Free The Docklands Girls by June Tate

long as I live, I’ll never forget you. But you write like you promised me, won’t you? That way we’ll keep in touch.’
    Taking a deep breath, Belle said, ‘Yes, of course I will. But you listen to me, Jackson Butler, you make sure you write back and tell me you’re alive and kicking!’
    He burst out laughing. ‘Belle, honey, you forget where I’m from! All my life I’ve been ducking and diving, no old German is gonna take me down – you hear?’
    She couldn’t help but smile at his confidence. ‘I hear you loud and clear.’
     
    Two days later, the troops were moving out of the town. The inhabitants of Southampton stood and watched for hours as company after company of troops of all nationalities marched through the streets of Southampton towards the ships waiting in the docks. The British troops marching tall and proud and in step, the Americans more casual, throwing their small packs of K-rations to the children waiting on the pavements. Cascades of Englishmoney was also thrown, the troops saying they had no further need of it. Despite the seriousness of the situation, there was an unexpected air of jollity about it all. Army trucks full of soldiers followed.
    Cora and Belle were stationed in Latimer Street every day, both watching for their men. The Negro troops passed by and Belle caught sight of Jackson who waved and motioned with his hands for her to write. Belle nodded and blew him kisses, much to the delight of his comrades who teased him unmercifully.
    There were several women pushing prams with black babies also waiting. Some crying, others cursing as they saw the father of their child who tried to keep out of sight.
    One woman seeing her Negro boyfriend screamed out at him. ‘You come back here, you bastard. This is your baby you’ve left me with!’
    The man in question just kept marching, staring straight ahead.
    Sergeant Milt Miller was marching beside his company of men when he saw Hildy searching the faces of the passing troops. She suddenly saw him and ran over, kissing him and walking next to him until they turned into the docks. She stood watching until the last line of men disappeared out of sight and she wept.
    Cora, waiting further down the street, saw Hank in an army vehicle, who waved and called out to her.
    ‘You take care of yourself!’
    ‘You make sure you do the same,’ she yelled back at him.
    ‘Be sure to write,’ he called. She nodded back, unable to speak as her emotions overcame her.
     
    Inside the docks, the troops embarked in readiness, knowing they’d soon be crossing the English Channel to face the enemy. They coped with this knowledge in different ways. Some joked with their companions, others withdrew inside themselves. A few of them offered silent prayers. Others tried to cover hands that were shaking with fear trying to hide just how scared they were, trying to be men of strength.
    To cover the mass assembly, smoke screens had been laid down and there were many complaints as the acrid smell seeped into the town; the population were unaware of the importance of the manoeuvre. But there was an air of tension in everybody, knowing that at any moment the invasion would begin for real. There was the faint possibility, if things went wrong, of seeing German troops walking through the town, but in their hearts they believed that the enemy would be defeated.

Chapter Eight
    On 6th June 1944, the invasion of Normandy began. The sound of many planes flying overhead could be heard throughout the night and on into the dawn. The civilians poured out of houses and shops to watch, knowing that at last the day had come.
    Sergeant Milt Miller was pushing his way through the men in his company, pressed together like sardines in the landing craft as they crossed the Channel, barking out orders, keeping his soldiers alert, not giving them too much time to think of anything but making their way as fast as they could out of the landing craft onto Omaha beach and keeping their heads