At the end of July, William said, ‘Kitchener’s called for more volunteers. They say over two million men have enlisted already, many forming units from their own home towns.’
Pips nodded. ‘Yes, I’d heard that. There’s a battalion that’s already been formed at Grimsby, isn’t there? They call themselves the “Grimsby Chums”.’
‘There’ve been several. “The Sheffield Pals” and “The Accrington Pals”, to name but two.’
William and Pips looked at each other solemnly.
‘And they go into battle side by side, don’t they?’
‘I think that was the idea. That they’d go together, fight together . . .’
‘And die together,’ Pips whispered. ‘Just like George said.’
Though neither said any more, they were both thinking about William’s brothers who had joined up together.
Towards the end of September, six divisions of the British army took part in an offensive at Loos. Although this was still in support of the larger French attack in the third battle of Artois, it was the biggest offensive by the British in the war so far.
‘Our side are going to use poison gas this time,’ Giles told Pips.
‘It’s despicable. It should be banned as a weapon of war.’
‘War’s not a sport, Pips,’ Giles snapped. ‘It’s kill or be killed.’
Pips glared at him, trying to think of an answer, but there was none.
The next few months found Dr Hazelwood’s team following various battalions of the British army wherever there was serious fighting. There was limited success at Loos, but eventually the battle petered out in the middle of October.
‘Why don’t we take it in turns to go home on leave this time?’ Robert said. ‘Surely you’d like to go to Scarborough, wouldn’t you, Giles? And you, Alice, wouldn’t you like to be at home for the birth of your nephew or niece? It’s due about the beginning of December, your mother said in her letter, didn’t she?’
‘It would be nice,’ Alice murmured. ‘But what about you and Pips? I’m sure your parents must be longing to see you. We’ve been gone over a year now.’
‘Tell you what, why don’t you and Giles go first, Pips – for a week or so – and then Alice and I will go when you get back. If we’re lucky, we’ll catch the birth, but we must leave a skeleton staff here in case something hots up again, although I doubt it now winter has set in.’
‘That sounds like a plan.’ Pips grinned, her eyes shining at the thought of spending a week or so with Giles. Although later, she told him laughingly, ‘I’m afraid it will be separate bedrooms at the hall, under Mother’s eagle eye.’
This time, William was not even asked if he wanted to go home; sadly, they all knew what his answer would be.
‘Philippa! And Giles too. What a wonderful surprise,’ Henrietta greeted them as the maid showed the two into the parlour. She threw down her knitting and rose to greet them, arms outstretched. ‘But why didn’t you let us know you were coming?’
‘We wanted to surprise you and we know you always keep the rooms aired, so – here we are.’
‘I’ll be going on a brief visit to Scarborough to visit my parents,’ Giles told her.
‘Of course.’ Henrietta’s face sobered. ‘I was so sorry to hear about the attack on the town. It must have been terrifying for everyone.’
Giles smiled thinly and nodded.
At dinner that evening, they deliberately tried to avoid talking about their work, but instead plied Henrietta and Edwin with questions about life here at home.
‘We’ve had our first casualty – fatality, I should say – in the village. One of the lads who volunteered at the same time as the Dawson brothers has been killed.’
‘D’you know where?’
Henrietta shook her head.
‘Who was it? Oh no – don’t tell me it was Sam Nuttall?’
‘No – it was Mrs Layne’s only son and she’s a widow too, poor woman. I’ve been doing what I can to comfort her and the other villagers are being very supportive, but nothing helps, really, does it?’
Pips shook her head, unable to speak. All those brave young men she’d witnessed dying – they were all someone’s sons. Now she was seeing the other side of the tragedy; the families coping with the loss.
She sprang up from the table. ‘I don’t suppose we’ve any horses left at all now, have we?’
‘Sadly, no,’ Edwin said.
‘Then I’ll take Robert’s motorcycle out for a spin.’
‘Oh Philippa, do . . .’ Henrietta began, but her daughter was gone before she uttered the final words, ‘be careful.’
Giles smiled down the table. ‘Don’t worry, Mrs Maitland. She’ll be fine.’
‘That must be Miss Pips home,’ Ma remarked as the noisy machine passed the cottage. ‘No one rides that thing like she does.’
‘I wonder if she’ll call to see us. I’d like to know how Alice is getting on. We haven’t had a letter from her in ages.’
‘No,’ Ma murmured and forbore to add, Nor from William. She doubted they’d ever hear from him again. Even if he survived the war, she didn’t think he would ever come home.
On her way back, Pips stopped outside the cottage, propped the motorcycle against the wall and sat down beside Ma.
‘Nah, then, Miss Pips. How are you?’
‘Fine, Ma. And you?’
‘Not so bad for an owd ’un. How’s our Alice?’ She bent closer to Pips and whispered, ‘And how’s William? The others make out they don’t want to know, but I do.’
‘They’re both fine. Alice is coming home in a week or so for a visit, when Giles and I get back. We can’t all be away together.’ She too lowered her voice as she added, ‘And William works very hard and does a wonderful job. And a dangerous one too, I might add. It’s so sad that his family don’t realize just what he is doing. You’d all be very proud of him if only you knew.’
‘Ah well, Miss Pips, you’re not going to change their minds, so it’s not worth you trying. But I’m glad you told me. I can think of him again with love and pride – like I always have.’
‘You most certainly can, Ma,’ Pips said softly. ‘And now, I’d better be off or my mother will be having seven fits that I’m lying on the roadside somewhere.’
Pips did not go with Giles to visit his parents. ‘Plenty of time for me to meet them when the war’s over,’ she told him, ‘and we can plan our future.’ She squeezed his hand and whispered, ‘We’ll stay overnight in Boulogne or wherever we land on our way back. That’s a promise.’