Peggy found herself back in Lt. Mrs. Simpson’s office, Cpt. Vogel was also present. Immediately Peggy remembered Cpt. Vogel stating that he would send her back to her parents should he feel she was not coping or recovering from Harvey’s death.
“I know I have gone rather back in my healing process, the box with Harvey’s personal items knocked the wind out of my sails, but I will get better. Please do not send me to my parents’ home or elsewhere, please.” Peggy’s eyes implored them.
Cpt. Vogel frowned. “Good morning Peggy, please sit down.” He pulled out the chair for Peggy to sit.
Lt. Mrs. Simpson smiled at Peggy. “We have no intention of sending you anywhere Peggy.” Peggy relaxed into the back of the chair. “The Africans that guard our gate so diligently, well we want to start a school for their wives and children. I have spoken to them, and they seem very keen on the idea. Maxwell and I feel this might be just the thing you need right now. It will help fill your hours and you…”
Before Lt. Mrs. Simpson finished her sentence Peggy interrupted. “Oh, I would love to help; this is such a wonderful idea. Oh wait, I am sorry for butting in, perhaps you were not going to offer it to me.” Peggy slouched in the chair in dismay that she’d allowed her mind to get carried away.
Cpt. Vogel and Lt. Mrs. Simpson smiled amusedly at Peggy. “Do not despair Peggy dear; it is what we wanted to offer to you. We will pay for the supplies for teaching aids,” Lt. Mrs. Simpson pointed to herself and Cpt. Vogel, “and of course anyone else that will be so kind to help.”
“Oh thank you, this is a most wonderful thing, and of course, I will contribute. I am very grateful to you both, thank you. I do need this so much right now.”
Peggy delved into the setting up of the small school; it started with only two unwilling, shy little children and by May, it had grown to twenty-five on a good day, including at least four mothers. Audrey, Dorothy, Maisy and the other ladies naturally helped as much as they were willing. But Peggy gave every day, hour and minute she had when not working at the Radar Station to the school. Besides learning their native language in return, Peggy learned their skills in weaving. It was fulfilling and was without any doubt the prescribed medicine suitable for Peggy’s recovery. This was God’s medicine for her healing Peggy told herself.
The war in the seas slowed down to such a point that shifts became long, boring and monotonous. Hardly any enemy ships were now a threat to the South African coastline which left the operators and technicians little or nothing to do. All the tension was gone in and out of the Radar Stations; Silversands and Hangklip. The Sandown Bay Hotel held dances every Saturday and even when they made the trip to Somerset West or Cape Town the atmosphere was much lighter and happier. There might not have been as many soldiers consorting on the streets and in the clubs but the feeling that the war was soon to end filtered through everywhere and everyone. Peggy felt it, and her solemn demeanor faded into the back corners of her mind; she enjoyed the nights out with her faithful friends, she even had a dance or two but only with her close friends from the Silversands and Hangklip Barracks.
Winter settled in, the skies on June 6, of 1944 got darker and gloomier by the minute, and all anyone wanted to do was cuddle in their warm beds or near the fire in the Rec. room. Peggy wanted rather to be with the little children and the mothers at the school. Every day a large fire in the small classroom was built to keep them warm and cozy as they were educated.
Peggy watched the white line on her screen go around and around, and the only blips that occasionally sounded on the screen were of fishing vessels. Peggy slouched over the Radar Screen watching Audrey drawing pretty flowers on her map.
Suddenly a voice over the radio from Freddie blurted out excitedly, very loud and clearly. “101! Hullo, 101! The Allied forces have landed on the Normandy coast. The invasion has started.”
Peggy, Audrey, and Frank screamed with elation, jumping out of their seats, hugging and dancing about the Tech-hut. A voice from the Hangklip Radar Station shouted down the radio too, and a lot of cheering was heard in the background. Frank immediately ran down to Cpt. Vogel’s office and burst in his office door, his arms flung open, and he shouted: “It’s nearly over.”
Cpt. Vogel jumped up from his seat in fright as well as from joy, and within a few minutes, everyone was dancing and singing that soon they’d return to their lives as before. As happy as Peggy was she couldn’t help the jealous feeling that Harvey should be there singing and dancing too. That now she and Harvey would start their future together as a family as they had discussed so often. And what was she to do about the school now? The children could not be abandoned, simply because the war was nearly over? Her mind swirled around in a blended mess of mixed emotions.
Christmas of 1944 and New Year of 1945 Peggy’s heartache and yearning for her lost husband tagged her heart strings bitterly. The joy of Christmas and New Year; everyone was full of love and goodwill but all Peggy wanted to do was to rip her heart out. What made matters worse for Peggy was the unfairness that she felt at never having spent a Christmas with Harvey. She imagined how they would’ve woken up and shared presents shared in the festive feast that Chef cooked up. It grieved her so that Christmas for her was forever ruined. Her consolation was the children at the school. She poured her love into them and made Christmas for them special with gifts and sweets. Peggy based all her teaching around Jesus’ love for the little children, and she desired so much to teach them the Gospel. She had to be patient; she knew that, however, lonely her heart was, she had to put that aside and show the children and their mothers how much God loved them.
***
A joyous and celebratory day to remember, May 8, 1945, the jubilant voice over the radio, from Freddie announced that Germany had surrendered; the end and everyone’s release had to be soon.
Each time the radio from Freddie sizzled and a voice echoed over it, the operators and technicians hearts stilled in anticipation of the desired news. Until that official announcement came, life at the Silversands Barracks went on as usual. It was not exciting or depressing, no ships or fishing vessels were sunk, but each officer still performed their duty as if their life depended on it. Some of the officers, operators and technicians were demobilized and relieved from duty. There was always a hint of sadness at their leaving since the Silversands and Hangklip Barracks had become an oversized tight-knitted family. Promises of staying in touch were always committed to each other, and everyone honestly intended to do so.
September 2, 1945, Cpt. Vogel requested everyone to meet in the Rec. room, even those that were on duty. He stood before all the anxious operators and technicians that he had come to respect and love, and simply announced. “It is over. The war has come to an end, and we can all finally and eventually go home.” He smiled, lifted his arms to calm down the heightened voices and when they had, he asked Cecil to pray for peace in the world.
A round of applause exploded when Cecil said Amen and that night they all celebrated in the Rec. room with much dancing and much happiness, even Peggy.
Slowly the remaining operators and technicians were demobilized, and their lives at Silversands and Hangklip became part of another life, and it was a life of great memories and stories they’d have to repeat many times over.