I've just got to make that train connection.

November 1945, a soldier was returning home after two long years. He had drawn his pay, his travel warrant and a five day leave docket. Having travelled up from Aldershot camp, to St Pancras one of London’s major rail links to the north. The first action of the day was to check the departure times for Sheffield. Having established that the next train was at 5.40 pm, changing at Nottingham. The train was due to arrive in Nottingham at 9.55, with the connection for Sheffield departing at 10.05 pm.

The time now 1710 by his Wiess wristwatch, a lovely piece of Swiss precision. Having confirmed the time, some form of compulsion made him rub his left shoulder only to trigger an immediate sharp burning pain, as he caught the embedded remains of a bullet wound. The memories of that day in May when the troop was just south of Minden came flooding back. The war was rapidly coming to a close but there were still small pockets of the S.S. that were prepared to die for the Fatherland rather then surrender to the advancing allied troops.

As part of an advanced troop Harry and his platoon entered Minden only to be met by a hail of machine gun fire and sniper fire from various high vantage points. The troop took up defensive positions, the troop sergeant major followed by three of the lads rushed the building were the machine gun fire was coming from, as Harry surveyed the scene he saw the flash of a rifle from a third floor window of the local Hotel. Working his way round the edge of the small town square, he and two other lads entered the hotel, slowly climbing to the third floor Pete Dixon, Harry’s pal they had been together through North Africa, Sicily, Italy and now virtually at the end of the war. Pete rushed the room only to be met by a hail of bullets, Harry close behind stopped a bullet in the shoulder as he tossed a grenade into the room.

He and Taffy Thomas rushed the room only to find....”Oh my God there now't but bloody school kids”. They found three bodies, all members of Hitler Youth Corps. On returning to the square they found that the remaining pockets of resistance had capitulated once the machine gun post was silenced. The remaining Germans were rounded up to reveal that apart from two officers and a sergeant, the rest were all members of Hitler Youth the youngest being just thirteen. Though looting was generally frowned upon. The SS Captain had no further use for his Wiess watch, and if these bastards could force these kids to fight and die for the Fatherland then he deserved to be relived of his watch.

A Quick look at the watch told Harry there was enough time to grab a cup of tea before the train.
1745 hrs the train draws away from the platform, only five minutes late thinks Harry still as long as there are no more hold up’s, all being well I’ll be sleeping in my own bed tonight. Slowly the train gathers speed as it leaves the outskirts of London. The train was packed, standing in the corridor for the next four hours or so, wasn’t something that Harry was looking forward to. Things didn’t improve when the train pulled into Luton as another five or six tried to squeeze themselves into the already crowded corridor. Two hours later the train pulled into Leicester, Harry was delighted as what seemed to be a mass exodus from the carriage. At last there was somewhere to sit, no sooner had Harry got himself settled , when two W.R.A.F (Woman’s Royal Air Force) got on the train. Being the complete gentleman Harry and the chap opposite relinquished their seats, so it was back to the corridor but at least this time he could sit on his kit bag and stretch out his legs a little.

It was 2040 hours as the train pulled out of Leicester, a quick look at the watch confirmed that there was just 75 minutes to Nottingham and a further 10 minutes to make the connection for Sheffield a total of 85 minutes. That’s cutting it a bit fine thinks Harry, still nothing I can do about it so I might as well sit back and relax.

As he sat his mind drifted back to the heat of North Arica, were he and a young Pete Dixon first met Pete was eighteen and Harry a veteran at twenty. They had fought together at El Alamein, they had drunk ice cold beers in Cairo, they had then landed on the shores of Sicily, at Augusta in the south and fought their way through Sicily to Palermo in the north. Then onto the mainland of Italy to Monte Casino. And at every opportunity, sampled the local products of the vine.

Whilst enjoying the delights of R and R (rest and recuperation) in Rome, They took in all the tourist bits and some of the lesser locations to delight in a little La Dolce Vita. On the final day in Rome they decided it would be a good idea to take a swim in the Trevi Fountain. For that little indiscretion they both landed up on a charge, Harry lost his second stripe and Pete was busted back to private, with five days in the guard house, which was never served as the regiment was moving up to the front line the following day.

