Helena Schrader's Historical Fiction: The Characters of "Moral Fibre"

The Lancaster bomber had a crew of seven men: pilot, navigator, wireless operator, bomb aimer, flight engineer and two gunners. Training for the first five trades took literally years and a comparatively high level of literacy. Air gunner training, in contrast, could be completed in a few months and did not require the same ability to master complex equipment and theoretical subjects. Because each heavy bomber had two gunners, and only one of every other trade (note: including pilots in the RAF), the demand for gunners was higher too. The trade appealed to the naturally impatient the aggressive -- and those intent on hitting the enemy.

The two gunners on Kit Morans crew are both very young. Frank Roper (19), the mid-upper gunner, comes from a good, solid working-class home. His father is a merchant seaman, but the kind with steady work and pay, which he sends home to his wife. Frank is what people called "Bolshie" -- meaning he favors Socialism (or thinks he does) and plans to vote Labor -- as soon as he's old enough. He's a bit cheeky but not the kind to risk getting in trouble for his attitudes. He plays by the rules and only indulges in revolution over a beer or two. On the job, he's competent and confident and he respects Kit because he can tell he got where he has on his merits.

Excerpt 1:

"They'll put on a fine [Christmas] dinner for us too, and the officers serve the airmen," Daddy tried to console the younger men.

"And why shouldn't they? What makes them better than us, anyway? Aren't we all fighting the same war? Aren't we taking the same risks?" Frank shot back.

"Officers are gentlemen, which is more than I can say for your, laddie!" Daddy rebuked him hotly.

"When this war is over, things are going to change in this country. I'm not going to take orders from anyone just because they're richer than me -- and I'm not alone." Frank declared. "We're not going to recognise the authority of anyone who derives it from nothing more than being born to it!"

"That includes the king!" Stu gasped out, shocked.

"Does, doesn't it?" Frank thrust out his chin.

"Are you talking about me, Frank?" Kit fixed the gunner with his eyes. He was still leaning back in his chair, but he ahd crossed his arms in front of his chest tensely.

Frank pulled back startled. "Of course not, sir! You're not some toff! You earned your right to command."

Nigel Osgood (18), the rear gunner, is the more volatile of the gunners. He comes from a broken home that makes him quick-tempered and pugnacious. His father, a sailor, was alcoholic and more often unemployed than the reverse. His mother, living near the docks at Liverpool, had a series of "boyfriends" over the years. Nigel's closest ties were to his elder brother, who protected him from his father's fists and saw that he had enough to eat. But early in the war his brother's ship was sunk by a U-boat and his brother didn't make it home. Nigel hates the Nazis -- and particularly Uboats. He is also short tempered and lacking education quick to use his fists to settle disputes.

Excerpt 2:

Kit turned to Nigel, who hadn't been given much chance to say anything yet. "Were you able to straighten out the problem with your younger brother and have a good leave?"

"Me brother?" Nigel asked puzzled.

"When you left, you mentioned something about him wanting to sign aboard a merchant ship--"

"Oh that. He'd already shipped out, so there was nothing I could do about it. Lied about his age, of course. Can't say I blame him. Me mam's got a new boyfriend and he's worse than me dad." Nigel's outrage was raw, and although his nose was almost back to its normal size, Kit thought he had some new bruises on his jaw. The teenager was complaining bitterly. "The bastard doesn't contribute a farthing to the household but expects my mam to wait on him hand and foot. Drinks too much too."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Kit replied, thinking his young gunner had a lot on his plate. Hopefully, he'd be able to concentrate on his job once he was back on the station.

"Ah," Nigel took a deep breath and then added, "I suppose it's better you know about all of it, sir. I got into a fight with the bastard and threw him out of the house. He called the police and..." He took a deep breath, "I got arrested, sir. I expect they called the Station, and I'll be on charges -- again-- when I arrive."

It flashed through Kit's head that when he'd pictured being skipper, he hadn't thought about these kinds of problems. But he'd taken on the lad, and it was now his job to look after him as best he could. It was this responsibility that made the role of skipper more challenging than simply flying a kite. To Nigel he admitted, "I honestly don't know how things like this are handled, but if there's any way I can help, I will."

"MORAL FIBRE" WON THE HEMINGWAY AWARD 2022 FOR 20TH CENTURY WARTIME FICTION

IT ALSO RECEIVED A MAINCREST MEDIA AWARD FOR MILITARY FICTION AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE BOOK EXCELLENCE AWARD 2023 IN THE CATEGORY HISTORICAL FICTION.