A chuckle escaped Olivia’s lips as her friend was handed a uniform, on top of which lay the biggest pair of knickers either of the girls had ever seen. ‘What are these for?’ said Maude, holding up the knickers with a look of distaste.

The corporal grinned. ‘Them’s what they call the passion killers. Ain’t you ever seen a pair of bloomers before?’

‘Cheeky devil!’ tutted Maude. ‘I don’t wear bloomers.’

The man chuckled and waggled his eyebrows suggestively. ‘Oh aye, what do you wear, then?’

Maude glanced haughtily at him. ‘Never you mind!’

He gave her a playful wink. ‘Have you had your jabs yet?’

‘I beg your pardon!’ said Maude.

He grinned. ‘You know, jabs, needles, injections.’

Maude turned anxiously to Olivia. ‘Please tell me he’s joking?’

Olivia grimaced. ‘I’m afraid he’s telling the truth.’

With Olivia the next in line, the corporal cast a scrutinising eye over her figure before collecting the various garments from the shelving behind him and handing them over. Olivia waited for the obligatory flippant remark regarding her size, and was pleasantly surprised when he asked her to move on.

Leaving the hut behind them, Maude turned to Olivia. ‘Do you think we can lie and say we’ve already had them?’

Olivia shook her head. ‘They’re not stupid. Besides, I’d rather have an injection than come down with something nasty.’

Maude reluctantly agreed. ‘I suppose one little injection can’t hurt.’

A few days later, both Olivia and Maude were laid up in bed after receiving several injections, one of which had disagreed with most of the girls in their billet.

‘Famous last words,’ moaned Maude, pulling her knees up to her chest.

‘I don’t want to eat anything ever again,’ groaned Olivia.

‘I hope Sally and the snake have to suffer injections like this,’ said Maude.

Olivia smiled briefly, before grimacing. ‘I hope we don’t have to have any more.’

The girl in the bunk opposite Olivia’s turned a sweaty face towards them. ‘I asked and they said we’d had our lot, thank God.’ She sank back down.

‘At least they’re not making us march round that soddin’ yard,’ muttered Maude, and a general murmur of agreement came from the rest of the girls.

They soon recovered from their ordeal, and after several weeks of what seemed like relentless drill and square-bashing, both girls passed their initial training.

Having gone down a dress size, Olivia admired her reflection in the mirror of the ablutions.

‘You look marvellous,’ said Maude as she emerged from the cubicle. ‘Carry on as you are and you’ll have a tummy flatter than mine.’

Olivia roared with laughter. ‘Trust me, that’s never going to happen.’

Maude washed her hands in the sink next to Olivia’s. ‘Don’t be so negative! You’ve already lost a few inches from your waist. Keep going and you’ll be fit as a fiddle.’