‘You’ve chosen the right day to come here, sir, and check up on us.’
Captain Norris sat back and studied the man in front of him. They had met on the beaches at Dunkirk, and had been firm friends ever since. ‘You look pleased with yourself.’
‘I’m hoping this find will be enough to release me from this detail – sir.’
‘Cut out the “sir”, Jack, there’s no one else here. Tell me what this is about. If it’s as good as you obviously think, I’ll see what I can do about releasing you from interviewing young women. Though it’s a duty most men would enjoy.’
‘Then give it to one of them. I’ve had enough!’
‘All right.’ The captain laughed. ‘I’ll get you back to your beloved tanks. Now, what have you got for me?’
‘Read that.’ Jack handed over the letter and waited, watching the captain’s expression carefully.
After reading it through twice, he looked up. ‘I met Major Chester briefly once. He was in a bad way, and I’m pleased to know he survived. What is this girl like?’
‘Bright, speaks her mind when she needs to, and appears to be strong-minded. I have the feeling she would take responsibility and act on her own initiative.’
‘You’ve deduced all of that in one short interview?’
‘Ah, well, I wasn’t as polite as I should have been, and she told me off very firmly.’
‘Did she?’ The captain was on his feet. ‘Take me to her.’
To pass the time while she waited, Grace gazed around the busy room. There were several tables, and the women in the queue went to an empty one when their turn came. Most of the recruitment officers appeared to be polite, making the girls feel welcome. It had been her misfortune to get one who would rather be somewhere else.
Her interviewer was returning, and he wasn’t alone. She wished she knew what Dan had said in that letter, because it had certainly caused a reaction. She wasn’t quite sure if that was good or bad.
‘Mrs Lincoln, I’m Captain Norris.’ He sat down at the table. ‘I understand you want to join the ATS.’
‘I’m thinking about it.’
He smiled. ‘Your qualifications are excellent. Major Chester regarded you highly, and I am sure the service would be pleased to have you – should you decide to join.’
‘Could you tell me what kind of work I would be asked to do?’
‘That would be decided after you have completed the basic training. I can’t make any promises at this point, you understand, but your chances of obtaining a responsible position are good.’
Grace nodded. She would have liked to know before joining, but that obviously wasn’t the way it worked.
He smiled again. ‘What is your decision, Mrs Lincoln?’
Her hesitation was only a second or two. ‘Where do I sign?’
Both officers smiled now, and the captain stood up to shake her hand.
‘Lieutenant Greaves will deal with the necessary paperwork.’ He nodded to the other officer. ‘Bring the papers to me when they are signed. I will attach Major Chester’s reference to them and add a few comments of my own.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Lincoln.’
Grace watched him walk away, and then sat down again, ready to take this next step. ‘What happens now?’ she asked, handing the signed form over to the officer.
‘You will receive an official letter telling you where to report. Then, as already mentioned, there will be the basic training. After that it will be decided what kind of job you will be doing.’
‘Do I have any say in the matter?’
His smile was wry. ‘Not a lot, as a rule, but your chances could be better than a lot of the new recruits. The reference from Major Chester will carry weight. I’m sure you will be all right.’
‘We’ll see, won’t we?’ She smiled and stood up. ‘And I hope you soon get an assignment more to your liking, Lieutenant. Major Chester hated being tied to a desk, as well.’
The officer laughed. ‘You recognised the signs, but you
Captain Norris sat back and studied the man in front of him. They had met on the beaches at Dunkirk, and had been firm friends ever since. ‘You look pleased with yourself.’
‘I’m hoping this find will be enough to release me from this detail – sir.’
‘Cut out the “sir”, Jack, there’s no one else here. Tell me what this is about. If it’s as good as you obviously think, I’ll see what I can do about releasing you from interviewing young women. Though it’s a duty most men would enjoy.’
‘Then give it to one of them. I’ve had enough!’
‘All right.’ The captain laughed. ‘I’ll get you back to your beloved tanks. Now, what have you got for me?’
‘Read that.’ Jack handed over the letter and waited, watching the captain’s expression carefully.
After reading it through twice, he looked up. ‘I met Major Chester briefly once. He was in a bad way, and I’m pleased to know he survived. What is this girl like?’
‘Bright, speaks her mind when she needs to, and appears to be strong-minded. I have the feeling she would take responsibility and act on her own initiative.’
‘You’ve deduced all of that in one short interview?’
‘Ah, well, I wasn’t as polite as I should have been, and she told me off very firmly.’
‘Did she?’ The captain was on his feet. ‘Take me to her.’
To pass the time while she waited, Grace gazed around the busy room. There were several tables, and the women in the queue went to an empty one when their turn came. Most of the recruitment officers appeared to be polite, making the girls feel welcome. It had been her misfortune to get one who would rather be somewhere else.
Her interviewer was returning, and he wasn’t alone. She wished she knew what Dan had said in that letter, because it had certainly caused a reaction. She wasn’t quite sure if that was good or bad.
‘Mrs Lincoln, I’m Captain Norris.’ He sat down at the table. ‘I understand you want to join the ATS.’
‘I’m thinking about it.’
He smiled. ‘Your qualifications are excellent. Major Chester regarded you highly, and I am sure the service would be pleased to have you – should you decide to join.’
‘Could you tell me what kind of work I would be asked to do?’
‘That would be decided after you have completed the basic training. I can’t make any promises at this point, you understand, but your chances of obtaining a responsible position are good.’
Grace nodded. She would have liked to know before joining, but that obviously wasn’t the way it worked.
He smiled again. ‘What is your decision, Mrs Lincoln?’
Her hesitation was only a second or two. ‘Where do I sign?’
Both officers smiled now, and the captain stood up to shake her hand.
‘Lieutenant Greaves will deal with the necessary paperwork.’ He nodded to the other officer. ‘Bring the papers to me when they are signed. I will attach Major Chester’s reference to them and add a few comments of my own.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Lincoln.’
Grace watched him walk away, and then sat down again, ready to take this next step. ‘What happens now?’ she asked, handing the signed form over to the officer.
‘You will receive an official letter telling you where to report. Then, as already mentioned, there will be the basic training. After that it will be decided what kind of job you will be doing.’
‘Do I have any say in the matter?’
His smile was wry. ‘Not a lot, as a rule, but your chances could be better than a lot of the new recruits. The reference from Major Chester will carry weight. I’m sure you will be all right.’
‘We’ll see, won’t we?’ She smiled and stood up. ‘And I hope you soon get an assignment more to your liking, Lieutenant. Major Chester hated being tied to a desk, as well.’
The officer laughed. ‘You recognised the signs, but you
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