A dash through northern Italy, mopping up small pockets of resistance. The German army was now in full retreat. Turn left into northern France ready for the final push into Germany. They knew that once they were into Germany the resistance and defence of the homeland would be fierce. But they simply had no way of knowing to what ends the Nazis hardliners would adopt to defend the Fatherland. As Harry recalled once again that fateful day in Minden when Pete lost his life not against the cream of the German Army but a bunch of bloody kids playing soldiers. What a bloody waste, the date 5th May 1945 three days later the German Army capitulates. On the 8th of May the unconditional surrender of the German forces on land, sea and air was signed. Victory in Europe Day was declared.

All change, all change, was the shout that stirred Harry back to reality. All change, all change for Sheffield, Manchester and Liverpool. A quick look at the watch confirmed his worst fears 2202. Oh shit three minutes to get to the other train, a quick dash down the platform showing his travel warrant at the barrier “what platform is the train for Sheffield mate” asked Harry. “Platform six and you’d better be fast it’s due out in a minute or two”. Bloody hell that’s at the far side of the station, kit bag on the shoulder and run like hell, over the connecting bridge down the steps only to see the last carriage passing him by. Oh F**K.

Looking round Harry spots the platform attendant, excuse me pal what time is the next train to Sheffield. “Don’t know pal you will have to ask at the main barrier on platform one”. So it’s back across the bridge. The ticket collector was asked, “what time is the next train to Sheffield”. “Na lad thas missed thi last un for’t nite. Next uns the milk run train at ‘haf pas fiv” . Oh hell says Harry, “where is the waiting room then? “ We aint got one of them not one that’s open anyhow, well not since it got bombed “. “ When was that then?” asked Harry. “November 42”. Bloody hell you don’t exactly rush your repairs here in Nottingham do you?..... “Eh” said the ticket collector.

Oh well nothing for it but to get my head down on one of these benchers. Thank God for my army great coat (thick, heavy and long overcoat) So with great coat tightly buttoned up and kit bag under his head Harry settled down for the remainder of the night. Just as he was drifting off he was rudely interrupted. Excuse me corporal, I’m sorry to trouble you but you don’t look very comfortable!! Harry roused too see the most stunning looking lady he had not seen the likes of for many a year. “Sorry, but I was just dropping off, what did you say”? “I said you didn’t look very comfortable on that bench”. “ You can say that again Ma’m, it is a little hard.

I wonder, would you like to come back to my place for a hot drink and I’m sure I could find you something to eat. Now, Harry being the sort that never lets an opportunity pass him by. Well yes Ma’m, thank you ma’m, I’d love to thank you very much ma’m. “ Right lets drop the ma’m bit shall we, just call me Devinia, and what shall I call you corporal”? The names Harry ma’m, sorry I mean Devinia. Right Harry lets get going it’s about ten minutes walk towards Trent Bridge.” I’m right there with you Devinia”, say’s Harry with a twinkle in his eye, and a newly found spring in his step.

As they walked along, Harry related his journey from Aldershot to missing his connection here in Nottingham. Devinia explained that she had been to the station to see her sister off on her return to Glasgow. Also that her husband was at sea with the Merchant Navy, and had been so for the last two months. On approaching the house a very large Edwardian detached property. To Harry a lad from the Manor estate in Sheffield this represented pure wealth, defiantly the posh end of town.

As they entered Divinia showed Harry to a large sitting room, with very fine period furniture, thick piled carpets and Persian rugs. Good God thinks Harry “this is a bit different from a two bedded council house with linoleum on the living room floor and rag twist rugs, and nothing but stone slabs in the kitchen. Make yourself comfortable Harry, take your coat off and loosen your battledress tunic if you wish. Would you like a drink Harry? “Yes please” just as the last button on his tunic was opened “can I have a cuppa tea please”? “ Well yes if you wish, but I thought you might like something a little stronger” said Devinia. “Oh right, what have you got”? “I’ll tell you what you help yourself whilst I go and change into something more comfortable for this time of night. You will find whatever you want in the drinks cabinet in the corner”. Said Divinia pointing to a very elegant cabinet, in the far corner. Harry went to get himself a drink, on opening the cabinet, he was amazed to find it fully stocked with just about every spirit Harry had ever heard of and a good few he had never heard of. Settling for a large whiskey and soda he poured his drink and crossed the room to sit on a very large settee to await the return of Devinia. Taking a good look round the room there were many family pictures, but the one that immediately caught Harry’s eye was the one in a lavish silver frame of a merchant seaman, with all that gold braid, this must be at the very least a Captain, a master of his own vessel. Was this Devinia’s Husband no he looks far too old, it must be her father. Yes that must be it; It’s obviously a family of seafarers.

