Cheers broke out all around Esther, as the squire thumped the air with his raised fist. Then he turned and gestured towards a middle-aged man in army uniform, with several medals on his chest. He was introducing him to the crowd. ‘We are privileged to have Major Langley with us this evening. He is a recruiting officer for Lincolnshire. Major Langley, I invite you to address the gathering.’ The squire almost bowed towards his honoured guest as he rose and stepped forward.

The major’s booming voice rang out over their heads, echoing in the dusk of the evening. He entreated all the local men between nineteen and thirty-five to enlist. ‘You all stand and sing the National Anthem or Rule Britannia, but now we ask you to prove your patriotism by your sense of duty.’ His voice suddenly softened, and yet it still carried out into the night air. ‘I pay tribute to the great self-sacrifice of the women of our country during the past few weeks. Bravely, they have waved goodbye to their loved ones who have given themselves – their very lives – in the service of their King and country.’

His voice rose. ‘No young woman should allow herself to be seen with a man between the ages of nineteen and thirty-five unless he wears the King’s uniform.’ A few in the crowd applauded and he leaned towards them. ‘For any man who does not wear the uniform will make a rotten lover . . .’ the crowd cheered – ‘and a very much worse husband.’ The cheers grew louder.

Oh, he’s clever, thought Esther, he’s very clever. First he fosters a sense of outrage by his stories of the violation of women and children in Belgium, then he appeals to a man’s pride and sense of honour and as a final weapon he states blatantly that only a man in uniform is worthy of a woman’s love and pride. He’s making it a matter of a man’s virility.

Major Langley was speaking again, issuing a veiled threat. ‘If the young men of our country do not answer the call, the same fate will befall our women and children as those in Belgium. I know our fine young men cannot – will not – let that happen!’

Loud cheering and applause broke out and there was a surge towards the platform as from all sides young men moved forward to volunteer.

To a great roar from the crowd, the squire’s elder son, Rodney Marshall, was the first to step up on to the platform and be greeted by a vigorous handshake from the major. The squire beamed and surveyed the crowd, holding out his arm to show off his boy, as if it were the proudest moment in his life.

Others were following, climbing up on to the platform to be greeted by Major Langley.

Esther grabbed Ma Harris’s arm. ‘Oh no,’ she breathed. ‘There’s Ernie! We’ve got to stop him.’