Not Flag or Fail (27 page)

An hour or so later I again heard the keys rattle in the lock, Captain Peters entered the cell. I stood up and stood to attention he told me to stand at ease and then explained to me that my hearing was scheduled for 3.00pm that afternoon, he went on to say that Forbes-Hamilton had sent for a friend of his, another Major who would officially act as my defence but in reality would be just there because protocol required it. The Captain was clearly both embarrassed and annoyed but said he was powerless to help.

All that he could promise was that he would make sure the Colonel was given the full facts on his return and hope that he would be able to do something to help.

After a light lunch, most of which I left, someone gave me a Daily Mirror, and having read the latest episode of Jane I tried to distract myself by attempting the crossword but found that I couldn’t concentrate. Instead I spent my time alternating between pacing up and down the cell and lying on the bed, neither of which I was able to do for too long.

Eventually the keys began to rattle again and the cell door was opened by the Sergeant of the Guard, I was called out and again, along with the Sergeant and a Lance bombardier, was doubled across the square to one of the bigger admin blocks, then down several green painted corridors where we stopped outside a door which the Sergeant immediately knocked on.

The knock was answered by a very young looking Lieutenant who told the Sergeant to carry on, we immediately doubled into the room, stopping and standing to attention in front of several large tables that were covered in khaki cloths.

In the centre of the middle table sat Forbes-Hamilton, flanked on one side by a Captain and on the other by a Lieutenant.

To both the right and the left and at right angles were two other tables, both of which had a Major and a Captain seated at them.

From the table to Forbes Hamilton’s right a Captain stood up and introduced himself and the rest of the Court Officials. It seemed that the three officers on the centre table were the judges and the officers on the separate tables were the defence and prosecution councils. Once he had completed the introductions he read out the charge “Common assault on a fellow NCO.” and asked me how did I plead? I of course pleaded not guilty. He then sat down; the Captain who was the prosecutor stood, reading from a paper he held in front of him began to state the case against me. It took him less than five minutes to read out details of the alleged incident, he ended by telling the court that he had witness statements from both the victim and a Private Roberts who was working as a glass collector in the Sergeants mess on the night of the incident. When he sat down Forbes-Hamilton looked over at the Major who was supposedly my defence council and asked him if he wished to speak, he simply looked up and replied,

“Not at this time.”

I could feel my freedom slipping away from me and was starting to feel really quite angry when the door opened and in walked the familiar form of Commander Rachel Harrison, looking perfect in her Wren’s uniform, at her side looking equally immaculate and very formidable was CPO Smith.

Forbes-Hamilton almost leapt from his chair, the water jug and glass so carefully set before him, tipping over and making a dark stain on the khaki table cloth. “What is the meaning of this? How dare you interrupt Court Marshall Proceedings?” he bellowed.

“Don’t you remember me Major I debriefed you after that unfortunate incident in Dunkirk when you were the cause of valuable intelligence being lost. Of course you were a Captain back then; I see you’ve risen a little now, strange really, seeing that we recommended that you should be moved from any position of authority. I see our wishes weren’t followed, oh well, I bet daddy must have called in a few favours eh?”

Forbes-Hamilton moved from behind the desk and rushed towards her, his face white and his teeth bared against thin lips, instinctively I moved forward to protect her but felt arms holding me back on both sides.

I honestly didn’t see what happened next but suddenly the Major was in a heap on the floor with Smithy holding out a hand to help him up. “Careful sir,” he smiled “I think this floors been a little too well polished.”

The Major who was my Defence Council came around and led Forbes-Hamilton back to his seat, then pushed him none too gently down into his chair. Rachel opened the leather briefcase she was carrying and removed an envelope, placing it on the desk; she said to Forbes-Hamilton “Please read the contents of this envelope Major. You will see that it is a letter from the Prime Minister himself giving me the authority to recruit Service Personnel from any of the services into our unit, on the proviso that they themselves are agreeable. We have identified a role for Sergeant Hilbert and need him to join us right away if he is agreeable. She looked across at me and I nodded my agreement. She then took from her briefcase a second letter, unfolded it and gave it to Smithy who walked over to the officer on the table to the right and placed it before him. Rachel spoke again “That gentlemen, is a copy of the Official Secrets Act, you will all sign it and what has happened in here today will not be talked about again by any of you. In addition CPO Smith will collect from you any paperwork, transcript etc. relating to this Court Martial and they will be destroyed, this farce gentlemen, never happened. Major Forbes-Hamilton you need to know that despite me having many more important things to do, I will now make it my business to ensure you are moved to somewhere where you can do no further harm.” She then turned to me and returning to the much more feminine character that I was used to seeing, she smoothed the front of her skirt, smiled and asked “Ready Sergeant Hilbert?” I watched as Smithy finished collecting up all of the paperwork and then I followed them both from the room.

“This job that you mentioned” I asked, as we walked across to the waiting staff car “what is it?”

“Oh don’t worry about that.” Rachel replied, squeezing the top of my arm “I’m sure we’ll think of something.”

THE END

(Of the beginning)

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