Now is the hour
Bridgette lay awake and remembered her soft words of song she sang to Geoff in her dreams
And now is the hour when we must say goodbye, Soon you'll be sailing far across the sea, While you're away, o, then remember me, When you return, you'll find me waiting here
Ill dream of you, if you will dream of me
Each hour ill miss you, here across the sea
Its not goodbye
its just a sweet adieu
Someday Ill sail across the seas to you
When you return, you'll find me waiting here
With Festive tides now been and gone, the World farewells 1941. Trouble lurks on Hawaiian soil, to what victors go the spoil?
The story goes jumping in time a little bit depending on the characters but fir the most part it sticks between 1942-45, well 1945 will be the end.
Throughout Canada.
The soldiers marched in procession as the wounded and dying returned.
Tyler watched from his bedroom window in a sorrowful state of mind.
He had his beautiful wife Lavender Lindsay making the cash for them to survive but he felt wretched about it.
He could no longer fight or walk properly and hope of a surgery for a prosthetic leg was at least a good five to six years away.
He missed Geoff and Scott, the time spent reminiscing and drinking together before the battle waged in uncertain waters.
At least he had her love, undying, unspoiled and loyal. A cherished Kiss in the morning and a gentle caress at night, Lindsay hated to leave her Husband but her Parents were very considerate and looked after the Marine while he wheeled himself about the house.
As the camera flashed and Lindsay posed with Heather, the smell and potency of her hair bleach was making her feel nauseated.
"Please excuse me" she held her hand over mouth and scurried into the bathroom.
Heather sighed and continued to pose.
once the photographers had enough they told Heather to find their "Blonde bombshell" to which she did.
Lindsay was clenching her stomach with metal rollers in her hair and a robe covering her polka dotted dress. Het stockings felt tight as did her thick red heels
Heather clomped in and folded her arms.
"Honey dear if you want something to control your weight I can help" she said fluttering her eyes in front of the mirror.
"No gracious me, I don't need anything but I feel so wretched" she heaved. "What's the matter with me?" tears rained down her face. Mascara and make up blended together like a painting by Monet.
Heather held her shoulders and asked her plainly.
"Your husband has been back a couple of months now and.."
Lindsay looked at her.
"Yes he has, the sweet soldier of mine" she started to whimper.
"When was your last um...mentstrual cycle?" Heather asked a tad uneasily.
Lindsay double blinked at her.
"I don't know what..." "Oh" she gasped.
"Oh my" her heart started beating rapidly and she felt faint...
Lindsay then collapsed in Heather's arms.
Heather, scared and unsure what to do just called out.
"HELP"
When Lindsay woke up, she was in a hospital bed with a drip in her arm.
Tyler was holding her hand in the wheelchair beside her. She smiled warmly when her eyes caught up with her mind
"Oh..Tyler" "Why am I in the Hospital?"
Her husband held her hand gently and grinned.
"The doctors have just been checking up on you sweetheart" he stroked her face gently.
She gasped.
"Oh, well whatever is the matter with me?" she asked, hand to her chest.
Her Parents were waiting by while Heather nervously awaited the Doctors return.
Tyler had already been informed of Lindsay's condition and it was good news.
"Lindsay my love" "We are going to be Parents"
Her eyes widened when Tyler said those words.
"Really?" she smiled brightly.
Forgetting the battles raging around the World for a brief second, the bleached blonde hugged Tyler tightly. "Oh this is such good news" she cried happily.
Tyler rubbed her back.
"It sure is my dove" he replied. "A new life, our baby" They held each other while Tyler felt the sadness of the Morning pass over him as a bright new Future shone ahead.
"You're going to be a Father" she wept.
"Me, a Mother.." as she spoke she let happy tears fall down her delicate face.
Ontario
Gwen read aloud the last three letters.
She was very mournful towards the end. Trent had not given up hope as though he had fought with death and won.
The dark haired nurse curled up by The Soldier, her new love and read the last words of her Fiance who was to never be her Husband...
1943 Italy
The days are colder now. If only you were here to wrap yourself around me sweet Gwen. I would feel release from the daily struggles and sadness that consumes me while I lay awake. Paris is in ruins but they await us, they pray we beat the name of their liberation. Such a hefty task ahead. Ive met many soldiers from the World over. British and American. They believe the war is there's to win. I scoff for what good is one person or one battalion without its comrades from the free world to stand side by side and fight this foe, these evil and such bloodthirsty of brutal enemies.
Shall I sleep or take myself to a quiet part of the Lake I find myself retreating? I shall think of you with me...
