We'll meet again

She was a very accomplished young lady. Lady Anne Tarragon-Lee was her name. She was sophisticated, clever, somewhat haughty, and I was rather flattered, I think, that she should show me some attention. I don't know how I could have been so foolish, but those were the first days of the war when everything seemed exciting. We were all waiting for the battle to start, and you know there was the long wait. It seemed like an unreal war. For me, army life was like being at school again. I felt irresponsible, I suppose, and I can't quite explain how it happened. It seemed wonderful at the time.”

I was so amazed that I remained silent. Richard, whom I had always thought to be so practical, so full of common sense, to have married rashly! It was hard for me to believe.

He understood my feelings, for he said: "I see it is difficult for you to understand. It was the times, I suppose. We were all a little bemused then.”

"And you are no longer bemused?”

He nodded. "I soon realized the folly of what I had done.”

He paused and, as he did so, I heard the air raid warning, faint at first but growing louder.

He disregarded it. After all, we were accustomed to hearing its frequent wail.

I said: "And now... where is your wife?”

"I have no idea.”

"Do you not see each other?”

We started as the crunch of a falling bomb hit the air.

"Not far off," commented Richard, then: "I hope they are not coming this way." He went on: "I think she is as eager to be free as lam.”

"There will be a divorce?”

"I expect so. There are many like us. We rush into these wartime marriages and then have to concern ourselves with getting out of them.”

"Well, if you both feel that way, it will be easier, I suppose.”

We heard the bomb fall, nearer this time; we sat listening to the sound of falling masonry.

Richard said: "That was very close. I think we had better get out of here.”

I rose, prepared to go down to the basement which was used as a shelter for the flat dwellers. I picked up my coat and handbag and we went to the door, but we did not reach it, for suddenly the earth seemed to open and I was falling. Richard was not there. My eyes and mouth were full of dust. I was lying down and then the darkness descended.

I awoke in a bed in an unfamiliar room. I noticed other beds.

When I saw the girl in a nurse's uniform, I realized I was in hospital.

Then I vaguely remembered being in the flat and hearing the falling bombs.

Richard, I thought immediately. Where was Richard? We had been together on our way to the basement... and then this had happened.

The nurse came and stood by my bed.

"Hello," she said. "Feel all right?”

"Where am I?”

"St. Thomas's.”

"Hospital?" I said.

"That's it. Nasty shock, was it?”

"We were bombed, of course.”

"That's it... along with others. It was a bad night.”

"My friend?”

"Oh yes, he's all right. I mean he's here. He came off worse than you did.”

"Can I see him?”

"Not now, dear. See if you can drop off. A sleep will do you the world of good.”

"What time is it?" I asked.

She looked at the watch pinned on her blouse.

"Just on two.”

"In the morning?”

"In the afternoon, dear.”

"So all this time ...”

"Now, you get some rest.”

"But I must know.”

"You're all right. You've been lucky." I could see she was not prepared to give me any more information.

I felt tired and dazed, unable to remember in detail what had actually happened.

I must have slept and when I awoke it was to see my parents at my bedside. My mother was watching me anxiously.

"Oh, she's come round," I heard her say. "Violetta ... darling ... it's all right. We're here, your father and I and Dorabella.

We came as soon as we heard.”

"It was a bomb," I said.

She sat there, holding my hand; my father was on the other side of the bed. I saw Dorabella and the concern in all their faces.

I felt too tired to think, but I was certainly comforted to know they were there.

The next day I felt a great deal better. My mother said I had been in shock. Apparently the bomb had demolished a house nearby and what we had felt was the force of the explosion. It had damaged the block of flats considerably; the roof had fallen in and the windows were all shattered. We were lucky not to have been nearer to the bombed house.

Two people had been killed and a number injured.

I was told I could leave the hospital the next day.

Fortunately, I was able to see Richard before I went. Although he had suffered more than I had, I was relieved to see that he was not seriously hurt.

His face was grazed and he had lost a certain amount of blood through a wound in his leg, but nothing was broken and the doctors said that in a week or so he could leave the hospital, though the leg would undoubtedly need further attention.

My mother said that when he was well enough he must come down to Caddington. She was taking me off at once.