Steel Girls at War by Michelle Rawlins

Author:Michelle Rawlins [Rawlins, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2023-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Saturday, 27 July 1940

‘That was more exhausting than I thought.’ Daisy yawned as she and Betty made their way out of the Fulwood depot of the WVS. The pair had spent the last two hours making hospital bandages after Mrs Rafferty had explained the need for supplies was as great as ever. ‘Maybe I’m being naive, but I thought things might have eased off a bit, especially after Dunkirk.’

‘It doesn’t sound like there’s going to be any let up any time soon,’ Betty sighed, trying not to overthink the implications.

‘I know what you mean. I overheard my dad talking to one of the neighbours about the Germans coming for England next. Do you reckon he’s right?’

The thought had crossed Betty’s mind more than once in the last twenty-four hours, and despite her normally optimistic outlook, she’d asked herself the same question.

It still felt inconceivable that France was now occupied, despite the admirable fight the Allied troops had put up. Until Operation Dynamo and the mammoth support of the small ships, France had seemed a million miles away, a foreign land that had no bearing on England, but suddenly it felt much closer. If fishing boats and trawlers could get there and back in a day, then the Luftwaffe wouldn’t have any problems soaring across the skies to Blighty.

But will they really invade Britain? she silently pondered. Is that Hitler’s next plan? There had been rumblings that England could be his next target. Betty had to give her head a little shake to stop the thoughts, which were threatening to consume her.

‘Do you fancy coming to the funfair with me and my sisters?’ Daisy asked, pulling Betty’s attention back to the here and now. ‘I promised I’d take them.’

‘That would be wonderful,’ Betty agreed, keen to ignore what was going on in her mind, which had been niggling away at her since she’d got home from work the night before. A happy distraction was just what she needed. There’s no point in fretting over something that hasn’t happened, she quietly reminded herself of the advice she had handed out to Nancy countless times since her Bert had gone off to war.

‘I think there’s a merry-go-round and a helter-skelter as well as a few stalls selling sweets.’

‘Do you know, that sounds just the tonic,’ Betty replied as she fell into line with Daisy and they made their way to the tram stop.

An hour later, Betty and Daisy were sat behind Polly and Annie, who were squealing with delight as the four of them bopped up and down on the Victorian carousel.

‘This is so much fun!’ Betty laughed. ‘I can’t remember the last time I came to the fair. It must be years.’

‘Me too.’ Daisy giggled.

It didn’t take much cajoling from Polly and Annie to queue for a second turn and when they begged Daisy and Betty to have a go on the helter-skelter, they were met with little resistance.

Their sides hurting from laughing, the two women finally collapsed on the grass,

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