Johnny shuddered at the thought.
“Not me Alf. I want to be buried where I was born.”
Alf watched Johnny as he sketched the desert.
“You’re very good at drawing.”
“I loved art as school. I wanted to be an artist but my parents owned a farm and I spent all of my time helping them.”
“I know Johnny. You’ve told me many times before,” Alf said not minding that he’d heard it all before.
“Do you think Margaret will still love me?” Johnny had tears in his eyes.
Alf was surprised to see his friend like this.
“Yes of course she will.”
Johnny wiped away the tears.
“I mean when she sees my face,” he lightly touched the scars.
“Yes of course she will.”
Alf put his arm around Johnny and hugged him man to man.
The scars are getting better Johnny. You’re still the man Margaret fell in love with.”
Johnny dabbed at the tears with his fingertips. He started to laugh out of embarrassment.
“Look at me. The big, tough, war hero, crying.”
Two days later a Jeep drove into the camp. It did a large turning circle and pulled up outside Rushton’s tent. The Major came rushing out to greet the new officer. Colonel Thomas Higginbotham stood a head taller than the Major. At six feet six inches and well over two hundred pounds he was an imposing figure. He was also in a hurry. He always did everything as quickly as he could.
“Good morning Colonel,” Rushton saluted.
“John how are things going?” Higginbotham asked as they shook hands.
“Very well Tom.”
“Are the two engineers around? I will speak to them straight away.”
“Of course sir. Doyle fetch Sergeant Dennis and Private Larder.”
Two minutes later Alf and Johnny were standing before Colonel Tom Higginbotham. Rushton sat to the right. Doyle stood behind the engineers. Higginbotham looked the two of them up and down. Rather than tell the two of them to come back looking neater and smarter, he just glared at them and listened without interrupting as they once again told their story. He waited until Alf finished with….
“….And that’s exactly what happened sir.”
Higginbotham ran bits of what he’d heard through his mind, finally he turned to Rushton.
“John.”
“It’s an incredible story Sir.”
“Yes. Outstanding soldiering gentlemen! I’ve come from H.Q. General Bernard Montgomery has heard of your story and has read Major Rushton’s report.”
Both Alf and Johnny stiffened to attention at the mention of Monty’s name.
“Sergeant Dennis, yourself and Private Larder are to remain with the Long Range Desert Group until your unit can be re-located. Their exact whereabouts is not known at this time, but no matter, you will both be seconded to Major John Rushton here. Major Rushton will provide some tasks for you both. You will assist him in every way possible. Is that understood?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Yes Sir.”
’That’s not so bad’ Alf was thinking ’Could be weeks maybe even months. Working behind both friendly and enemy lines, new challenges, anything different to repairing roads, digging out abandoned vehicles or the very dangerous mines.
What Higginbotham said next brought Alf back.
“I beg your pardon Sir,” Alf wasn’t sure he’d heard right.
“You are promoted to Lieutenant. Did I not say it clearly enough?”
“Yes Sir. I’m just….well I’m very surprised Sir that’s all.”
“The General wouldn’t give you a commission if he didn’t feel that it wasn’t warranted. It’s important to remember that. Your commission will start once you’re back with your unit. For now here though you will carry the rank and privileges awarded you.”
“Yes Sir. Thank you Sir.”
Johnny wanted to shout with joy. His friend now an officer.
‘Alf you deserve it’
“Private Larder.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Your unit is now missing a Sergeant.”
Johnny hardly dared to breathe.
‘Could it be, just could it be?’
“Are you ready to step up to the challenge Sergeant Larder?”
Johnny’s face broke into a broad grin.
“Yes Sir.”
“It’s a big responsibility for a man your age. Are you quite sure you can handle it?”
“Yes Sir. I believe I’m the man you are looking for,” Johnny’s smile continued. All he could think of right now was about Margaret. Her fiance now a Sergeant. How proud she’d be on his arm when they walked into the pub.
“All relevant papers will arrive in due course. Your commission, yours too Sergeant.”
Johnny could still hardly believe it. It was like he was in a dream. Soon he would wake up and be disappointed it wasn’t real.
Higginbotham pushed his chair back and stood.
“Congratulations gentlemen and very well deserved.”
“Thank you Sir.”
They both saluted smartly.
“Now Major Rushton has something for you.”
They waited patiently while Higginbotham left the tent.
“I’ll need you both ready at dawn. We are to map an area to the North West around the town of Gabes. A total round trip of nearly two thousand miles. As for the rest of today,” he tapped a crate with eight bottles of beer in it. Relax, enjoy the day, sorry they’re not cold.”
“Thank you Sir,” they replied.
“I beg your pardon Sir,” Alf wasn’t sure he’d heard right.
“You are promoted to Lieutenant. Did I not say it clearly enough?”
“Yes Sir. I’m just….well I’m very surprised Sir that’s all.”
“The General wouldn’t give you a commission if he didn’t feel that it wasn’t warranted. It’s important to remember that. Your commission will start once you’re back with your unit. For now here though you will carry the rank and privileges awarded you.”
“Yes Sir. Thank you Sir.”
Johnny wanted to shout with joy. His friend now an officer.
‘Alf you deserve it’
“Private Larder.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Your unit is now missing a Sergeant.”
Johnny hardly dared to breathe.
‘Could it be, just could it be?’
“Are you ready to step up to the challenge Sergeant Larder?”
Johnny’s face broke into a broad grin.
“Yes Sir.”
“It’s a big responsibility for a man your age. Are you quite sure you can handle it?”
“Yes Sir. I believe I’m the man you are looking for,” Johnny’s smile continued. All he could think of right now was about Margaret. Her fiance now a Sergeant. How proud she’d be on his arm when they walked into the pub.
“All relevant papers will arrive in due course. Your commission, yours too Sergeant.”
Johnny could still hardly believe it. It was like he was in a dream. Soon he would wake up and be disappointed it wasn’t real.
Higginbotham pushed his chair back and stood.
“Congratulations gentlemen and very well deserved.”
“Thank you Sir.”
They both saluted smartly.
“Now Major Rushton has something for you.”
They waited patiently while Higginbotham left the tent.
“I’ll need you both ready at dawn. We are to map an area to the North West around the town of Gabes. A total round trip of nearly two thousand miles. As for the rest of today,” he tapped a crate with eight bottles of beer in it. Relax, enjoy the day, sorry they’re not cold.”
“Thank you Sir,” they replied.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Alf and Johnny woke to a chilly dawn. It had been two days since their promotions and they found themselves emerging from the back of the truck they had slept in to a chilly desert. There was light on the horizon and the stars were still out. They both shivered as they stood in the twilight. Rushton came around the truck and motioned to them.