The Dog with Seven Names Page 12

  We can be contacted at the address on the envelope or through the Red Cross. As I said, my father is coastwatching, one brother is overseas and another was listed as missing after the Fall of Singapore. My third brother, William, is training at the Geraldton Flying School. If you are able to send word with a pilot or evacuee, I’ll ask Will to watch out for any mail from Port Hedland.

  With the recent air raids, I know that you’ll have more pressing concerns than my dog, but Princess is very dear to me, and this week, I’ve been remembering our last Christmas together. If you have any news at all of her whereabouts, I would be so grateful to hear from you.

  Sincerely yours

  Elsie Grey

  ‘Well, Your Highness,’ Matron said. ‘It looks like we’ve found your family at last.’ She tickled my ears. ‘But don’t think I’ll be calling you Princess anytime soon!’

  I snuggled against Matron’s arm and she chuckled.

  ‘I’d better find some clean paper so I can write to your Elsie and let her know you’re safe.’

  I jumped onto my hind legs and whirled in circles.

  ‘Take care of your cyclone wounds,’ Matron warned. ‘The stitches have healed nicely, and Doc won’t be happy if you undo his good work.’

  Her words reminded me that I no longer looked like a princess. I crept under the bougainvillea. Would Elsie want a broken-down dog with a missing leg? She’d loved dressing me in handsome ribbons and bonnets. Now, even the prettiest ribbons couldn’t hide my scars. I gnawed at my paws and stared across the yard towards the sea.

  Matron wrote back and soon after that another letter arrived.

  8 August 1943

  Dear Matron,

  I was so grateful to receive your letter, thank you. I cried with relief to hear that my Princess is alive and safe in your care. I’ve missed her so much.

  After all the fear and bad news, how wonderful to know that something from my past has not changed forever.

  Since my first letter I’ve mastered signalling and I help at the Flying School. I’ve also been inspired by the Women’s Land Army to help on a local farm. I’m too young to be a proper Land Girl, but this makes me feel as if I’m doing more to support our boys. At the moment we’re planting silverbeet and parsnip. There’s an old dog on the farm, so perhaps Princess will be able to come to work with me and help too.

  My mother sends her thanks and hopes you are safe in Port Hedland.

  Sincerely yours

  Elsie Grey

  I rested my head on Matron’s lap as she read, feeling confused. Relief was good, but tears were bad. And what on earth was parsnip? I blinked, wondering if this letter meant that Elsie would come to take me home with her? Or would I stay in Hedland until War ended? And if Elsie did come for me, who was this other dog?

  Matron stroked my ears. ‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘We’ll find a way to get you back to your Elsie.’

  Matron wrote another letter and read her words to me.

  12 August 1943

  Dear Elsie,

  I am sending this letter with Jimmy Woods. He promises to hand-deliver it to the Geraldton Flying School.

  Your Princess is as sweet-natured as ever and everyone at Port Hedland and Marble Bar loves her dearly, but sadly some things have also changed for her.

  Flynn, as we call your terrier, was badly injured during the cyclone last year. She almost died and to save her life, our doctor had to amputate a leg. Please try not to worry. Your Princess has learnt to get about very well on three legs, but she is of course more cautious now.

  Flynn/Princess was also attacked by crows or an eagle when she lay injured after the storm. Her face is scarred and since then your Princess has developed a fear of all birds.

  Although Flynn/Princess has changed physically, her nature is brave and affectionate. As I said, we love her dearly but know she will be missing you. Now that your mother agrees you are able to look after her, I will try to find a way to get her to Geraldton. With the recent attacks she’ll be safer in the south and with more talk of a Brisbane Line separating the country, no one knows how long any of us can remain here.

  Best wishes

  Matron Wellard

  After Matron slid her letter into an envelope, I paced the yard. Would Elsie want an injured dog? I began fretting, wondering how long it would take Elsie to write back.

  It was more than four days.

  Doc and I flew inland. Every day I followed Doc or Bonnie or Joan, hoping they had a message from Matron. They shooed me away, so I hid under the hospital gnawing at a clump of fur on my front leg. Joan growled at me when she saw the bare spot, but then her voice softened.

  ‘What’s wrong, little Flynn?’

  I wished I could tell her.

  At last Matron radioed through a message. Elsie had received her letter and would wait until Matron found a way to reunite us.

  But what about my missing leg, I wondered. Had Elsie read Matron’s words about that? Did she still want a broken Princess?

  I paced and wriggled and tried not to gnaw my leg.

  When Doc took me back to Port Hedland. I ran to find Matron. She patted me, made a cup of tea, then said, ‘Sit down, Flynn, and I’ll read you a copy of the letter I sent to Geraldton.’

  21 August 1943

  Dear Elsie,

  Apologies for this scrawled letter, I’m writing in haste …

  I have spoken to our doctor. He asked me to tell you that he needs new engine parts for the aeroplane and will fly to Geraldton in the next few weeks.

