That was the last letter Ada had received. Though the increasing joy of motherhood was now a constant in her life, she still woke up every morning with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Where was her beloved, was he sick, hungry, still able to work? Or had something gone wrong since that last letter? None of the possibilities brought any comfort to her nervous state; she had to do what millions of women were forced to do every day that war continued: buckle down and get on with it, and wear a smile even though her heart was breaking.

Fortunately, as summer gave way to autumn, the landscape of the war in North Africa radically changed. In early September, at the Battle of Alam el Halfa, General Montgomery had his first victory after taking command of the Eighth Army, while the German Commander, General Rommel, suffered a humiliating loss. For a change the Allies were winning rather than losing in North Africa, which brought a broad smile to everyone’s face when the news broke. Montgomery was seen as a hero who would reshape and empower his Eighth Army, leading them on to further victories.

The news had brought both pride and joy to Ada, but she would only rest easy when Jamie was granted leave, if only to see his daughter for a few days. Recently, her thoughts ricocheted between returning to work and news from the Front, and when she wasn’t preoccupied with those, Ada was busy feeding, washing, cleaning, gardening and cooking. It had unquestionably been a long and very happy summer for her and Catherine, but now it was time to re-enter the real world, where Ada knew her presence and support were urgently needed, especially so since the news of Edith Mann’s suicide had been in the news.

After settling Catherine in the nursery, gurgling and bouncing on Dora’s knee as her nappy was changed, Ada blew her dear trusted friend a kiss before hurrying down the hospital corridor to Matron’s office.

‘Good-morning,’ she said as she opened the door. Seeing Matron with her head in her hands, Ada rushed to her side.

‘Dearest, what is it?’

‘I should have done more for Edith,’ Matron said in a choked voice. ‘I just can’t get the poor woman out of my mind. It’s my job to look after my staff – why didn’t I see it coming?’ she wailed.

Stroking her hand, Ada said soothingly, ‘Nobody could have second guessed Edith’s thoughts; none of us had a clue of what she was planning; she was a very private woman.’