#calypsojoinsthenavy

[crosscalypso-archive]

@hrhmonpetitchou

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To Her Royal Highness, Princess Elizabeth,

I am beseeching Yourself because I am praying to God that you are sympathetic to my cause. I find myself in a terrible predicament- I wish to serve God, King, and country, but because I am a woman, I can not serve in the capacity in which I desire. I have been raised all of my life on the water. In fact, my parents lovingly nicknamed me “Calypso” after the wild sea goddess. My father is a fisherman by trade and I have joined him since I was able to stay on the boat without tumbling overboard. I know it is a foolish dream, but I have often found myself wishing I could join the Royal Navy. When the call went out for our soldiers to be evacuated from Dunkirk, I immediately got on my father’s boat and sailed straight from my home in Dover to the French port.

I cannot describe to you what the scene was. Even if I could, I wouldn’t- it is not something to be shared. I will never clear the sights, sounds, and smells from my memories. Instead of dampening my wish to be in the Navy, it only fueled it more. Our boys on the beach were shaken and terrified, but they were determined nonetheless. I want to join them. I think there is great honor in being a machinist, engineer, or nurse, but I do not think that is what our Lord created me for. I know you are a Princess of something greater and your father seems a wondrous man. He was a Navy man himself, I pray that perhaps you may appeal to him on my behalf. I want to prevent Dunkirk from happening again.

I am a strong sailor and I have a knowledge of the stars for navigation. 

Your obedient servant,

Jane “Calypso” Smith of Dover