Читать книгу The Other Side of the Trench - G. S. Willmott - Страница 8

Chapter 4

Harry continued to play for Port Melbourne until he turned thirty, one of the oldest players in the league. Nothing really eventful took place over the next few years. Harry continued to live at home with his parents while all his old mates had married and had kids. It wasn’t that Harry would not have liked to follow the same path as his mates, it was just that he had not met any young lady who really took his fancy. Then he met Emma. She was ten years Harry’s junior with a pretty face, a little bit chubby and with a great sense of humour. Emma made Harry’s life fulfilled in many ways. The year was 1914 and the European war had just been declared. Harry did not quite understand what it was all about; some Duke got shot by a Serb and all hell broke loose. All Harry knew was that the Germans and the Austrians and Turks were at war with Britain and therefore Australia.

Harry’s grandfather, a bloke called Conrad Iffinger was German born and raised in a little village called Neckargemund, just ten kilometres from Heidelberg. When he was just sixteen he stowed away on a ship going goodness knows where, to avoid National Service in the German army. The “goodness knows where” turned out to be Melbourne, Australia. The other side of his ancestry, the Daniel side, was English so he had all sides covered.

As 1914 progressed into 1915 more and more of his football mates were enlisting for the “great adventure.” Harry was now thirty-six and he was deeply in love with Emma. He dreaded the thought of leaving her behind. Harry also felt a great compulsion to fight for his country and for Mother England so he really faced a conundrum.

Harry walked the two blocks to Emma’s house to pick her up to go dancing at the Palais in St Kilda. He knocked on her door and her elder brother Tom opened it.

‘G’Day Harry. Where you taking my young sis tonight?’

‘To the Palais, mate she loves dancing, she can even make me look alright on the dance floor.’

‘Well there should be plenty of space for you two to dance. Most of the blokes I know have enlisted, in fact I enlisted today. What about you, Harry?’

Harry leaned forward. ‘Tom, don’t tell your sister. I want to break it to her tonight but I have enlisted and I leave for training camp in two weeks.’

‘Bloody Hell, I won’t say a word.’ Tom said in a hushed tone.

Emma came to the door, Harry looked at her beautiful face, and his heart sank. How was he going to tell her about his imminent departure to join the great force in Europe or Gallipoli?

‘You look beautiful, Emma’

‘Thank you Harry and you look very handsome. They left to catch the tram which, after two changes, would deliver them to the famous Palais.

All night Harry was trying to build up the courage to tell Emma his news but every time he tried he would just clam up. It was not until they were at Emma’s front gate that Harry finally blurted it out, not at all how he had rehearsed it:

‘Emma I have enlisted and will be going to basic training at Broadmeadows in two weeks time.’

‘Harry my love, I have been expecting this news for some time now. You are a brave and courageous man and I am very proud of you.’

‘I am going to miss you Emma, very much and I would be honoured if you would marry me on my return.’ Harry had a tear in his eye.

Emma moved toward Harry and hugged him tight and would not let go for what seemed an eternity.

‘Harry I would be honoured to be your wife.’ ‘There is only one condition Harry my love.’

‘Oh, said Harry surprised and what would that be darling?’ This was the first time he had called her darling.

‘We get engaged before you go off to war.’

‘But what if I don’t come back?’ ‘You will my darling, you must.’

The couple became engaged the next Saturday night witnessed by a few friends and by Emma and Harry’s families. Everybody there was very happy for the couple but also worried for Emma if Harry did not return.

On the following Wednesday the 14^th of July, 1915, Harry entered the new Broadmeadows training camp. It was a huge tent city with muddy roads and very basic facilities. So basic were the facilities that many of the new recruits became ill and were hospitalised not a great start to what they thought would be a great adventure.