Chapter Five
I arrived seconds before Charlie and as he walked up to me I could see that he was wearing his greatcoat as well. He held out his hand and I shook it as he said. “How are you Billy Boy its real brass monkey weather this it’s not really a good day for a funeral but then again when is?” He cupped his hands and blew into them as he continued saying. “I don’t like the look of the sky over yonder he said glancing at the steel grey sky that seemed to be approaching from over the back end of town.” I replied. “You could be right Charlie it looks like it could get pretty bad.” He stamped his feet and said. “Well there’s not much we can do about the weather I just hope it holds off what ever it’s planning till after the funeral. I mean Bert and his dad have enough to put up with today without the weather making things worse.” I nodded my assent at this dour prediction from Charlie but still I prayed that everything would go smoothly today if only for Bert’s sake I was pondering this when the tram rattled up to the stop and we stepped onboard. We arrived at Bert’s and his father opened the door to us saying. “Morning lads it’s good to see you it will mean a lot to our Albert for his friends and comrades to be with him today. In you come you must be perishing out there, go into the front parlour that’s were everyone is and there’s a little something to warm you up.” He stood back and let us in and then shut the front door. We entered into the front parlour and there was quite a gathering there as I looked round I spotted Bert talking to Helen who had already arrived. She was dressed top to toe in black and carrying a black handbag and gloves the colour set off the paleness of her face. I drew Charlie’s attention to them and we walked over threading our way through other mourners people were nodding to us and some even smiled. We nodded back though apart from Helen Bert and his dad we knew no one there. We were held up for a moment by a very large matronly lady who was blocking our advance but we eventually managed to squeeze our way through. The large lady managed to convey her feelings which were of as much concern for us as an elephant would have for a flea and we left her there muttering about manners.
We shook hands with Bert and Helen and I must admit that even in this solemn occasion Helen looked beautiful if a little wan and tired. Bert said. “I’m so glad to see you lads I was beginning to get a bit swamped by all the talk and condolences. I’m sure some of these people actually enjoy a funeral its indecent I mean its bad enough from some of the family but then you get it from people you don’t really know.” His voice trailed off here and his face crumpled a bit. Charlie smiled and patted his shoulder saying. “Never you mind about them you have Billy Boy, Helen and your uncle Charlie here to see you right the old guard and we wont let you down isn’t that right people.” A small winsome smile appeared at the corner of Bert’s lips and Helen said. “I couldn’t have put it better myself Charlie’s spot on there because we shall all look after you today and if any of these others upset you they will get what for”, as she was saying this two spots of red appeared on her cheeks. I looked at her with new eyes this wasn’t the old Helen that I knew so well this was a new Helen this was no longer a girl but a woman I suppose we had all had to grow up fast over the last few months. And I should have paid more attention last night when we were arguing if I hadn’t been so set in my attitude I would have noticed the change then. And as I absorbed this new insight I found that I was quite taken by the new Helen and that I was hardly missing the old one at all. Bert’s father had made his way through the crowd to were we were stood he invited us to the kitchen for a drink with him and on a day such as this we could not refuse. On our way through Bert was collard by an uncle of his he looked at us with an apology in his eyes and a look of martyrdom on his face. The next to get picked off was Helen who was waylaid by a group of ladies near the door who like most women needed to satisfy their curiosity about who she was. The rest of us that were left made it through the parlour door into the hallway with Bert’s dad having to fend people off with a polite shake of his head. He said. “Just a minute lads”, and he opened the door of the other parlour across from the one we had just come out of. As the door opened we could see a coffin on its bier and a small woman dressed in black bent over it praying then Mr Hall backed out and closed the door saying to us. “That’s the wife’s sister we will leave her to it”, and he led us down the passage into the back room that we had been in last night. On the side board were bottles of whiskey and sherry, a bottle of port and bottles of Melstones beer he unscrewed the top off a bottle of beer and poured three glasses then he uncorked the whiskey and poured three tots out. He handed out the glasses saying. “Get the whiskey down first that should warm you up a bit water of the gods this stuff is”, he looked at me shaking his head and warning. “You take care drinking it this time Billy Boy I thought you were going to choke last night.’
