Chapter Eight
Shaftsbury Hospital was full of patients from both the army and the air force. There were soldiers wounded on training, on raids to France and some suffering from normal illnesses. Dr Melvyn Waldour entered the common room and sank wearily into a chair. He had been working all night on a very difficult operation and couldn’t leave till he knew that the soldier was alright.
He reached out for a cup and made himself a strong coffee. Stirring it, he let his mind drift. He wondered what Mary was doing. Should be ask her to marry him? That was impossible until they could live together – possibly after the war had finished. She would make an excellent Lady of the Manor. Having finished his coffee, he was about to leave for his room when a nurse entered.
“Dr Waldour, the Colonel would like to see you. I hope you haven’t been naughty,” she joked.
“Oh, he’s probably going to sell me,” he replied.
“In that case I’ll be the first to put in a bid,” she retorted.
She watched the handsome, young doctor go off to see the Colonel and thought how lucky some girl would have to be to have him as a lover. Melvyn knocked on the Colonel’s door and entered at his bidding.
“Well Melvyn, sit down (motioning to a chair). Have a drink?”
“No thank you sir. I’ve just finished duty and I’m rather tired.”
“Right my boy. I don’t know what it’s about but you have been ordered to the War Office to see General Watkins at HQ. Have you any idea what it is about?”
“No sir. General Watkins? I don’t even know the name.”
“Well you soon will. I have told them that you will be there at eleven o’clock tomorrow morning. You can use my staff car. My driver knows where to go. Best of luck old chap.”
“Thank you sir. I’ll let you know what is happening when I return.” The doctor saluted and made his way to his room. Sleep was difficult although he was very tired. What did this General Watkins want him for? As far as he knew he had committed no crimes. His thoughts wandered and he finally fell asleep.
The next morning he took great care with his toilet and wore his best shirt and battledress. Looking in the mirror before he left, he wondered if he would impress General Watkins. The driver knew his way and the car sped swiftly through Salisbury and Andover, then Basingstoke and finally, into the London suburbs. Melvyn looked with interest at all the towns as he sat in the comfortable seat of the staff car. The silence was broken by the voice of the driver telling him that they would be there in five minutes. Sure enough the car rolled to a stop at 10.55 am, and Melvyn, having thanked the driver and arranged to be picked up later, climbed the steps into the War Office.
“Can I help you sir?” A very efficient-looking lady soldier appeared at his elbow.
He smiled and quickly replied, “I have an appointment with General Watkins.”
“Your name sir?” she demanded.
“Major Melvyn Waldour RAMC” he replied, with a little bow.
“I will see if the General is ready to see you.” she said, and disappeared through a large doorway. In a moment she was back and she took him through to the General’s office. Melvyn saluted smartly. The General stood up, walked around his desk and shook hands, telling Melvyn to sit down.
“Have a drink Major?” he asked.
“Thank you sir, I’ll have a sherry!”
The General poured out two glasses of sherry from a decanter on a sideboard and passed one to Melvyn. As he sat, toying with his glass, while the General watched him, sipping his sherry. “I suppose you are wondering why you are here,” the General finally said.
“Well yes sir, I am rather curious,” Melvyn replied with a smile.
“First let me say how sorry I am that your mother died recently. She was a very fine lady. I presume that you are now Lord of the Manor and owner of several hundred acres with a beautiful old house?” Melvyn nodded. “What are you going to do with your house while you are soldiering Major?”
Surprised by the question Melvyn looked at the General and said, “I can’t do much I’m afraid until after the war.”
The general sat bolt upright in his chair. “Well my boy,” he said firmly, “I’ve got a proposition I’d like to make.” Melvyn waited, a little puzzled. “I would like to lease Burscombe Manor from you for use as a military hospital for the remaining duration of the war. Well? You must have some questions for me. I can assure you that the rent will be quite useful to you. I will ensure that you are well paid.”
Melvyn did indeed have many questions. “Well sir! I think that you’re being very kind to me and I am happy to agree on the leasing of the Manor as you outlined. I do have two questions, however, I would like answered. I have a husband and wife who are acting as my caretakers. What will become of them? Secondly, what happens after the war when it reverts to me? What condition will it be in, who will have to pay for any restorations and repairs?”
The General smiled. “Your caretakers will carry on but we will pay them as they will be our staff then. As for the other, that’s no trouble. The contract from the War Department will state that it is responsible for all repairs, redecoration etc., to the house itself. The three hundred acres of land, will remain your responsibility but the War Department would like the parkland around the drive for recreation purposes for patients.”