On her return Harry almost choked on his drink. As she stood at the entrance of the room in a very sheer negligee, in fact had it been any sheerer she might as well not have bothered wearing it at all. To retain a little modicum of modesty she did however ware a pure silk dressing gown. “I see you’ve got yourself a drink can you do one of those for me sweetie, What would you like to eat”? asked Devinia . “ Well I don’t want to put you to any bother anything will do fine”. For the first time Harry really studied his host. She had the perfect hour glass figure, with shoulder length auburn hair. She reminded Harry of a picture he had had of the film star Rita Hayworth, which had taken pride of place above his bunk at boot camp back in 1939, when he had first enlisted. Looking at Divinia once again he figured that she was in her mid to late thirties, she could easily be taken for much less. The ravages of war had not diminished her stunning beauty. “ So Harry, have you made up your mind as to what you would like to eat, I can offer you a steak or a nice piece of salmon which would you prefer”? “Well as long as you are sure it’s no trouble, I’d really love a steak, I’ve not seen a steak since I was in Cairo and I’m not convinced that one came from a cow either”. “How do you want it cooked”. “Well done pleased”. Fine pour us both another drink and I’ll get the steaks on.

On returning from the kitchen Devinia laid two plates on the dinning table. The steaks were not just bits of steak but enormous T Bone steaks American style, garnished with potatoes, broccoli and best of all fried onions. I have to ask said Harry “how do you manage to put on such a spread with all the rationing”. Well I told you my husband was at sea didn’t I ? “Yes” said Harry. “Well each time he gets home he brings loads of goodies it’s just one of the perks of the job”, said Devinia. I suppose that’s where all the booze comes from then? “Well yes I suppose I’m lucky in that respect, but how was your steak” enquired Harry’s host. “It was absolutely fabulous” said Harry. We’ll have a coffee then perhaps you might want to have a lay down before going to catch your train. Coffee as well is there no end to your supplies. “Well I tend to be running short by the time hubby gets back to shore” said Devinia. How do you like your coffee Harry”? “Milk and two sugars please”. Right do you want to go up to the spare bedroom, top of the stairs turn right and second left, I’ll bring your coffee up to you shortly make yourself comfortable.

Now rightly or wrongly, Harry took that to mean strip off and I’ll be in shortly, about ten minutes had elapsed when into the doorway stood Devinia. Backlit by the light coming from the landing, the dressing gown was now gone. The fullness of her body could clearly be seen through the shear negligee. “I’ll bring the coffee to the bedside table and we can continue our chat if you wish for a short while” said Devinia. Harry said “sure fine I’d like that” if the truth be known the last thing on Harry’s mind was a chat. As she leaned over to place the coffee tray on the table, the fullness of her plentiful breast were virtually falling out of her night gown. As a serving soldier Harry had seen the flesh pots of Cairo, the seedier side of Rome and other towns and cities across Europe. But this, this was something totally new to him and he didn’t know how to respond. Should he make a move was that what was expected, or was it that Devinia is such a nice lady and genuinely wanted to help a stranded soldier returning home on leave.

He didn’t have to wait to long before he knew what he was expected to do. “I’ll take my coffee to the other side of the bed to finish it. I’ll lay on the bed whilst we chat, if you don’t mind o.k.”? “You bet” said Harry, not believing his incredible luck. This only ever happens in them mucky magazines that you buy in the plain covers at the local newsagents, and the type of mag’s that do the rounds in the barracks. As she laid down beside him he could feel the warmth of her body against his, whilst he had been aroused ever since she appeared at the bedroom door. But now he was so aroused, if he were to turn over to quickly, he would have done himself a permanent injury. But as she started to stroke his shoulder, slowly softly he could stand it no more. As he turned on his side and threw his arm across her.

He went with such a bump as he rolled off the station bench. The platform attendant who had been trying to rouse him by rubbing him on the shoulder, was now looking down at him on the floor. The attendant said “ I thought I ought to wake you corporal , has the milk train to Sheffield is just about to pull into the station”. As the train came to a halt Harry stood with his kit bag strategically positioned to his front and with a distinct limp Harry boarded the train on his final leg home.