I looked at the pale amber liquid before saying “I’m sorry Mr Hall but it was the first time I had ever had any kind of spirit”, I could feel the blush starting on my face. He laughed and replied. “Nay Billy Boy don’t you worry about that there’s a first time for everything, and I’m only joshing with you. If you don’t like it then leave it, don’t ever be afraid to say no, well bottoms up lads.” And saying this he emptied his glass in one swallow and me and Charlie followed suit it didn’t taste too bad this time. Then Mr Hall handed the beer to us and said. “This is the way to do it Billy Boy use the beer to chase it down”, and with this he took a swallow of beer. We did the same and I could see what he meant by chasing with the beer it tasted very good. A movement caught my eye and in walked the scarred ginger tom from last night, this time it ignored its favourite perch on the windowsill, which must have been to cold for it. Instead it stalked over to the fire, it swished its tail twice turned in a circle a few times and settled down on the hearth rug. Mr Hall laughed saying. “I can see by your face that you’ve met Eric the Red’, both Charlie and I looked at him with our mouths open. Then he laughed saying. “Oh I see the name it’s a good one isn’t it Mrs Hall named him he was always off on adventures and getting into scrapes.” As he said this his eyes were looking back in time and there was a smile on his face. Then he said in a kind of afterthought. “He was always her cat she was the only one he would have anything to do with. He just puts up with me and Albert but he really loved Flora he would drop little presents for her a dead bird or rat but mostly mice he’s a jolly good mouser is Eric.” Then he seemed to break out of his reverie as he pondered. “I don’t know what he will do now come to think of it what will any of us do now that Flora’s gone.” He wiped his face with his hand and as it came away you could see the naked grief and pain that he was suffering. There was a bit of an embarrassing pause and then Charlie said. “Well yes it is a good name for him and I don’t think I’ve seen a more war scared veteran in my life and he looks content enough to be sure.” And with this last comment on the cat we went on to make small talk and Mr Hall said how nice he thought Helen looked given the occasion. And then Mr Hall said. “The real reason I wanted to see you back here was to ask a favour of you”, he looked at both of us and then said continued. “Could I ask you both to act as pall bearers if you wouldn’t mind there will be myself, Albert, my two brothers and you two?” We looked at each other and both nodded I replied for us. “Certainly and thank you so much for asking us it would be a great honour for us wouldn’t it Charlie.” He responded by saying. “Yes it would, and can I just say on behalf of both myself and Billy Boy how much we appreciate sir the way you have treated us like part of your family.”
We all shook hands and Mr Hall enthused. “I am so glad that you have agreed and being Albert’s best friends I hope also that you will be friends of mine and may I say what a pleasure it has been to have met you both and if the rest of the battalion is like you three there will be no stopping it. We best end on that note and get back to the front parlour because the hearse will be arriving shortly.” We made our way back to the parlour and Mr Hall excused himself and went to see to his wife’s sister. Albert was still with his uncle and a few more men he waved at me and Charlie to come over I told Charlie that he better go and that I would be there in a minute when I had rescued Helen who was still with the same women. She was stood there with a look of terminal boredom on her face and I couldn’t help but feel extremely sorry for her. I got to her then made our apologies to the ladies and whisked her off over to where Bert and Charlie were standing. As we were on our way over she was a bit miffed to say the least as she said. “Where have you been leaving me with those old gossips I have been bored to tears. All you hear off them is whose dead or who’s suffering from such and such. And then you get all there aches and pains and how much they have suffered and how there a martyr to this and that it’s unbelievable.” She snorted and then continued with her tirade. “Then to top everything off asking me why I’m not married yet, and wouldn’t I like to be married? Did I like children and would I be having any? And it was always better to marry young as it saved being left on the shelf, I could have strangled them and I’m not kidding.” I butted in and told her about Mr Hall asking me and Charlie to be pall bearers, and how pleased we both were at the honour he was doing us. She said. “Oh Billy Boy I’m so pleased for the both of you it shows exactly how much Mr Hall thinks of you. I was speaking to him before you arrived and I can’t tell you what a very nice man he is so charming and he can’t do enough for you.” I replied with a grin. “Yes he’s quite an admirer of yours he was telling me and Charlie in the kitchen how nice you were looking and I would say that he was quite taken with you”, I teased. At these words her cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink, and I could see that she was embarrassed so I let her gently off the hook and said no more about it and anyway we had arrived at Bert’s little gathering.