  Doc says he would be delighted to reunite you both. Like me he’s been worried about the safety of Flynn/Princess here in the north-west. Doctor isn’t sure when he’ll be able to leave, but he hopes to make the trip before the end of the month.

  I didn’t know how long it was until ‘the end of the month’, but surely it wasn’t too much longer. I twirled. Soon I would be with my Elsie.

  Then I stopped. What if my scars frightened her?

  I heard the distant rumble of a plane engine and looked to the sky. Matron watched me nervously, but I licked her hand. It was the sound of Electra, not an enemy bomber or Zero. She kept reading.

  In the meantime, I hope we can all stay safe. Now that our boys have recaptured Wau and Guadalcanal, perhaps we’ll see an end to the bombings along our coast. Like you, I have a brother serving overseas. I pray they’ll both come home.

  I’d best stop now. Please thank your mother for her prayers and best wishes until next time.

  Jane Wellard

  I stared at Matron. I’d never thought about her having another name. Jane was a short, sensible word. It suited her. I licked Matron’s foot, but she shook me off.

  ‘No more lazing about,’ Matron Jane said, readjusting her apron. ‘There’s work to be done, Your Highness.’

  As she hurried away to find Doc, I was pleased that Matron’s footsteps were soft.

  10

  Elsie’s Princess

  Late August 1943

  I peered over Geraldton as Doc turned Swallow, preparing to land. The town was much bigger than Port Hedland. I saw tall buildings, cars, railway tracks and ships tied to a jetty. Somewhere, among all this, was my Elsie. I wriggled with excitement and fear.

  The airstrip was busy, with small planes taking off and circling. I raised my nose. The air felt different here. It was warm, but not scorching like Marble Bar. I also smelt the familiar salt of the ocean. I wagged my tail.

  As Swallow rolled to a stop, young men in flying suits gathered around.

  ‘Welcome to Geraldton.’

  ‘How was your flight?’

  Doc answered their questions, then said, ‘I’m looking for a girl called Elsie Grey.’ He nodded at me. ‘Her dog wants to dance for her.’

  ‘Elsie helps at the Signals Shed,’ a tall fellow answered. ‘She asked me to watch out for you.’ The man pointed to the other side of the runway. ‘I could mind your dog or go over and find Elsie for you.’

  ‘Th
ank you,’ Doc said, ‘if you could bring her that would be kind. I’d like to spend these last few moments with Flynn. We’ve flown together for over a year and I’m going to miss her.’

  As the man drove away in a truck, I leant against Doc and listened to his heart. Its steady beat pulsed sadness, but I also sensed happiness for me.

  The other men returned to their aeroplanes and we waited in the shade of a strange, twisted tree that was hunched over like old Jock’s back. Matron had scrubbed me with carbolic, but she’d missed one flea. I scratched until Doc told me to stop. His voice was gruff, but I felt his love and knew he wasn’t cross.

  Doc read aloud from his newspaper as we waited, but I was too restless to listen. After so long apart, would Elsie recognise me? And could she really love a broken-down dog with three legs?

  Doc pointed to a line of dots on his news paper and spoke about someone called Eddie Ward and the ‘Brisbane Line’, but I wasn’t interested in lines. I wanted to be with my Elsie. I wriggled. Why was it taking so long to get her?

  My missing leg ached. I bent to lick it, even though I knew my leg wasn’t there.

  At last we heard the truck’s engine. I squinted into the glare.

  ‘I can see two people,’ Doc said.

  I squirmed.

  ‘One of them is a young woman …’

  The truck stopped in a cloud of dust. I couldn’t see Elsie but I smelt her.

  I gallop-hopped as fast as I could, then danced in circles.

  As Elsie stepped out I leapt into her arms.

  ‘Princess!’

  I licked her face. My body had changed and so had Elsie’s. She was tall now and smelt like a woman. As Elsie stroked the scars on my chest I looked up nervously. Did my injuries scare her?

  ‘Princess,’ Elsie whispered. ‘You’ve found me at last.’

  She didn’t seem to mind …

  ‘I’m so sorry for leaving you,’ Elsie cried.

  Tears fell onto my whiskers. I shook them away, then burrowed into Elsie until she laughed. My Elsie still loved me. Three legs didn’t matter! I danced in circles until Elsie hugged me to her chest. As I licked Elsie’s beaming face, she stroked my scars and promised that no matter what happened, no one would ever separate us again.

  Afterword

  1951

  I wish I could say we all lived happily ever after. For me, being with Elsie was all that mattered. But when Elsie suffered, I suffered too.

  The War continued. In human time, it went for another two years.

  War changed Elsie’s family forever. Oldest brother died at a place called Changi, and Middle brother came back from Kokoda with a wet-smelling illness. Youngest brother learnt to fly. He refuelled planes at the airstrip and complained about wanting to do more. The War ended before he could go away to fight, and Elsie was glad.

