Clive Ward - Trench 31

‘Thank you, it’s lovely, I will Charlotte. I promise.’

Archie smiled, leant towards her and kissed her on the lips, then held her close.

‘Thank you, I’ll wear it forever.’

Archie then looked at his watch. ‘It’s getting late Charlotte, it’s time for you to head home, or your brother and father will be on the war path.’

‘You’re right, I’m sorry that my brother is a little over protective Archie, he’s a really good person when you get to know him you know.’

‘I’m sure he is, after all he’s only doing what I’d do, looking out for his little sister.’

Archie was from a large family and was the youngest of the seven offspring. He had two sisters and four brothers and all four of his older brothers worked at the local foundry. Archie had also been working at the foundry since he was fifteen but he wanted more than that. Archie wanted to see the world, so he volunteered to join up, thinking it could be his only chance to get out of his home town of Derby and go places.

Glancing over his shoulder Archie caught sight of two figures in the distance. Charlotte’s older brother David and David’s best mate, Bertie, were walking up the embankment towards them.

At twenty-two, David was the oldest child of the Manning family. At six feet three and powerfully built, David Manning was someone you definitely didn’t want to get on the wrong side of. His sister, Charlotte, was eighteen, and his brother, Michael, was fifteen and still at school. David had just finished his apprenticeship as a butcher when the call came.

‘Maybe it’s time that we left, Charlotte,’ suggested Archie, nodding his head in the direction of the approaching two men. ‘Your brother doesn’t look best pleased.’

Charlotte and Archie stood up and brushed themselves down. It wasn’t long before David reached them and had Archie in a firm grip.

‘Let go of my shirt David Manning, right now!’

David began to push Archie around like a school ground bully.

‘Let go◦– or what? Tell me, what are you going to do little boy?’

‘You think I’m scared of you, well I’m not,’ stated Archie, sounding more confident that he felt.

Charlotte pushed her way between them.

‘Stop it David, leave him alone, he hasn’t done anything to you and he’s not a little boy, you’re the one who’s behaving like a little boy, so grow up. Tell him to stop please Bertie,’ Charlotte pleaded with her brother’s friend.

‘Yes, let go of him old man,’ Bertie said.

Bertram Ward (Bertie) detested violence of any kind. At school, he always stood up to the bullies, but having his best friend David around to watch his back helped.

At the age of just twelve, Bertram often gave sermons at the local Church. He could speak Latin and left school the top of his class. Bertram was destined for the top, until the war interrupted his progress. Bertram also had a habit of questioning authority, which often got him into trouble.

‘What have I told you about seeing my sister? I have a good mind to give you a bloody good hiding,’ threatened David.

‘Take your hands off me, I can do what I want, and anyway you’re not her father.’

Just as a fight looked certain to break out between them, they were all stopped short by the sound of a passing train.

‘That’ll be the sixteen-forty-five from Crewe, if I’m not mistaken,’ said Bertram looking at his pocket watch.

The train was packed with troops and some of the men waved from the windows of the carriages as it trundled slowly towards Derby Station.

‘I wonder where they are going?’ said Charlotte.

‘They’re off to the front most probably, just like me and you will be, eh Bertie,’ said David proudly.

The long line of train carriages chugged away into the distance and out of sight.

‘So, you’ve both joined up then?’ Archie asked.

‘We report to Normanton Barracks next month, it’s probably the worst decision I’ve ever made in my short life because God knows what I’ve let myself in for,’ Bertram replied.

‘Will you stop worrying Bertie, nothing will happen to you, you’re with me remember, so you’ll be alright,’ assured David.

When the First World War broke out, recruiting offices all over the country were besieged by volunteers eager to sign up and fight. In some places the recruiters couldn’t cope and men were sent home and told to report the next day. Believe it or not there were even reports of queue jumping.

David suddenly remembered he had unfinished business with Archie and he started to poke Archie hard in the chest with his finger.

‘And you! You definitely won’t be alright! I don’t want you going near my sister while I’m away, do you hear me?’ threatened David.

‘Tell him Archie, please!’ Charlotte pleaded.

‘I’m not speaking to him. Not until he apologises for assaulting me… and if he pokes me one more time…’

‘Tell me what?’ interrupted David.

‘Archie’s going with you, aren’t you Archie, he joins up on the same day that you do.’

‘Are you old chap?’ asked Bertram smiling. ‘Welcome to the gang, did you hear that David, he’s one of us, so leave the man alone.’

David turned to Bertram and gave him a look of disdain.

‘So, you needn’t worry about Archie because he won’t be anywhere near me, but I will be waiting for him to come home and there’s nothing you can do about that brother!’ said Charlotte, heatedly.

David went quiet. He was momentarily lost for words. He paced up and down whilst mulling things over. Then he suddenly stopped and turned to address Archie.

‘Ok listen’ began David ‘If you want to carry on courting my sister you have to do the honourable thing and ask my father’s permission.’

‘No, he doesn’t David,’ protested Charlotte.

‘It’s ok Charlotte,’ assured Archie. ‘I’m willing to do that.’

David started to laugh.

‘You might want to rethink your decision Archie, personally I’d rather go to war,’ said Bertram.

‘When?’ Archie asked.

‘How about tomorrow at five o’clock?’ suggested David. ‘I’ll let my father know that we’ll be having one more guest for tea.’

David offered Archie his hand and said ‘let’s seal the deal.’ Archie shook David’s hand firmly.

‘Seal your fate more like,’ said Charlotte, who was not happy at the turn of events.

Archie drew Charlotte to one side. ‘Surely it won’t be that bad?’ asked Archie, who was feeling a little uneasy following Charlotte’s comment.

‘You haven’t met my father, have you?’ Charlotte replied.

‘Come on Charlotte, it’s time you were home, and you Butler, had better not be late tomorrow. If there’s one thing my father can’t stand, it’s lateness!’ David shouted over his shoulder as he turned to leave.

David and Bertram walked away, laughing together as they strode back down the embankment. Archie leaned over and kissed Charlotte on the cheek.

‘I’ll see you tomorrow then… oh and thanks for the locket.’

Charlotte hurried off to join her brother and Bertie. She looked back, smiled and waved at Archie.

Archie was dressed in his Sunday best and felt rather nervous as he stood outside the Manning residence. He braced himself to knock on the door, then hesitated, he suddenly had second thoughts about meeting Charlotte’s father. He turned to leave but it was too late, the door opened.

‘Bloody hell, you made it then. You’re braver than I thought Butler, come on in,’ said David. ‘We’ve all been waiting for you.’ There was a friendlier tone to David’s voice when he spoke to Archie today.