Bert said. “Well hello you two I thought you’d got lost I was just about to send a search party out for you, or maybe you just wanted to be alone that might be it eh?” I stammered in reply. “No certainly not I simply went to save Helen from the clutches of those ladies over there”, I turned and looked at the group of women then everyone could see who I was talking about. I continued. “They have had her cornered for hours and I just thought it was time to get her out of there.” There was a tone of sympathy in his voice and then he said. “We’ll never mind Billy Boy Helen these are my uncles Tommy and Oliver.” We shook hands with them and I could see the likeness with Bert’s dad. A smile was playing around Bert’s mouth as we were introduced and he said to us. “I won’t bother introducing my aunts to you as you’ve already met them or so I believe.” I assured him emphatically that we had not but he continued. “Oh but you have”, and I saw the light dawn in Helens eyes. I looked sickly at Bert and was about to say something but he carried on enjoying himself saying. “Yes you’ve met in fact you had to rescue Helen from them and their friends.” Helen was blushing furiously and I was mortified at what I had said but secretly glad I had not got the chance to say what I really thought of these women. I said to the group. “Then I can only apologise to your uncles for any offence I may have caused.” Everyone watched me and Helen I didn’t know what else to say and I was at a loss. Bert’s uncle Tommy said. “Nay lad don’t you fuss or you either miss, we know what our two wives and their pack can be like. Isn’t that so Oliver tongues sharper than a fishmongers filliter they could give you a lashing with them faster than a workhouse cat could catch a mouse.” Oliver didn’t say much but he said. “Aye you were lucky to get her away with the skin still on your back so I’ll take my hat off to you you’re a braver man than me”, and with that he proceeded to finish the beer off in his glass.Before I could say anything, there was a commotion in the passage and Bert’s dad came in saying. “The hearse is here can I have the pall bearers in the other parlour please. And can the rest of you make your way outside and form up in the cortege.” I told Helen that I would see her in the church, and with that I followed the other pall bearers into the other parlour. The undertaker sorted us out by height telling us that this was the best way to distribute the weight of the coffin equally. I was paired up with Bert’s uncle Tommy at the back as we stared at one another on opposite sides of the coffin. The undertaker said. “Right now listen to what I have to say to you place your hands under the coffin I will count to three and then raise it to shoulder height.” We did as he said and lifted it up but there didn’t seem to be a lot of weight in it. We all turned hoisting the coffin up onto our shoulders as we did so, and then at the say so of the undertaker we moved slowly out of the parlour and into the hallway. In slow time we passed down the hallway to the front door and from there out into the street as we got outside the first flakes of snow were beginning to fall and the sky was a dirty yellowy grey colour. Also the wind was beginning to pick up and so Charlie’s weather prediction from this morning had come true. In the road I could see the carriage of the hearse shining in the light from its lamps, and four black horses’ coats burnished brasses gleaming and black feather plumes standing straight on their magnificent heads. They were well aware of the weather and just wanted to get moving they pawed at the ground with their breath pluming like steam from a kettle in the bitterly cold air.
We reached the back of the hearse and lowered the coffin down to waist height the front pall bearers then placed it on the back edge of the hearse and we pushed it inside and stepped away. The undertaker placed a wreath of lily’s on top of the coffin a tribute from Bert and his father. And then closing the back doors he went forward to take up his position at the front of the hearse and so lead the cortege. He gave the signal and off the hearse went with the pall bearer’s close behind it and the rest of the cortege behind us. We wended our way slowly up the road towards St Saviours but by this time the snow was beginning to fall pretty thickly. We drew up outside the church were we unloaded the hearse and once more hoisted the coffin onto our shoulders and then we carried it inside. After a short service and some moving words by Bert’s father for his dead wife we carried the coffin out to the waiting hearse for the last time. Then off we set in procession again for the town cemetery which was about half a mile away. The going was pretty rough as by this time the snow was coming down thick and fast and the wind was driving it and drifts were beginning to form. Some of the mourners were having trouble keeping up especially those at the older end. Along the road our funeral party struggled it really was the most awful weather as we got closer to Blackthorn Cemetery we faced an even bigger task. We were faced with Brady Brow a steep hill that led up to the cemetery. And this is were things turned into a bit of a farce for as the coachman urged the horses to begin the task of climbing the steep street up the hill we could see there was going to be trouble. The horses valiantly struggled up but half way from the top they just couldn’t get the traction on the roads surface as it was now quite deep snow. The horses and the hearse were slipping and sliding about. And it was literally a case of all hands to the pump or in this case all hands to the hearse. As every one that could do got on the wheels of the hearse and shoved from the back to help push it up the hill. Eventually we managed to manhandle it to the top, and just ahead of us about fifty yards away were the gates to the cemetery by this time however the cortège was a straggling line leading back down the hill. We waited at the cemetery gates huddled up against the wind while the stragglers caught up, but I could not help feeling sorry for Bert and his father at the dirty trick that the weather had played on them.
