Mr Frister blustered and glared at Arthur. ‘I’ll thank you to accompany your sister to the door, Master Smith, and bid her not to return. We’ve wasted too much of the morning already.’

‘Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.’

Sissy was so furious that Arthur hadn’t backed her, she locked herself in the bedroom and refused to dine with us.

The next day, the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies announced that it was suspending all activity until the conflict was over. Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst encouraged suffragettes to focus on the war effort. She asked women to take up the roles of men in factories and, on 10 August, we learned that our government was releasing the thousand incarcerated suffragettes from prison.

‘Hurrah!’ Sissy rejoiced. ‘It takes a war for our leaders to see sense. The same men that got us into this horrible situation, now see us women as useful human beings!’ she cried. ‘I’m applying for a job, immediately.’

Mother had taken to whimpering every time one of us spoke.

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Father boomed. ‘What can you do?’

‘I can drive as well as any man!’ Sissy proclaimed.

‘Impossible! You’ve never been behind a wheel, never mind tackled the gears.’

‘With respect, Father, neither had you until you acquired our marvellous Model T.’ She met his eyes. ‘Or I might train to be a doctor, like you.’ She gave me a quick glance and I sensed mischief. ‘You’re admired by everyone, Father, and I would be proud to learn your skills.’ Another glance came my way. ‘Just imagine, if Gertie and I followed in your footsteps, you could hang a sign over the surgery: DR SMITH & DAUGHTERS.’

Father’s face turned puce.

*

Two days later, Sissy and I signed on for our St John Ambulance training. I dreamed of being a nurse, and Sissy hoped to be the first woman ambulance driver for the Red Cross. Father and Mother were shocked. This was not the behaviour of ‘nice’ young ladies. However, much to Father’s surprise, we both achieved our certificates in first aid, and also understood a great deal about the workings of the human body. Meal times were most entertaining as my sister pestered Father with medical questions. He, in turn, gave up trying to remind Sissy of her ‘place’, and I do believe he was secretly quite proud of her.

My darling brother had his inoculations, which gave him a horrible scab on the top of his arm and made him feel quite wretched for a few days. Then, he went off for training on Salisbury Plain where, he told us later, he spent most of his days digging trenches, learning to clean and fire his rifle, and polish his boots. He was sent to fight in a major battle – Mons, Belgium, on 23 August.