this was for him, how their roles had reversed. He had been the person to take her and meet her from school, taking his job of protecting her very seriously. Now, in a way, by fighting for their freedom, she was providing that same security for him. Some of her favourite memories were of her father meeting her on a rainy day. He would stand defying the rain at the school gates as she skipped through puddles to reach him. Then he would engulf her in his large grey tweed overcoat with the silky silver-coloured lining, escorting her under his arm all the way home so she wouldn’t get wet. Diana remembered how safe she’d felt, walking alongside him, her eyes cast down to carefully navigate her way, following his feet in the leather shoes that always shone. Enveloped by his overcoat, a fortress from the weather. Tucked under his arm, she’d loved the familiarity of being surrounded by the musky scent of his pipe tobacco, mingled with that of his favourite peppermints, which always lingered on the inner fabric.
A station announcement about her train abruptly shook Diana from her reverie. And she noticed with relief that more people had now ascended onto the platform to await its arrival. Pulling down her tight straight skirt and adjusting the belt, Diana wondered if wearing her new shoes – with the two-inch heels – had been a wise choice. She’d wanted to give a good impression and had her thick, brown, curly hair cut by one of the other hairdressers the day before as a goodbye gift, but now she wondered if she would look overdressed. She glanced up and down the platform for guidance, to see if she could spot anybody else who might be going to join up as she was. But most people seemed to be either older men or mothers with young children.
Jessie slipped her hand into her pocket and handed over a packet of peppermints to her daughter, followed by a newspaper she unfolded from her large handbag.
‘For you to read on the train,’ she stated. ‘Such a long way, all the way to London.’ The way Jesse drew out the words made it sound as though Diana were on her way to Africa. And though she was a little apprehensive, as this would be her first time in the capital, Diana was excited about what she was going to do. Her only reluctance was about leaving her home and her dad. She hoped he wouldn’t fret too much.
Diana skimmed the headlines. As usual, there was no good news. Mostly about Germany’s recent invasion of Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and France, also the preparations for the anticipated invasion of England. Nazis had already started bombing the air bases all over the country, and the Battle of Britain, as it was being called, was being waged in the sky over the English Channel.
All at once the train appeared, chugging up to the platform, its steaming, smoking presence dominating the station. It was two minutes early, and Diana’s heart leapt to her throat. This was it. She was going. Turning to her mother, she hugged her tightly. ‘Take care of yourself and Dad for me.’
Jessie rubbed comforting circles on her daughter’s back as she whispered into Diana’s hair, ‘And you take care of yourself.’
Pulling away, Diana fought her brimming emotions. Noting a hint of her mother’s flowery perfume had rubbed off onto her own cheek, she turned towards one of the doors. She hadn’t realized how this would feel. All she’d been centred on was getting to the barracks in London. But now she felt such a wave of sadness. If the Germans did attack Birmingham or London, would she see her family again? What would life be like in Britain if the Germans occupied it? She quickly pushed the thoughts from her mind. She couldn’t think like that. Mr Churchill had been clear, they all had to be strong and make Britain proud.
Turning to kiss her mother quickly on the cheek, she stepped up onto the train and started to stride down the carriage, waving to Jessie through the windows as she went. Her mother stood resolutely and watched her daughter and slowly lifted her hand in a reluctant wave. And Diana thought she saw a tear leave her mother’s eye. This was so hard, so much harder than she had expected. As she continued to walk the length of the train, many of the carriages were