Everybody managed to get into some semblance of order again although more than a few were out of breath. The order was given and the procession proceeded on the last sad leg of Mrs Halls journey luckily the grave was at the bottom of the cemetery. I say luckily because the cemetery was laid out on another hill and the tombstones and mausoleums stretched up the hill and over the top in a jumble of stone and marble. And we could have been in big trouble if the grave had been situated father up the hill. We unloaded the coffin for the last time and now we could see the gash in the ground and the earth piled up that was the grave. The undertaker had laid out the lowering straps on the ground and we placed the coffin on them. He then explained how we should now lift the coffin with the straps and shuffle sideways until the coffin was suspended over the open grave, and we did this without any mishap I’m glad to say. As the vicar read the words over the grave we gently lowered the coffin down to its final resting place. This wasn’t a hard task for as I said the coffin didn’t seem to weigh anything really and we had hardly begun before we were finished. A cold blast of wind surged across the cemetery just has wed finished and this gave the vicar the spur he had needed and he quickly finished the ceremony. People quickly took up handfuls of earth and threw them onto the coffin the wreath was thrown down to rest on its top. Then because of the worsening weather everybody quickly made there way back to Bert’s in the teeth of what now was becoming a real winter storm.
We all got back to Bert’s house freezing and brushing the snow from our coats and stamping it from our feet we got inside. It was lovely and warm in the house and some of the women went to the kitchen to make tea and to pass out the boiled ham sandwiches. Meanwhile Mr Hall and his brothers were circulating with bottles of whiskey filling glasses and passing them out. I had caught up with Helen and we were thawing out quite nicely thanks to the blazing fire in the grate which was throwing off a fierce heat and in no small measure to the whiskey. Charlie came over to stand with us and we were just making small talk when Bert joined us saying. “Thanks very much for acting as pall bearers a bloke couldn’t ask for better mates. It was a pity about the weather but at least we got through it.” He took a drink from his glass of whiskey as Charlie replied. “Yes thank god things were getting a bit hairy for a moment especially when it came to Brady Brow I thought we’d had it when the hearse stuck halfway up.” A smile played on all our lips thinking about the episode were we had to push the hearse to get up the hill. Bert said. “Well like I say boys I don’t think I could have got through without you and you too Helen you’ve been a real brick.” Helen blushed again and replied. “It was a pleasure Bert I must say that I don’t think that the lads could get a better friend than you either and as for your father he’s a real gentleman.” Just then Charlie shouted. “Hey up lads were not the only members of the battalion here look its Elijah and he’s with Jimmy and Mickey Lord.” We all looked over to the door were the three of them had just entered the room they made their way through to were we were. Bert’s uncle Tommy shoved glasses of whiskey into their hands saying. “Here you are lads get that down your throats it will put hairs on your chest and keep the cold out.’
