Trembling with excitement, I felt Sissy’s spirit rise inside me. I had to try! For the first time since my sister’s death, I felt a glimmer of true purpose.

‘Your father’s not going to be pleased, Gertie,’ Sergeant Miller said, handing me the form. ‘Fill this in and submit it, along with any other relevant papers, at the town hall.’

I raced home again, the wind coursing through my hair. I snatched my St John certificate and my French and German schoolbooks, tossed them into the wicker shopper on the front of my bicycle, and pedalled like fury back into Dover.

My heart was thumping by the time I reached the town hall. I retrieved lipstick, powder, and a compact from under the gas mask in my saddlebag – there was no need to rouge my glowing cheeks but I applied the lipstick.

With all my heart and soul, I ached to nurse the sick and injured, to be the heroine of my own life and the lives of others. To be remembered for who I was, to demonstrate to my parents that I was as valuable as my sister and just as capable of performing noble deeds. Having worshipped Sissy until the day she died, I knew the time had come for me to rise up and prove myself. I hurried up the town hall steps as fast as I could.

My age, eighteen, was a problem, so I lied at the desk. ‘Twenty-three, sir,’ I claimed, knowing this was the minimum for female volunteers. Lucky to be taller than most eighteen-year-olds, I stretched up and proudly lifted my chin.

Had he recognised the lie?

Breathe, look confident, be Sissy! It’s all in a good cause.

‘I’m quite capable, sir,’ I said boldly. My heart thudded as I handed over my papers and flung my shoulders back. ‘I passed my St John exam with merit because my father’s a doctor. Also, as you can see from my notebooks, I am fluent in French, and German.’ This was a gross exaggeration. ‘As you know, sir, these languages are a great advantage in these difficult times.’

I could not believe I had spoken to him like that!

His eyes narrowed as he studied me, then he nodded and handed over a list. ‘These are the things you’ll need for training camp, young woman.’