the military, especially for someone who wasn't born into the upper class. Thomas would need to not only act like an officer but also look like one. Tom knew that his savings, which amounted to over £200, would be put to good use to ensure that Thomas had all the necessary equipment and uniforms.
Tom had a strong desire to shield his brother from any potential ridicule or prejudice that might come from his humble origins. He wanted to ensure that Thomas would be judged solely on his abilities, intellect, and character, rather than dismissed due to a lack of a formal, upper-class background.
One thing that weighed on Tom's mind was where to begin. He attempted to reach out to his old college friends for guidance on what an officer would require in terms of supplies and uniforms, but the chaos of wartime had disrupted correspondence, leaving him without reliable answers.
Tom was determined to keep Thomas's presence at officer training a surprise for the Crawley family and the other servants at Downton. He imagined the look of astonishment and pride on everyone's faces when Thomas returned in his officer's uniform, and he couldn't wait to show off his brother in that distinctive attire.
Fortunately, Tom's chance to obtain some much-needed information came when Lieutenant Crawley, a family member, was scheduled to return home. Tom volunteered to be the one to drive the Lieutenant, and once they were alone, he seized the opportunity to share the secret about Thomas.
Tom confided in the Lieutenant that Thomas was currently undergoing officer training in the Army and requested that he keep this information confidential. He explained his desire to surprise everyone with Thomas's new uniform upon his return. The Lieutenant agreed to keep the secret.
Tom then sought advice on what supplies Thomas would need to procure. The Lieutenant informed him that officers were typically responsible for their own boots, dress uniforms, mess uniforms, and often their sidearms. He also mentioned the possibility of acquiring discounted uniforms from fallen soldiers who hadn't had the chance to collect them from the tailors who made the uniforms.
When Tom inquired about Thomas's role, the Lieutenant suggested that Thomas might require reference books, maps, stationery, and other supplies to fulfil his role as a translator for the General Staff.
Tom absorbed all this information, knowing that he and Thomas shared expertise in six languages, along with the necessary reference materials. They would only need to purchase a few items like stationery and maps, and Tom expressed his gratitude to the Lieutenant for his invaluable guidance.
With this newfound knowledge and determination, Tom was prepared to ensure that Thomas had everything he needed for his journey as an officer in the making.
Note: My statistics don't seem to be working on any of my stories, as it looks like I have had no visitors of views since early September, but I have had reviews for chapters, that were posted in late September, so I know someone must have read the story. If someone could post a quick yes I saw this update it would be appreciated and would help when I put in my request to IT. Thanks!