Bert said. “Welcome lads its good of you to come I’m sorry I didn’t see you before but you know what it’s like I was in a bit of a daze what with the weather and all. Elijah replied. “Think nothing of it Bert you’d a lot on your plate today. The lads and I were at the back in the church and in the cortege and at the cemetery we hung back a bit. We just wanted you to know that we are here for you for we are your friends and comrades and we will always be there for one another.” He looked at the Lord Brothers who nodded their heads in agreement. Charlie raised his glass. “Well said Elijah, I’m sure that’s the way we all feel lets raise our glasses in a toast to friends and comrades of the Blackthorn Battalion.” We all raised our glasses and said. “Cheers”, and coming on top of the funeral and everything I think everybody had a lump in their throat and looking at Helen I could see she had a tears in her eyes. Bert’s dad came across and Bert recounted what Elijah had said about the funeral and him and the Lord Brothers. Mr Hall said. “Well all I can say lads is thanks for coming, and it’s nice to know that our Bert has got such good mates. You’re all a credit not only to the battalion but to your parents and the town as well and I’ll feel a little better knowing that you’ll be at Albert’s side when the going gets tough because believe you me it makes all the difference.” He then shook each of us by the hand and wished us well in the future he then took Helens hand and pressed his lips to it. He told her. “I can’t leave you out my dear all I can say to you is if I had a daughter I could only hope she would be like you.” Helen blushed furiously as she stammered. “Thank you so much Mr Hall I think that’s the nicest compliment I have ever been paid.” And I could see in her eyes that Mr Hall had won himself a feverent admirer. Later on we all took our leave of Bert and his dad his uncles and aunts who by then were all that was left, we had one final drink for the road and then wrapping ourselves up in our coats we made our way to the front door. Then the six of us shook hands with Bert and his dad and said our farewells we made our way towards the tram stop the lads said goodbye to Helen and I saw her across the road. She had to catch a tram going in the opposite direction from ours to get home. I said. “I will see you tomorrow when you come and see Ma Moffat, and you can have a bite to eat with us before we go to the dance.” She replied. “Yes alright Billy Boy that sounds like a good idea it will save me having to trail all the way home and then come back again. I will tell my mother and father that I am having my tea with you I should think that will be alright.” She had just finished saying this when the tram thundered up she gave me a soft lingering kiss and boarded the tram she sat in a window seat and I waved her goodbye as the tram pulled away.
I was still thinking about the tender kiss that Helen had given me usually it was just a peck on the cheek or lips. But this was different it was soft and tender and there was something else about it something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Then the lads shouted to me that the tram was coming and I bolted quite sharply across the road to them. Above the noise of the tram Elijah said. “I hope your not thinking of going home just yet because the lads and I were thinking of having a quick snifter in the Intack Inn, and we would like you to join us wouldn’t we lads?” Jimmy and Mickey nodded their head which believe you me from them was a sign of feverent ascent. I replied. “Well if you put it that way how can we refuse.” Besides which I didn’t really fancy going home yet anyway. Charlie agreed saying. “Yes let’s get another drink in us after all this is the first time we have all met up since being on leave and what better place to have a few quite drinks than in the Intack its one of the best hostelries in Blackthorn.” So that was decided a drink in the Intack Inn it would be and the way that things had gone today maybe more than one drink. And I thought to myself why not because like Charlie said this was the first time on leave that we’d all met and tomorrow was Christmas Eve so it was unlikely that we would see each other again before we went back to the battalion. So I said. “Ok lads this will be our Christmas drink together but just remember that I’m not used to drinking so much so later on you may have to look after me.” Jimmy Lord said. “Don’t you worry about a thing Billy Boy me and Mickey will look after you and if not Elijah will always be there for I’ve yet to see him get drunk no matter how much he puts away.” The tram squealed to a stop with sparks flying from its wheels we all jumped off and made our way across the road to the Intack Inn the lights were on and it looked more than a touch inviting. We shoved open the vault door and walked in and as we did so we were met with a thick fug of tobacco smoke and a wave of heat from the fire. Getting father in the pungent smell of hops from the beer assailed our senses and so strong was it that I believed I might have been able to get drunk from just smelling it.
