In those days, there was conscription of all young males of 18, with the usual exceptions. Frits did not qualify for any exception. He was not very pleased to enter the armed forces. I am not sure what the pay was, except that it was enough to buy a daily packet of cigarettes. Probably about 49 cents. Frits did not smoke, so he could save, but saving was not enough for him to come see me very often. 

I was working by that time, but the salary of us working girls went to our parents, who needed the money for our existence. We got a percentage as pocket money, from which we had to buy our clothing, our entertainment, and save money for our future. You understand that was never enough. But, after saving, it was enough for me, with the help of my mother, to visit my soldier fiance on a beautiful weekend in the summer.

The weather was hot. There was a fair in Ermelo, and many soldiers decided to go to the fair on this warm Saturday. So did Frits and I. We all took the bus and had a great time. 

In those days, uniform codes were very strict. Not wearing a jacket was allowed, but the heavy shirts had long sleeves. As you may understand, the soldiers rolled up their sleeves. At the end of the day, with rolled up sleeves, they got back on the bus to the barracks. 

But there was a big problem. The military police perhaps thought that the soldiers might possibly break the uniform dress code on this hot day. They posted two MPs at the bus stations to check up on the soldiers coming out of the bus. Every one of the soldiers got arrested for having their sleeves rolled up. 

Frits and I were sitting in the center of the bus on the left side. Frits could not see what was going on, but I could. So I stood up and warned the other soldiers to get their sleeves down before getting off the bus. All did. No more got arrested.

Except my fiance. The MPs were apparently not very happy that I had warned the soldiers. But not being military, they could not arrest me. So they landed on Frits. he got ten days solitary. The original letter of accusation said that he was not polite to the young officers. He wasn’t.  But was that the only offense?

More about Frits will be written in Unforgivable.