Chapter 3 Letters from afar

A merry little Christmas.

1940

while enemy troops advanced into Hong kong, the soldiers spent Christmas Eve on guard.

Guard duty was the least stressful it tasks since Singapore had not yet been invaded.

many troops were sent to Hong kong where the Japanese were assaulting from the sky.

it would be a good Eight months before they invaded after they captured China

During Guard duty overnight, Geoff and Tyler stood on lookout by the harbour.

there were other men there too.

forward a year

It was until late 1941 that the battle for Hong kong really got underway and C front were sent to assist.

November/December 1941

In Singapore the bombs had started falling from the sky as the wealthy families who once called this their paradise and home were now desperate to head back to England, America and South Africa. The majority of families were from those Countries. A few had left in 1939/1940

by December 1941 as the bombs fell, oeople scurried around to find shelters and safety from the explosions which the soldiers could do little about other than the navy ships firing towards the sky. Alot of planes deliberately went down into the sea, destroying themselves and the ships with Naval officers on board.

Machine guns were used to fire at the sky.

Tyler was part of the Naval team who was unfortunately blown off the Canadian Naval carrier when a plane directly hit it causing many men instant death while other poor souls burned in agony with peeling flesh and festering wounds. Tyler was found alongside Geoff who was injured but by sheer miracle alone, not wounded badly.

His body was broken and he needed to be sent to the Nurses Station in Singapore but he fared better than Tyler who lost his leg from the knee down and had a severe concussion, broken ribs, arms and a face full of ash, dirt and blood.

Tyler was immediately rushed to the nursing station where he lay unaware of what was happening . Courtney who had been working in Singapore for the past few months noticed him immediately and rushed to his aide. She washed him, cut off his uniform drenched in blood and softly cleaned him placing a soothing coldpress on his forehead. He was attached to a morphine drip but recognised judt barely the attebtive and concerned nurse

"Courtney?" he asked, trembling

"its okay Tyler" "Yes its me and by the kooks of things Id say the war is over for you" she blinked back tears, while she bandaged his stump

Tyler accepted this, the morphine and fact he could have died like the other men had him realise it was not all bad.

"Lindsay?" he grabbed Courtney by the arm

"please send me home, Im no use to anyone anymore"

Courtney nodded her head and leaned down beside him.

She whispered in his ear, "there is one group leaving tonight after midnight and another in two weeks once they have enough supplies and the ship ready "

Tyler didn't know how to thank Courtney

and the Nurses agreed he could not stay a soldier fighting an amputee.

Men had gone home for less. "It won't be an easy or pleasant ride home" Courtney informed him.

Tyler didn't care. He needed to be home. He knew the Japanese would be here within two months so the Sgt said.

After being fed, watered and given a replacement uniform, sufficient bandages and a nurse named Ella who would handle the morphine and Tyler's journey home, he was ready to go.

Courtney and Tyler saluted one another and he thanked her again. "I wont forget this" he smiled. Courtney felt appreciated and hopeful "Thankyou Private" "now get home safely" she said with tears forming in her eyes.

That night 12:15am

Tyler was placed with Ella from red cross and three other soldiers from different parts of the world and another Canadian soldier. In the dark of night beneath the explosions above which could be seen glowing from Hong Kong, these valiant nurses and Captian headed for safety under the sea.

The hours spent on that boat would be a blur for most of the men and thankfully it was too. The two Canadian soldiers were wounded and one lost a leg and was burned from the shoulders down. An explosion had caused this Soldier those injuries.

This would be the first and last successful escape after Hong kong fell and the remaining soldiers were captured which repeated in Singapore and what the Soldiers and those Families including children and expectant mothers who were living well over there, would face is to horrific for words.

Once the group had reached the ship, the lights went out and everyone boarded through the torch light.

Ella escorted Tyler in his Wheel chair and into a cabin. "This is a nurses ship" "Its ever so nice" she said with a kind voice

"If you ask me its you brave men who deserve the cabins and proper meals"

Tyler nodded and thanked Ella who pushed him along into a room shared with three others There he had another shot of morphine and his bandage redone.

Tyler lay awake as the last set of nursing staff boarded with misplaced children.

He worried about Geoff and Courtney stuck in a ticking time bomb. Then there was Scitt but Tyler seemed to think hed do alright

"If anything the enemy will be scared of him" A goid looking soldier from Hawai joked. His arm was gone but his spirit remained high.

Once the boat eased out of the harbour it was a matter of days before they reached Halifax yet someone must have been looking out for them. Tyler was extremely apprehensive to meet Lindsay again, moreso than his Parents

"What if she thinks Im damaged?"he asked in a somber tone. "By what you have told me Lindsay sounds like she just adores you"

"Do you think so?"

Ella nodded and wheeled him off the boat ramp. No one knew of this secret escape mission so Halifax was abuzz with soldiers and nurses heading East for a Christmas combat.

It was December 22nd 1941 When Tyler was driven home to his in laws who were housing Him and his Wife lindsay.

Lindsay was upset during her Christmas photo shoot.

