Jim strides through the kitchen straight to the sitting room. He flicks on the wireless and throws himself into his chair, his elbows resting on the arms, his fingers steepled before him, while Gwen comes to a standstill before the set. Jack follows cautiously behind and, receiving no objection, draws beside her. The minutes tick by on the mantel clock. The eleven o’clock deadline comes and goes. Gwen presses her fingers to her lips. Through the background hiss it starts:

‘This is London. You will now hear a statement by the Prime Minister …’

Chamberlain’s clipped voice begins from the hollow confines of the war rooms. He speaks slowly, pausing between clauses, and then his strict tone relents to one of sadness as he confirms the nation’s fears:

‘Consequently, this country is at war with Germany.’

Bells peal across the radio waves following the conclusion of his statement, filling the deathly hush as they await the public information announcements they have been warned will follow.

‘Well, that’s that, then,’ Jim says, his manner subdued.

They listen closely as information is relayed on the immediate closure of theatres and cinemas, ‘If they were hit by a bomb, large numbers would be killed or injured’, and description is given to the different methods of alarm – the sirens, hooters and whistles that will signal an impending air raid, and hand rattles for gas. They listen to information on school closures and the call for empty streets; they absorb instructions for carrying identification and how luggage labels bearing names and addresses should be sewn into children’s clothes. It is impossible not to be affected by the unspoken reasoning behind these rules.

The details begin to wash over them as the information ceases to be directly relevant – the prohibition of Underground stations as air-raid shelters and the practicalities of benefits collection will not affect them. By the time the sobering relay has concluded, they are numb. There is a hiss-filled pause and then the national anthem strikes up loud and clear.

Jim pushes himself up from his seat. They stand listening to the stirring notes passionately played by the brass band and just as the final chord is struck, Jack feels Gwen’s fingers slip into his.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Gwen

August 1945

Tom is up by the time they finish milking. He runs down to the gate as they are placing the last of the churns on the milk stand, collapsing to his knees to fuss over Kip, who placidly submits to his suffocating embrace.

Nora is to return the cows to the field. Tom leaps up begging to go with her and when the Land Girl offers no objection, Gwen agrees. She watches him skip after the departing herd, before returning to clean out the milking parlour.