Our Josh

It was early one mornin’ when these two men in uniform came marchin’ over the bridge and down the towpath towards our boats.  We’d been moored up at the Barge Inn for the night ‘cos they always gave us good dry stablin’ for Hercules, our horse. Well, as I was sayin’ these two uniforms came marchin’ up to our boat and they knocks on the cabin side like…….

“Hey up Missus” says the one to me Ma, “We’ve come about Joshua Ridley”

“Our Josh, what would you be wantin’ with him?”

“We’ve been told he’s a good man with the horses” says the other ‘un.

“Aye our Josh knows about horses, but he’s no man, he’s now’t but a lad” says me Ma.

“We’ve made enquiries, and the clerk at the Company tells us that Joshua Ridley is   seventeen years of age, and drawing half pay – that’s man enough for us!”

“You can’t be thinkin’ of takin’ him away for the Army, me Ma says, getting’ all upset like.

“We need men who are good with horses at the Front and the Company has agreed to release him” the uniform said.

I could see Ma was getting’ in a state, she were pressin’ her hands down the sides of her apron, a sure sign she were getting’ worked up!

“But we can’t manage without our Josh, he works the horse, and now with the two boats and me man still getting’ over the monia, well we can’t be doin without our Josh.”

“Look Missus,” says the other uniform “King and Country comes before the likes of you! We have a paper here, signed by the Company, what says Joshua Ridley is released to us, so stop tryin’ to prevent us doin’ our duty and tell us where he is!”

“Why, he’s up at the stables behind the Barge Inn, tackin’ up our horse, we’re due in Nuneaton by six o’clock tonight, me husband’s meetin’ us there with a return load.”

“Well Missus, I suggest you look lively and pack up your son some snap for the journey, ‘cos he’s comin’ with us……Now!”

And with that the two uniforms turned on their heels and walked back up the towpath towards the Barge Inn.  Ten minutes later they came back with our Josh leadin’ the horse.

“Is this right Ma, I have to go away to the Army, with these two, leavin’ you and the kids to get to Nuneaton on yer own?”

“Oh son! I don’t want you to go, is there nothin’ to be done?” 

Ma wrung her hands and stood between our Josh and the two uniforms, as though that would stop them from takin’ him away.

“No Missus,” says the uniform, “Papers is all signed”.

Then he looks at our Josh “Look lively lad, we’ve wasted enough time here.  Get yer gear together and some snap for the journey.  It's a good walk to the railway station...