‘Good. You’ll need to rely heavily on each other. So, knowing you get along together will be important. Let me know if Nurse Marcheson should, by any chance, decline to accompany you and you’ll have to find someone else.’
‘Oh, she will be fine, I’m sure,’ Tilly said, hoping Fliss would not be too cross at her for volunteering her services without consulting her first.
Chapter 29
‘You’ve said we’ll do what?’ Fliss demanded after Tilly broke the news. ‘I can’t believe what I’m hearing. This just about takes the biscuit. It’s one thing being sent to this godforsaken part of the world, but driving an ambulance across the desert? Well . . . I’m actually speechless, Tilly.’
‘We’ll have an armed guard with us,’ Tilly explained, trying to placate her irate friend.
‘That’s not the point,’ Fliss complained. ‘We’re putting our lives at risk. An armed guard, you say. How many men?’
‘Only one, I’m afraid.’
‘One soldier? What if we meet a German battalion? One soldier will be no good against them,’ Fliss fumed.
Tilly decided that it was best to give Fliss time to let it sink in. She was sure she would come around.
‘You don’t have to say yes right away,’ she said. ‘Think about it.’
‘It’s time we should be back on duty,’ Fliss said.
They scrubbed up ready to do their work on the ward and walked together over to the main building. En route they passed Captain Davis talking to some troops. He broke off the conversation to acknowledge Tilly.
‘Ah, Nurse Truscott, and this is Nurse Marcheson, I presume. Were you just on your way to accept the assignment? I’ve saved you some time,’ the captain said.
Tilly looked at Fliss.
‘Captain Davis, pleased to meet you,’ said Fliss. ‘I would be honoured to accept.’
Tilly was astounded.
‘Good, that’s settled, then. You will be taking Captain Anderson and a Private Jenkins who needs brain surgery that can’t be performed here. Report to the ambulance station at oh-five-hundred hours on Tuesday. You have two days to prepare yourselves and equip the ambulance for the journey. You leave early to avoid being spotted by the German patrols. Should take you approximately two days to cross the desert. The worst section is east of Sallum. You should reach that point after one day if you don’t encounter any obstacles.’
‘Obstacles being?’
‘I won’t pull any punches. There will be minefields to negotiate. Once you have passed the outskirts of the city, it’s unlikely that you will meet any patrols as the greater part of the German forces are deployed in trying to win back Tobruk,’ the captain said. ‘There will be an armed guard taking you for some distance to the outskirts of the city, but Sapper Wilson will be your only guard en route to Alexandria. He’s a very good shot and an expert at defusing mines. We can’t spare any more men, I’m afraid. Bon voyage, ladies, and the best of luck.’
‘Well,’ Tilly said when the captain had left them. ‘You changed your tune. That wouldn’t be anything to do with our Captain Davis having an inviting smile and very hypnotic eyes, would it?’
‘I won’t deny I found him attractive,’ Fliss replied. ‘And it’s very hard to say no to an attractive man.’
Fliss put her arm through Tilly’s and they giggled together as they headed off to their duties.
* * *
Tuesday morning came quickly and they assisted their two patients into the ambulance. It was well stocked with all the medical equipment they might need and enough blankets for the cold desert nights. They met with Sapper Wilson and he introduced himself.
‘You can call me Bert if you like,’ he said.
Captain Anderson was mumbling to himself as they encouraged him on board and didn’t seem to know where he was going or why.
‘Lucky bugger. You’re going home to Blighty,’ Bert said, then looked at Tilly and Fliss. ‘I hope he doesn’t start shouting. When they get in that state, they’re often fighting off the enemy in their sleep. One thing that makes the lower ranks and the officers equal is that war is the great leveller. We’re all mortal and our brains can be affected just as badly in warfare as our bodies. Officers are no different to the rest of the men.’
The first day out of Tobruk was under a blisteringly hot sun. They were careful to ration the water and kept moving as much as possible, although there were times when the wheels of the ambulance got stuck and they had to all get out and push. Captain Anderson was often difficult to cajole into any form of action and on one of these occasions, he sat in the ambulance and refused to get out. He would curl himself into a ball with his hands over his ears and shout that he could hear overhead planes, that they would be shot down where they stood. Bert tried to get him on his feet, but he struggled and fought Bert off. He was stronger than he looked. His brain was shot but his body was still powerful. In the fight, one of the water containers was knocked over and the lid burst open spilling precious water onto the floor of the ambulance. Fliss saw what was happening and shouted at the two men.
‘You clumsy pair, look what you’re doing. Leave him, Bert.’
She reached for the water cannister and righted it.