The Intack was an old coaching inn although having said this though the coaches were long gone it had been altered recently by Melstone’s brewery who had knocked through into the old house next door. Out in the back yard there were still the stables and provision sheds and also the ladies and gents lavatories. The landlord behind the bar was a dapper man as proud of his hair as George was of his I had only met him a couple of times before but I had a sense of liking for him. He was a straightforward person who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. His wife was a beautiful looking voluptuous woman who in her own way was as outspoken as him. The vault was crowded as we made our way to the bar the landlord saluted us saying “Welcome lads; here put your money away I will get the first drink for you brave lads from the town’s battalion.” He filled five foaming tankards with Melstone’s ale then passed them across us. Stood at the bar was a partially sighted old gent that we knew he had been injured in an accident at the foundry which had left him nearly blind. We said hello to him and he raised his tankard in the direction he had heard our voices and took a deep draught from it in a salute to us. Also at the bar were the usual customer in at that time some had just finished work others were the type who worked for a day got paid and then came in the pub and spent what they had made all at once. They didn’t want to go home to the wife and so sought solace in a tankard a smoke and a talk with their drinking acquaintances. The bubble of conversation washed over us and as we picked up our drinks and supped from them and a feeling of warm satisfaction came over us. After all what more did one need other than the company of good mate’s a smoke and a tankard of foaming ale. Elijah toasted us with his tankard saying. “Cheers lads here’s to the battalion”, he took a deep draught of the ale and smacked his lips in appreciation as we toasted with him. He continued. “Ah that hits the spot come on lads don’t lag behind the nights still young yet and we have time to put down a few more tankards before we go home.”
In the corner of the room stood an upright piano and sitting banging out all the old favourite tunes was Samuel Brown who we knew well and who had joined the second battalion and was just doing the first part of his training under Colonel Jack. Charlie shouted over to him. “How the devil are you keeping Sam I see you’re still playing the same old tunes?” Sam shouted back saying. “Come on over you lot I will show you how the second battalion celebrate their leave.” We wandered over to stand around the piano we placed our tankards on the top and Sam played a few more tunes and then struck up Tipperary and then Pack up your troubles. By now the vault was buzzing and everyone was joining in and it had got as noisy as a parrot house there was laughter and good natured banter flying around the place and then we sang a rendition of Dolly Grey. Then Sam started playing the National Anthem and we stood at attention and belted it out with gusto. Drink and smokes were passed round and all of us including Sam were the worst for wear and a couple of the more ardent drinkers were passed out with their heads led in pools of beer on the tables. Our host the landlord Mr Tillman was as merry as the rest of us and had got a right earful off his wife who I didn’t think was very impressed with her husband getting as tipsy as the rest of us. And then Mrs Tillman was shouting. “Time gentlemen please, let’s be having your tankards and be seeing your backs going through the door.” There were loud groans and cries of. “Stay open and just one more drink for the road.” Then Mr Tillman said. “Yes lets all have another drink and more music Sam get tinkling those ivories.” This earned him a clout from his wife as she said. “Don’t you dare play another song Sam or you’re barred and the rest of you lets be having you on you’re way home instead of keeping decent people up.” We said goodnight to the Tillmans and to Sam as we made our way out of the Intack then outside me and Charlie took our leave of Elijah and the Lord Brothers wishing them a Happy Christmas and pledging eternal friendship to one another. Then Elijah and the Lord Brothers caught their tram and Charlie and I walked off to catch ours still trying to wave at the fast disappearing tram.
We got off the tram at our stop and I said goodnight to Charlie and that I would see him at the church dance that night we then went our separate way. I walked round to General Gordon Street and then up the pathway where I was just about to ring the bell when I remembered that Rosie had given me a front door key and so I used it to get in. I crept up the stairs on unsteady legs I was trying not to make any noise so as not to wake the household up. I was just walking along the passage towards my room when Rosie came out of Ma’s room she came up to me and said. “I can see we’ve had a drink then haven’t we.” I gave her a drunken smile as she asked. “How was the funeral, did you give Bert and his father our condolences?” I replied to her question saying. “Yes and they were grateful for them and they sent their best to Ma and to you and Beth.” I then went on to give her a condensed version of what had happen during the day and night. I said. “Oh and by the way is it all right for Helen to have her tea here tomorrow night.” Rosie replied. “That’s fine we can all have a chat and then we can go down to the dance together, Beth’s going to look after Ma while I get a night off.” I said. “Right that’s a date then it will do you good to get out and let your hair down for once.” She smiled at me saying. “Right I’m off back into Ma’s room and you get your self off to bed you look as though your going to fall asleep on your feet.” I said good night to Rosie and wended my weary way to bed and then I undressed and got into bed and was asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.
The next morning I came down stairs and had breakfast with Rosie and Beth then I dressed and set off to have a talk with my old mates at Dombridge’s Foundry I went in and had a good chat with the lads and then I was summoned to the offices were old Mr Dombridge had tea served to me and had a chat with me as well. After this I called in at the Intack Inn again to see if there was any