Jack the Ripper – A Love Story ( Excerpt 110 )

Jack the Ripper – A Love Story ( Excerpt 110 )

I waited several days without a reply, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea after all. Then as I had almost given up hope, I had a visitor at the Infirmary. It was an Army Officer, he introduced himself as Major Goodhew and said that he had called to see me with regard to my application to serve.

‘I’ll admit I was surprised to read your application when it landed on my desk, its a rarity to receive an application at all, let alone one with what you appear to be offering, I have only one question for you, Why? he asked.

‘I have reached an impasse in my life, my work, though rewarding has become mundane, I feel I need a newer challenge, and this coming war may just be it.’ I answered honestly.

‘You realise that the pay is poor and the conditions worse, I would be failing in my duty if I did not give you the true facts. With your obvious experience and qualifications, you should be an Officer, but the only rank you will be given is Doctor which carries no weight under current conditions.’ He stated candidly to appraise me of the situation.

‘Rank and station is something that I have never craved, I became a Doctor because since my early teens I felt this to be my calling, Financial gain and status are not as important to me as saving and improving lives!’ I stated honestly, the Major seemed impressed by my answer.

‘You will be facing a very difficult task, the majority of Senior Officers will view you as a necessary evil, nothing more, its not about the lives that you might save, its more that you are not one of them, not real Army! he attempted to explain.

(C) Damian Grange 2018