  The Boss returned from coastwatching, meaner than ever. He and the Missus fought. Then the Boss left and never came back. Elsie and I weren’t sad. Youngest brother, Elsie and Missus stayed in the Geraldton house. Sometimes I missed the sounds and smells of Hedland and the cattle station, but life in Geraldton was peaceful.

  Elsie became a nurse. She met a young man named George and when he came to visit, they went for long walks. I wasn’t invited, but that was all right, my three legs were becoming slower. George brought me biscuits and made a fuss of me. He smelt kind and safe. I didn’t mind sharing Elsie with him.

  One afternoon I followed George and the family to an old building with a pointy roof. Elsie held flowers and wore a white dress like Matron’s (but Elsie’s smelt nicer). Elsie kissed my nose, then walked inside the building holding Middle brother’s arm. I had to wait outside until she came out, but this time she was holding onto George’s arm. Everyone cheered and threw rice. I thought of Lee Wah, knowing he’d click his tongue to see people wasting his favourite food.

  Seasons passed.

  Elsie and George had babies who grew into children who loved and spoiled me. I became fat. Sometimes, when I lay on my mat in the late afternoon sun, I remembered the special people in my life. Those who’d loved me enough to give me a name. I remembered Dave, whose last wish passed me safely to Doc and Matron and Fred. Memories of Lee Wah patiently teaching me to walk made my old tail wag. Then I thought of Beth and Hendrik. I hoped Beth’s family had found a safe home and that Hendrik’s lopsided face had learnt to smile.

  My eyes twinkled when I thought about Bonnie and Hank. I’d brought them together and we’d had fun going for walks and swimming at the Marble Bar rock pool. War had brought sadness but also some happy times.

  Most days now I lie in my basket in the sun. I woof and twitch in my sleep, thinking about my family and remembering happy times with my friends in Port Hedland. Most of all I remember Doc and our flights together; taking the big-belly ladies to safety, buddy-breathing with Old Lanky, escaping the Japanese Zeroes, meeting Hank and his enormous Liberators, and then that last exciting-sad flight to find Elsie.

  As I sleep, I fly through clouds on Swallow’s back and memories drift into dreams until someone comes along to tickle my ears. They pat me and I stretch, knowing I’ve been a very lucky dog. Then I lick their hand, roll over and doze again.

  World War II and Story Timeline

  1935

  An Australian Inland Mission (AIM) base is established in Port Hedland. In 1942, the name changes to the Flying Doctor Service (FDS) and later to Royal Flying Doctor Service

  1939

  1 September

  Germany invades Poland

  3

  Britain and France declare war on Germany (as does Australia)

  28 October

  Dog is born on a north-west cattle station

  7 November

  Rivette wins the Melbourne Cup

  25 December

  Dog is given to Elsie

  1940

  July

  Formation of the Australian Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)

  July–October

  The Battle of Britain

  1941

  March

  Formation of the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF)

  7 October

  John Joseph Curtin is sworn in as Australia’s 14th Prime Minister

  19 November

  HMAS Sydney sinks off the Western Australia coast (645 men lost)

  7 December

  Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

  1942

  15 February

  Fall of Singapore

  19

  Japanese air raids on Darwin

  20

  Elsie’s family evacuates

  3 March

  Japanese air raids on Wyndham and Broome Dutch Dakota shot down at Carnot Bay (with a fortune in diamonds)

  16

  RAAF commandeer Fox Moth

  24

  Port Hedland cyclone

  31

  Fox Moth is repossessed

  13 April

  Fox Moth crashes on take-off, replaced by BA Swallow

  Corunna Downs construction begins

  4–8 May

  Battle of the Coral Sea

  31

  Japanese midget submarines raid Sydney Harbour

  4–7 June

  Battle of Midway; the first decisive defeat of Japan

  1 July

  Sinking of Montevideo Maru; Australia’s worst maritime disaster

  27

  Formation of Australian Women’s Land Army

  30

  Port Hedland strafed (1 casualty), orders to evacuate the town

  17 August

  Port Hedland bombed again, no casualties

  October

  FDS aircraft moved inland to Marble Bar.

  The ‘Brisbane Line’, a plan to abandon the defence of northern Australia is mentioned during election campaign

  1943

  23 May

  B-24 USAAF Liberators from the 528th Squadron are ferried to Corunna Downs secret airfield

 
; 23 July

  US Liberators leave for their first air raid mission from Corunna (onto Surabaya)

  31 August

  Elsie and Princess are reunited

  1945

  August

  The end of the Pacific War (and end of WWII) occurs with the Japanese surrender

  More information about the historical elements of The Dog with Seven Names

  Characters/historical figures

  Doc – While the actions and character traits of the doctor in my story are fictitious, ‘Doc’ is loosely based on Dr Harold Dicks, the resident doctor stationed at Port Hedland during the war years. Dr Dicks did tend wounded patients after the Broome attack and he was returning from Marble Bar with a patient when Japanese aircraft strafed the Port Hedland airstrip. There was (to my knowledge) no dog on board the small single engine Swallow, and beyond these links to historical occurrences, Doc’s character has been imagined.