Molly Green - A Sister’s Courage

‘Why not?’

Suzanne breathed out a long sigh. ‘All this war stuff. And I’m old enough to do something towards it.’ She looked at Raine. ‘Like you, being a pilot. That ought to be really useful.’

‘You would think,’ Raine said, pulling a face. ‘And there’s an organisation called the ATA – the Air Transport Auxiliary – who will actually accept women pilots, but I haven’t enough hours clocked up.’

Suzanne’s eyes were warm with sympathy. ‘Do you know who’s in charge?’

‘Yes, it’s a Miss Pauline Gower. In fact, I’ve just finished writing a letter to her to apply.’ Raine waved the envelope in front of her sister. ‘But I don’t hold out much hope. She wants girls … women with a lot more experience than I’ve got – even though I know damned well I could be trained to do the job.’

Suzanne gave her a hug. ‘Well, at least you’ll have tried. And you know what? I have a strong feeling this Miss Gower might make an exception for you.’

Raine hugged her back. ‘You’ve always been my greatest fan,’ she chuckled. ‘But I’m concerned about you. Maman will go mad if you don’t keep up your lessons. Which you would have to forego if you really wanted to do something worthwhile in the war.’

‘It’d be worth it,’ Suzanne said soberly. ‘I can pick it up again when the war’s over. People are saying it shouldn’t last more than another year.’

‘It’s barely started as far as Great Britain is concerned,’ Raine said. ‘Our boys are still fighting off the Luftwaffe, so I think we’re in for a long haul. They said at the start of the Great War that it would be over by Christmas, which was only a few months away … and look how long that one lasted – four terrible years for those poor soldiers in the trenches. Who knows how bad this one will get before Mr Hitler realises he’ll never get the better of us.’

It was only five days later, on a crisp autumn morning, that the postman handed Raine a typed addressed envelope. She didn’t dare think it might be from Miss Gower. She glanced at the postmark: Hatfield. She couldn’t help her lips curving in a smile. This letter could change her life.

‘Looks like it’s good news,’ he said, giving her a wink.

‘I hope so.’

She stood outside the garden gate watching the postman cycle off whistling, and contrary to her father’s instructions to always use a letter opener, she ripped the envelope open where she stood and withdrew a folded sheet.

Until I open it I can believe Miss Gower is inviting me for an interview , she thought, the letter trembling a little in her hand. But if it’s not – sorry, you haven’t enough experience … Raine momentarily shut her eyes. But suppose it’s good news … I’d then know …

Dear Miss Linfoot,

Thank you for your letter. I was most interested to read that you are already a qualified pilot with a certain number of flying hours.

Raine’s heart leapt with excitement. She read on.

It is urgent that we recruit more ferry pilots and we are able to take a certain number of experienced women pilots. Unfortunately, I’m afraid all the places were immediately filled. However, I have put your name on a waiting list and will contact you if the situation changes. In the meantime, I suggest you join the WAAFs, as at least you will be in your chosen environment.

Yours sincerely,

Pauline Gower (Commanding Officer)

Raine stumbled to the front door, tears pouring down her cheeks without a sound, and rushed up to her bedroom. She threw herself on the bed and sobbed. How ridiculous, now the country was at war, to turn qualified pilots away, whether they happened to be female or male. There must be hundreds of women like her who wanted to do their bit for their country.

After thumping her pillow and using a few choice words, she finally got up and found a handkerchief to blow her nose. Then she went to the bathroom to splash her face. She stared at herself in the mirror, her eyes pink and puffy. She actually looked beaten. What on earth was she going to do? If she’d never dreamed of being a pilot, she would have signed up to join the WAAFs like a shot. But it would be too frustrating for her to wear the uniform and talk to male pilots, all the while knowing she would never be allowed to fly, even though she was as qualified as they were.

‘As though I’m some sort of inferior being,’ she said aloud.

Sniffing and brushing away her tears, Raine pulled the letter from her coat pocket and reread it. Miss Gower promised – well, not promised, exactly – but said she would contact her if the situation changed. In other words, if Miss Gower was given permission to take on more women. Raine supposed at least that was something. A glimmer of hope.

What to do in the meantime?

She wasn’t in the mood to think straight right now. The library. She’d cycle into Bromley and have a good look round. Libraries were full of information. She heard her mother in the kitchen so she put her head in the door.

‘Maman, I’m just going to the library to change some books.’

Her mother was peeling potatoes for dinner.

‘You’ll be back by one?’ she asked, looking up. ‘Are you all right, Lorraine? You look as though you’ve been crying.’

‘It’s probably a cold coming on,’ Raine said. ‘And yes, I should be back by one.’

That would give her plenty of time to calm down. Try to think sensibly what to do.

Mrs Jones, the elderly library assistant, looked up as Raine walked in and put her three books on the library counter. She smiled as she recognised her customer.

‘Hello, dear. Are you looking for anything in particular today?’

‘Not really,’ Raine answered. ‘Um, that is, I don’t suppose you have any information on the ATA, do you?’

Mrs Jones pushed her spectacles up her nose. ‘The ATA? I’m afraid you’ll have to enlighten me, dear.’

Raine explained, but Mrs Jones remained looking nonplussed.

‘I’ve never heard of it,’ she said. ‘Perhaps the librarian will know. I’ll have a word with her when she comes in later. But I have something that might interest you – if you’re set on aeroplanes, that is.’

Raine followed her over to a table with a couple of daily newspapers and a few out-of-date magazines.

‘Ah, here it is.’ Mrs Jones pounced on a magazine displaying drawings of several different aeroplanes on the cover. ‘A gentleman brought this in, in case one of our readers was interested.’ She took off her steel-rimmed glasses and smiled at Raine. ‘You’re welcome to have it, dear.’

‘Oh, thank you,’ Raine said, taking the magazine and glancing at the name: Flight. ‘I haven’t seen this one in the newsagents’. How kind of you to think of me.’ She gave Mrs Jones a beaming smile. ‘I shall really enjoy reading this.’

‘Is there anything else I can help you with?’

‘No, thanks. I’ll just have a look around the shelves.’

She passed a table where there were some pamphlets about a dance on at the Palais in Bromley. She picked one up and put it in her bag without looking at it. She hadn’t been out for a long time. Perhaps that was just what was needed to cheer her up.

That evening, before supper, when Raine was in their shared room, she read Miss Gower’s letter to Suzanne.

‘Oh, Raine, how disappointing.’ Her sister regarded her. ‘What are you going to do?’

‘Good question. I wish I knew.’

‘Well, you must write to this Miss Gower and thank her,’ Suzanne said firmly. ‘Maman taught us that. Tell her how disappointed you are but thank her very much for putting you on her waiting list. And that you look forward to hearing further if things change. No, on second thoughts not “if”, but when things change. Because they’re bound to with so many of our soldiers losing their lives.’ She blinked away a tear.