Chapter 59

“Since you will be travelling on a hospital ship, I do have to confirm you were wounded during the war, your identification, and their passports,” Lieutenant Morrison said as they returned to the office.

I raised my pants leg, showing him the scar on my leg from the bone splinter, then took off my beret, touching the two scars on the right side of my head. “I was wounded four times in combat, five if I include the German shooting me in the head, who was about to kill Boris. I’d have to take off my shirt and drop my pants to show you the other scars.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“My service number is 73626. I’m missing the lower half of my dog tags because I was declared dead by a Doc, and before I could be buried, we were attacked by the Germans. When the burial detail returned, I was gone, Lana, Boris, and Benthe saving my life.”

“How horrible it would have been to buried and still alive. Uw paspoorten, alstublieft.”

“Your passports, please,” he asked, looking at them.

Benthe took their documents from a bag, handed them to him, including their marriage certificate.

He flipped through several pages on each one. “They are current and good to go.”

“I have several questions. When can we board the ship and my in-laws belongings be stowed aboard?”

“I’ll make a quick call.” As the Lieutenant spoke, he tried to hide his several glances at Lana’s revealing cleavage.

“I spoke with the Quarter Master and you can park by the ship where he’ll document their kit and the Head Steward will assign you a room.”

Lieutenant Morrison made out four boarding passes and handed them to me. I thanked him and the Corporal for their help and directed Boris to drive over to the ship. I spoke to the Quarter Master, indicating the items Boris and Benthe were taking. He placed an identification sticker on each box or bag and had them loaded on the ship.

We returned to Lieutenant Morrison’s office, where Boris offered him the keys to the Opel to take for a test drive. I carried my rucksack and the other bags as we went to the Lady Nelson and up the passenger ramp.

A Steward met us who asked to see our boarding passes. They were presented, then compared to the passenger list. I pointed out we four were under Father Dekker’s name and showed him my family’s documents.

“I can understand your wife going with you as she is considered to be a war bride. Many have already accompanied their wounded husband back to Canada. I can see that you were wounded and walk with a slight limp. Two civilians emigrating to Canada is another story. I don’t recall us taking and civilians to Canada, but from what I can see, all their papers seem to be in order. I don’t know who this Father Dekker fella is, but he seems to have more rank pull, than a full Colonel.”

“He’s a very good man and was the one who married Lana and I.”

The Steward looked at Lana and Benthe. “Is your wife and mother-in-law pregnant?”

“Yes, they’re both due about the middle of February.”

“Accommodations are limited, so you four will have to share the same cabin. I’ll assign you one closer to the middle of the ship to reduce the effects should they feel sea sick from the rocking of the ship.”

I thanked him and he showed us to cabin number twelve and opened the door.

“The Lady Nelson is a hospital ship equipped to handle any emergency. The ship will begin to load her passengers, all wounded soldiers, within the hour. We leave tomorrow morning at ten for Liverpool, to take on more wounded, then set course for Canada. We expect to arrive at Pier 21 in Halifax on the 21st.”

“The Nelson is capable of carrying 515 patients and 494 are booked on this crossing. We have an experienced crew of doctors, assistants, and Nursing Sisters. I’m sure once it is known that your wife and mother-in-law are pregnant, the doctor’s staff will likely offer them a good examination. There is an information booklet on the table telling you about the ship, a diagram of the layout, meal hours, etc. There a are five kitchens on board, so you definitely won’t go hungry.”

“Thank you, that would be appreciated.”

“Lieutenant Colonel Taylor is the Chief Medical Officer onboard the Lady Nelson. You’ll see several wards that are signed off-limit to unauthorized personnel. About half the soldiers are, walking wounded, having lost a limb. Some are suffering from infectious diseases, others have psychiatric disorders that have to be closely monitored. One look at your wife and mother-in-law in their revealing tops would send most any men into a frenzy.”

“When we arrive in Halifax, you won’t have to rush to disembark from the ship. The Canadian government wants everyone to leave Lady Nelson in alphabetical order, and Van Den Haven to towards the end.”

We looked around the cabin that had two couches on opposite walls, I assumed that turn into beds. There was a small table with four chairs and a washroom with a shower, sink, and toilet.

We settled in our room, unpacking most of our clothes, then took a tour of the ship that would be our home for the next several days. Looking out over the railing, we could see the long line of soldiers, their names confirmed on the passenger manifest, then if able, walked up the ramp to board the ship.