Melvyn stood up and shook the general’s hand. “Thank you sir, may I visit it occasionally?”
“Of course,” said the general, “by the way major, I want you to run the hospital. You will be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Please make arrangements to move all your furniture into the servants’ quarters and lock it up. You will hear from our medical HQ when you are needed for further instructions. Good morning.”
Melvyn walked out in a daze. There would be no more worries about maintaining the manor. The Army would do that and he would also have a tidy sum of money for the future. Well! Well! Could he run a hospital? He wondered.
He would certainly have a good try, and he grinned to himself. He climbed into the car, his mind still buzzing with excitement and the driver had to shout to get his attention. “You seem much happier coming out than you did going in sir. I hope it was good news.”
“It was, and I’m going to treat you to an excellent lunch. Find a place where we can eat.”
The driver stopped at a roadside café and, as he alighted the major asked if it would be alright to go in in an officer’s uniform. The driver laughed and assured him that he would be welcomed. It was his uncle’s business. They ate a large lunch and the proprietor insisted that the major shared a bottle of wine with him.
The Colonel was out when Major Waldour arrived back but next morning he sent for Melvyn to hear a report on his meeting. Melvyn told him that the War Department was going to lease Burscombe Manor and turn it into a hospital. He also informed the Colonel that he had been asked to run it as a Lieutenant Colonel and so would be leaving Shaftsbury. His colonel was delighted to hear of the promotion but was upset at losing a fine member of his staff.
The doctor decided not to tell Mary the news by phone but to wait till he could see her. He found it very difficult to keep the news to himself and was impatient for Saturday to come. He left early on Saturday morning as he wanted to go to see Joe and Margaret before joining Mary in Salisbury. Joe and Margaret were delighted when he explained that the Army was leasing the manor and that Melvyn would now have no money worries. Mary Miller’s father would continue to look after the cultivation of the land so everything was taken care of. Joe looked crestfallen and wondered what would happen to himself and his wife. Melvyn looked at Joe and as if reading his thoughts and told him that he and Margaret were to look after the hospital buildings and would be well paid by the Army. It was a happy crowd that gathered after Melvyn had finished and all had coffee and some of Margaret’s scones.
Melvyn left the happy couple to go to Salisbury. Mary had an hour’s duty to do before she could see Melvyn but she arranged for him to wait in h
er room in the hospital.
Ruth passed by, saw him, and brought some tea and sandwiches. The hour passed slowly but finally Mary came in, removed her sister’s headdress and turned to give him a welcome. He rose, took her in his arms and kissed her with great passion. Her face flushed and she looked at him in astonishment.
“What was that about?” she asked smilingly.
Melvyn told her of his visit to London and of the meeting with the General. He told his tale slowly so that Mary would be impatient and shake him. When he told her that the manor was to be used as a hospital and he would be paid a fair rental, she gave him a hug. Then he told her he was to be in charge of the hospital as a Lieutenant Colonel. Then it was her turn to hug and kiss him again. They embraced each other warmly before she broke away and said that it would probably mean she would not see as much of him then. Melvyn reacted immediately by telling her that he had plans for her. How would she like to be a sister in his hospital? Mary chuckled and then said that it would not be possible as she was on contract to Salisbury infirmary. Melvyn smiled and told her to wait and see. He thought that the General might help in this matter.
--0--
The manor house was stripped of all its curtains and furniture, organized by Joe, who watched everything being stacked in the servants’ quarters on the top floor. When this was finished Melvyn reported back to the general who in turn set the wheels in motion to turn the manor into a hospital.
It was several weeks before work began, but once begun the contractor worked quickly and soon the old house was even smelling like a hospital. Lieutenant Colonel Waldour had also been busy. He had engaged two sisters and six nurses to start the hospital. Others would be engaged when needed. One of the sisters was Mary. He had managed to change her contract. He also appointed her as acting matron, against her will. She did not want to be accused of receiving favouritism. She need not have worried. Her lovely nature shone through and she was popular as a stern but fair matron.
Joe and Margaret loved their jobs and Melvyn enjoyed seeing their smiling faces around the building. Soon the patients began to arrive and all the staff were kept busy. Burscombe Military Hospital had begun in earnest and Lieutenant Colonel Waldour was very pleased and in his element as he visited each ward, chatting to the patients.