LITMIR.BIZ

      Henry and Sam made the most of their time with their respective girlfriends.

      Henry organised a romantic dinner at a little café in East London They both chose fish and chips with a side salad. Beer was their drink of choice.

      ‘Jane, when I return from the war would you consider marrying me?’

      ‘Henry I would be honoured to be your wife.’

      ‘Right, wonderful, excellent that’s settled then.’

      ‘There’s only one thing darling.’

      ‘Oh, and what’s that?’

      ‘You’ve got to come home alive.’

      ‘I’ll certainly do my best sweetheart.’

      Holding hands they left dinner, heads swimming with thoughts of their future lives together.

      Sam took Anna to the cinema where the main feature was The Italian directed by Reginald Barker

      Anna didn’t think much of the film but Sam quite enjoyed it.

      They had a coffee on the way home.

      ‘Anna do you think we have a future together?’

      ‘Well Sam it’s hard to say, what with you going off to war and all.’

      ‘Assuming I come back in one piece, would you marry me then?’

      ‘Sam darling, just come back and then we can talk about it.’

      Sam walked her home and kissed her farewell. He was not at all confident that he would ever see her again; Anna could well be married by the time he returned if he ever did return.

      William and Victoria lay in bed holding hands both aware they would not make love again for a very long time.

      ‘William, promise me you will come home safely. And make sure Henry and Sam are with you.’

      ‘Darling, I will come home unscathed and will take care of our boys. Chances are, by the time we get over there, the war will be over.’

      ‘I certainly hope so. Should I make you wait until your return to make love again?’

      ‘I have no control over how long this war will go on for my darling.’

      ‘That’s true, come here.’

      The next morning the two brothers said goodbye to their mother, sisters and little brother. William hugged his wife reiterating his promise to return as they departed to join their Battalion at barracks.

      October 18^th 1914

      The 5^th London Regiment marched to the dock at Southampton and boarded several troop ships bound for Marseilles.

      Conditions were hot and cramped and with many of the men suffering from seasickness it was often a fight to reach the hand railing.

      After what seemed an eternity the ships pulled into Marseilles the majority of the soldiers could not wait to feel the earth under their feet.

      Their journey continued by train up to Belgium and a city called Ypres. Most of the troops had never heard of Ypres, let alone pronounce it correctly.

      Again conditions were cramped on the train but at least they didn’t have rough seas to contend with.

      So far the Jordan men had been able to stick together and it was reassuring for Henry and Sam to have their father by their side.

      Two days before the 5^th London Regiment arrived fighting began. This became known as the First Battle of Ypres.

       Ypres October 29 ^th 1914

      The Cloth Hall and Cathedral

      Troops were assembled at the railway siding ready to march into Ypres. There seemed no visible fighting although they could hear artillery in the distance.