"Not one letter" "I don't even know if he's stil in Singapore" ..."or if hes dead" she cried hugging Heather. They were both wearing beautiful Winter robes in silk with stockings and heels on.

"Lavender we all know someone at War bow focus"

"May she have a minute please?" Heather snapped.

"You do what we pay you to do when I say so " The balding oversized grump retaliated.

Lindsay held back her tears and lay on the props set up for her. Sporting a beautiful smile and seductive eyes through make up and slicked back blonde hair curled, Lavender Lindsay made some men a very happy Christmas while they travelled abroad and hopefully her beloved too.

While she posed with Heather on a large red Cadillac in white and red for Christmas, Tyler was at home while Lindsays parents And his own greeted him with tears and thanked God he was home snd the war was over for him. They cared not for his amputation. He was Theyre Tyler a Son a loved Son in law a brave younger brother and A loyal kind Husband.

Rose Topp Lindsay's Mother, a picture in a red dress with stockings hugged her Son in law and wept.

Tyler then explained how he was lucky to be alive even after surviving the explosion.

"Its bad over there"Tyler said with sadness

"The Japanese have claimed Hong kong"

"We know that's why we're so terrified" His parents replied.

The Topps agreed and Mr Kennard a War vet himself could already see the Japanese destroying Singapore.

Mr Top, Colonel in the first World War was apprehensive that anyone would come out of their after what little information filtered into Cinema, TV and radio, the outcome looked grim.

"Those young men out there" Rose wept

"The nurses too" Tyler shed a tear thinking of the kindness and bravery she displayed letting him leave on what was to be the only

escape mission from that moment on that was a success.

"Lindsay will be beyond happy" "she prayed you and the war would be over by Christmas, well over here" Rose gushed.

Tyler was blushing. He loved Lindsay more than anything but would sge still want him if he couldn't dance with her? never work a real job? back then real job meant physical labour of zome kind. What Tyler didn't realise was the War would and change society forever.

When Lindsay returned by private car. She wrapped her white coat around herself as the snow fell gently. The beautiful female could not help but gaze at the falling snow onto the powdered grass. A fairytale look.

She was about to have her prayers answered and her own fairy tale come true.

"Mom Daddy Good evening" she called stelling inside the large house surrounded by gardens and a pool. The parents and Tyler were in the living room when Lindsay's heels could be heard clinking through the main entrance, the kitchen and dining room and lastly the living room where she not only gasped, she nearly passed out.

"Tyler?" She quavered. She stood beside him and burst into tears, hugging him tightly as he sat on one of the couches with his bandaged stump in place of his leg

Lindsay cried when Tyler told her what had happened but she did not care one bit that his leg had gone.

"Lindsay Sweetheart", now about the letters"

Lindsay disregarded all of what she was upset about before and held his face gently kissing his nose then lips

"I love you...I adore you" she wept. "So what if you didn't send me letters, I have you here" "You're back to stay"...They both hugged from the waist up and held each other tight.

Their parents told Tyler who wrapped an arm around his Bride in her winter skirt and tight long sleeved black thermal. She had her ring on plus the necklace he brought her when they furst started dating.

"I havent taken it off once" "since you left"

She played with her silver necklace and locket.

"Lindsay my Lindsay" He smiled hugging her tightly. "Yes baby Im yours and youre mine' as she hugged his back she could feel his tears fall onto her chest.

"My sweet you are home" "Im not going anywhere" "Im just thinking this all still a dream but other than that" she half joked. "I am so very happy"

"Its not a dream beloved its real"

he then sighed

"Ill never be able to dance with you again" he said sadly .

Lindsay knelt down off the couch

"You listen to me Private Kennard' "You are alive" "you are here" "We are Married baby and we will have lots of babies"

Tyler wrapped his arms around Lindsay

she did the same. "Also Tyler," "dancing is overrated who needs it my love?" she happily wept

The whole family gathered around the table for dinner. Lindsay had her hand on Tyler's right leg and smiled at him.

"Its a Christmas miracle" she said resting her head on Tylers weary shoulder. He missed the feeling of his beloved Bride

The smell of her hair, like strawberries and cream. Het lucious lips a cherry red. Her beautiful smile and bright eyes. The way her body reacted to his like they fit together as two puzzle pieces making the entire puzzle complete.

Lindsay was filled with joy. Despite the horrors, Tyler would get his life back and enjoy many Christmases with his own family in years to come...

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

It may be your last.

Faithful friends who were dear to us are not here with us, once more

Have yourself a merry Little Christmas if the fates allow

from now on we'll have to muddle through somehow

So have yourself a Merry Little Christmas now.

They kissed under the mistletoe

Lindsay held her man as he was placed into bed beside her

"Is that okay sweetheart?" she asked, tucking in his sheets

"Im fine baby" he laughed

Lindsay then jumped in beside him and wrapped her arms Tylers neck.

"Im so glad my Prayers were answered" she softly said through happy tears

Tyler stroked his wifes long blonde hair and held het face. "I told you Id be home by Christmas 1941"

Lindsay pressed her lips against his.

"Oh beloved Tyler" "You did you really did"