Be ever on your most aware and I shall be home soon, my lady most rare. xoxo
Pt Cooper
1944 Paris.
Dearest Gwendoline.Im unable to come to you as I had hoped. I cannot relay what my orders are but I am sorry for it might not be the reunion we had hoped. Once I have undergone this specific assignment I shall be able to see you. Please, I urge you wait for me. Feet on land while I soar above. May you never know the true extent of suffering sweet Bride of mine for the future. How I wish I was with you but I joined for a reason and will see this through. Many have passed on but I remain fully intact. My flesh may ache and I may be cut and worn, but I forge on ahead. A Corporal ranking awaits and possibly even higher praise shall I succeed and I will. Strength and courage.
My love, I shall see you so soon.
Pt Trent Cooper
June 1944
Dearest Gwendoline, May this letter find You in good health, for I am So tired and weary. Only a few more flights that is all I can divulge to you my sweet.
While the processions into Normandy were no doubt a success I feel my lungs swell with dread. I know the pull and push of a large jump from a heavy aircraft. Unknown fates and landings. Bullets tarnish the sky and rip through parachutes, people are torn apart. I cannot relate what the true cost of this war is for it is too much but I can tell you this my sweetheart, once this last mission I'm one is over, I can return to you even if its only for a fleeting moment, in those weeks we can marry and perhaps even by Christmas this year the wae will have reached its end as we approach enemy territory ever closer day by day. We are on the winning side my sweetheart. Hope for me as I do for you that we will be reunited again. xoxo
All my love.
CP: Trent Cooper.
"Perhaps you can aid me while I return."
Duncan held Gwen close as she choked on those last words.
Pressing his lips against her cheek, he kissed her gently.
"At least he was rewarded for his efforts" she murmured.
Trent was awarded a posthumous Purple Heart and rank of Corporal. He was lost at sea but his remains from the plane were recovered including his uniform, torn and bloodied. That was all that remained to be buried in a Soldiers Coffin with proper ceremony and burial in December 1945.
December 1944
Gwen stood in a white dress and veil.
He took her hand and professed his love as the snow fell around the Chapel outside.
Courtney had been reported Missing/Captured when Singapore fell to the Imperial Japanese Army in 1942. He presumed by now she had passed away or worse but it did little for his mind to dwell on such an horrific fate...
Fate would prove much worse for The poor nurse.
She risked her life and helped so many
Yet fell into a bad state with beri beri
Her body and eyes were swollen and sore
she was thirsty but could not drink, she lay limp on the dirt floor
A fellow nurse with red hair and kind sweet smile, offered her hand and to soothe her for awhile
sadly nothing could be done to ease the spreadable disease
with no geneva convention, meant the Women and children were dying by the trees.
No decent food, no clean water
Nothing but beating and senseless slaughter
Her eyes crusted over as at last sge thought of Scott.
Her Winnipeg Hero, held her heart and breath...not forgot.
While he waited in the rain, the mud and rocks and vicious terrain
He called out loudly her name
alas the nurses ever came
across the fence, barbed wire and cable
No one could climb less death be able
A soldier behind him, a guard struck his head.
He knocked out Scotts teeth with a rifle butt instead
the blood curdled in his mouth as he fell to the ground
puddles of slush, being dragged like a hound
he felt no longer human, being thrown and kicked and cut
blood poured from his mouth while he clenched his gut
a kick to the head, a blow to the back
thrown in a cage and left for attack
three days and three nights he bled and he slept
while the aura of death, so familiar, it crept
Courtney lay starving but too swollen to eat
Nurse Zoey held her up and placed torn sheets on her feet
the soaked cloth eased the swelling not the pain
scrambling for morphine
finding a vein
once the precious relief so rare and compelling
sent Courtney to sleep, she dreamt of new dwellings ..
A home with Scott as his Loving Wife
Together forever the rest of their life
Fate would not let this dream come to be
in Late 1944 The camp Lost another RC
Courtney was married but in love with another.
No other family aside from her Mother
Her Father had died in the First world War
A medal of honour and a photo was all he left for...
A Mother would mourn the loss of her daughter when the time came to tell
of the prisoners In Thailand who lived and died in hell.
TBC
Next Chapter
Scott
More progress on the characters as they navigate through the vicious war
The song at the top
Now is the Hour was written in 1913
It was used in World war one and originally written and sung in Maori, the indigenous language of New Zealand still spoken today.
the ANZACS who fought for Australia and New Zealand are remembered for their actions in The Gallipoli campaign that lasted until 1915.
That song was played as the soldiers set sail in 1914