‘Don’t let them get to you, nurse,’ he whispered. ‘Just think of them as naughty children. You’re doing fine and the other nurses will be back in fifteen minutes.’ He smiled in such a lovely way. ‘Now, open the screw at the base of that bottle of hypochlorite of soda, above the bed, and allow it to run down the tube and into my dressing. It’s going to kill any germs that are still hanging around.’

‘Thank you, it’s my first time,’ I said quietly. ‘I’m a little nervous.’

He smiled, glancing around at the other soldiers. ‘The best way to deal with the other patients is to be just as cocky back. Make sure they understand that you’re in charge.’

‘Thank you,’ I said quietly, then in a louder voice, ‘There, you’ll be fine, Corporal.’ He was an incorrigible flirt and had a wicked twinkle in his eye. The truth was, I found him to be quite adorable. According to his chart, the Corporal was twenty-three. A hint of freckles and boyish good looks made him appear much younger.

‘Will you call me Johnny, nurse?’ he said quietly, then winked. He glanced at my name badge. ‘You’re real pretty, Gertie Smith. Is there a boyfriend back home?’

‘Behave, you’re too bold, soldier. You’ll get me into trouble.’ My heart fluttered whenever our eyes met.

‘Why, what will you do, chain me to the bed like one of them suffragettes? Oh dear, you’re blushing again, nurse. We’ll have to overcome that little weakness or the other patients will never give you any peace.’ His gentle smile exposed even white teeth that showed no sign of him being a smoker. He frowned. ‘Cor, miss, I’m not one to complain, but it ain’t half stinky in here.’

‘It’s that lot,’ I said, nodding at the white porcelain tower by the door. ‘I was about to take care of them when you distracted me.’

A shudder rumbled through the ship with such violence, I had to grab a bedrail to stay upright. The bedpan tower toppled, their contents spilling onto the ward’s floor.

‘What on earth was that?’ I cried. ‘Good Lord, look at the mess. Matron will be furious!’

‘Boilerhouse problems by the sound of it,’ Perkins replied. ‘Don’t worry, the Britannic’s guaranteed unsinkable.’

‘Didn’t they say that about the Titanic? Look where that got them.’ I stared at the floor, wondering what had rattled the ship with such violence.

Perkins’s neighbour pleaded, ‘What a pong! Can’t you open the portholes?’

‘No, it’s forbidden. What if a big wave came in and soaked all the bedding? Where would we be then?’