Shadows of Deceit (33 page)

“Yes Roisin, of course. We’re both alone by the sound of it so to have someone watching out for me would be great.”

“Do you have any family around?” Roisin asked whilst looking into her handbag. “Here it is, would you take this with you on the mission?” She handed Harry her Rosary.

“I shall be glad to carry it, if you’re sure, and I promise I’ll try and return it to you before too long. That’s a brilliant idea of yours, thank you. To answer your question, I’ve a married brother living in London, but we rarely see each other. So there’s no one else really.”

The music from the social finished and very quickly the area became deserted and quiet.

“Its been good meeting you Harry.”

“Let me walk you down to your quarters.”

They linked arms and slowly walked towards the WAAF dormitories at the bottom of the hill.

“I’ll remember this evening Harry, good luck on your travels.”

As they reached the WAAF’s perimeter fence Harry turned to face Roisin,

“Thank you for finding me.”

He kissed her on the cheek as she held his hands. She then moved her hands up behind his back and kissed him briefly on the lips,

“There that’s better, take care Harry.”

“Goodbye for now Roisin. I wish I’d met you earlier.”

Harry returned the kiss and held her tightly in his arms,

“For now Roisin, goodbye for now.”

“I’ll remember you Harry, take care.”

With that they parted and Harry returned to his quarters.

As the time grew nearer the men were informed that their task was to make a surprise descent by glider at the lowest crossing point of the Orne River in Normandy. They were to land behind enemy lines and capture and hold the bridge that crosses the Orne and adjacent canal until relieved by subsequent troop arrivals the following day. Each man was given details to memorise of the layout of the territory together with safe houses they could go to if they became isolated. A message from General Montgomery was relayed to each combatant,

“On the eve of this great adventure, I send my best wishes to every soldier in the Allied Team.

To us is given the honour to strike a blow for freedom, which will live in history, and in better days that lie ahead men will speak with pride of their doings.

We have a great righteous cause. Let us pray that the Lord mighty in battle will go forward with our armies and that His special Providence will aid us in our struggle.

I want every soldier to know that I have complete confidence in the successful outcome of the operations we are now about to begin.

With stout hearts and enthusiasm for the contest, let us go forward to victory.

Good luck to each of you. Good hunting on the mainland of Europe.”

On the evening of D Day minus one they climbed aboard their craft and were quickly ascending through the night sky towards the channel. The men sang as they crossed the sea eager to temporarily obliterate what lay ahead for them. Their final rendition before landing was ‘Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer.’

At the French coast the tow ropes were jettisoned and the navigator guided the craft onward towards the target area. As the tug aircraft engines roared away the men were left with an utter silence that enveloped them. The tug craft flew towards Caen and raided an industrial target as a diversionary measure to draw enemy attention away from the river. The troops in the gliders quickly realised they were now alone and undefended. At 3,500 feet they followed the parallel course of the Orne Canal towards the bridge, codenamed ‘Pegasus.’ At just below 1000 feet the flaps were adjusted and they descended swiftly, unannounced and soundlessly towards the fields below. Only when the men focused their eyes on the landing ground ahead did they notice the hedgerows, ditches and barbed wire defences strewn across their approach.

Upon impact the cockpit windows of many craft were ripped apart allowing the detritus of farm implements, vegetation and wire defences to be sucked deep within their bellies fatally injuring many inside. Harry’s glider was fifth in line and in the final 100 feet of descent all onboard began shouting, fearing for their lives as the unexpected hazards below could be clearly seen zooming towards them now illuminated by the moon. Their pilot had to swerve violently to avoid hitting two badly damaged gliders already grounded. But this manoeuvre swung them towards a nearby barn. Their wing clipped the roof and disintegrated forcing the nose to dive into a deep ditch surrounded by fencing. Harry’s voice became the loudest in his craft,

“Shi…shi…shit!

…. -My God we’ve landed, get out lads – Quick follow me!”

At Rushton Tarrant, Roisin listened for the reports coming back from Normandy. Later that evening she returned to her dormitory alone and played a recording of ‘Moonlight Serenade’ over and over again with tears in her eyes.

The following morning she joined other friends in the kitchen and listened to an open air service broadcast on the wireless from a bombed out church in central London …

“Roisin!” Her room-mate distracted her,

“Sorry, I meant to tell you, there’s an envelope for you in the registry.”

“Probably an invoice for the money I owe at the NAAFI.”

She said, feeling a bit doleful.

Roisin walked across to collect it and read the enclosed note as she rejoined her group. The radio broadcast was continuing.

“As this service draws to a close the congregation look out towards the mighty dome of St Pauls Cathedral nearby, its stonework stained and sooted. But it remains indomitable, resilient, sure and steadfast. And this mighty symbol of hope must remain with us today as our armed forces together with our stalwart allies take the word
freedom
back into Europe…

And now one of the youngest choristers here will end the service by reminding us all of the great sacrifices made in bringing us to this juncture…

‘They went with songs to the battle

They were young, straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted

They fell with their faces to the foe

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again

They sit no more at familiar tables of home

They have no lot in our labour of the day–time

They sleep beyond England’s foam.’

Just then a WAAF officer burst into the room,

“Roisin, come up to the office quickly you’re needed.”

“What?” Roisin said confused, “I’m not on duty until two.”

“There’s a list coming through from the Orne assault, we thought you’d like to know.”

With this Roisin grabbed her coat and ran up the hill towards the communications hut. Once inside she saw several of her colleagues scanning through the various signals. She was now breathless and had to stop to calm herself down so that she could focus on the news before her. She read the documents.

‘…..Report…. Pegasus…list of casualties, missing in action...wounded. Remaining men successfully took and held the bridge...once they are relieved these troops will move on towards Caen within a few days…’

Roisin was now shivering with excitement as she re-read the report.

She then walked out into the sunshine and looked to the far southern horizon. Oblivious to anyone nearby she sank slowly to her knees, crossed herself and said,

‘Harry I’m waiting. God bless you. Harry God bless you…’

She lowered her head and kissed the bright ruby ring she was wearing.