Combat

**Combat** is the third episode of Stories of War and the thirty-third episode overall.

Combat/Transcript

## Plot

The episode begins in the capital of the United States of America, Washington D.C., on December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour, as its president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivers his infamy speech as people across the country listen, as well as those in the United Kingdom. Edward then admits that there were many grims on British faces following that speech. Shortly after the US had declared war on Japan, the UK did likewise. Now that they were both allied against a common enemy, both nations began setting up strategies that would truly turn the tide of the war.

A lesser known fact about the United States' involvement in the Second World War is that technically, it had been a part of the conflict since before the attack on Pearl Harbour. The Lend-Lease Act was signed on March 11, 1941, which enabled the United States to transfer arms and other materials to any nation that was vital to her own defence, one of which to receive aid was Britain and after Pearl Harbour, these shipments increased significantly. Vast convoys of ships crossed the Atlantic to deliver much needed supplies to Britain and a substantial amount also came to Sodor, which allowed the engines to carry out a massive overhaul of the Island's rail network in the opening months of 1942, which was to bolster their overall efficiency towards the war effort.

One summer day, Thomas, Percy and James are talking about the recent events in the war, and how the Soviets are fairing against the Nazis. James says that the Americans will soon be landing a massive force in Africa to help Montgomery's forces. Thomas wishes he could join them, but James decides to stay on Sodor. Thomas doesn't understand, but then remembers what happened to James on his old line. James knows wars involve too much explosions and doesn't want to go through the ordeal again. James goes off to the fort to deliver his oil tankers, reluctant that he will have to deal with Benson.

Later, James arrives at the fort and angrily asks where Benson is, only to be surprised when a USATC S100 tank engine answers him. The tank engine introduces herself as Rosie, the fort's new shunter. Edward pulls up alongside, telling James that this happened yesterday, leaving James even more confused. Rosie tells him that she now works here instead of Benson. James explains to her he had spent the morning bracing himself for an argument with Benson. Rosie understands, as Benson was abrasive to her and Edward introduces James to Rosie. James sees Rosie is American, by her accent and is surprised to learn the Americans are also supplying the British with engines as well. Rosie says that Edward had given her very good advice on how to run the place, and Edward also advises her to make the place her own. Rosie thanks Edward and vows to make sure to forget everything Benson had told her. James then asks where Benson went, and when Edward answers that he didn't go back to the mainland, leaving James wondering where he is

We then cut to Brendam, where Benson is ordering Adam and Diesel around. The two Midis are organising their trucks and Benson demands them to get to work and organise the shipment. Benson tells them that he has to keep an eye on them, even if it means interrupting them every 20 seconds. Benson remarks that if the Sudrians had more sense and discipline, Colin wouldn't have gotten himself blown up. Diesel and Adam are furious at Benson and protest Colin was a hero. Just then, Mr. Zorro arrives and scolds Benson for mocking those who died during wartime and tells him about the sacrifice his brother had made during the last war to save his own life. Mr. Zorro then threatens to report Benson to the Fat Controller if he disgraces Colin's memory again. Benson apologises, and Mr. Zorro promptly sends him packing. Adam and Diesel thank their director for doing so. Diesel is curious as to what the big job is about, and Mr. Zorro doesn't know, but reckons from past experience that it could be a buildup for some military operation, and suspects they will learn only after the job is completed.

Despite being short-staffed, the Midis managed to get Brendam in order, and the Nor'Easters had done likewise at Knapford. The sidings at both harbours and at the fort were chock-full of trucks that were loaded with all sorts of materials and trains loaded with additional goods arrived at the various quaysides day and night where they were unloaded onto waiting ships, though none of them were leaving the ports. This led to them guessing that this was part of some massive buildup, and, just as Mr. Zorro had predicted, they would find out only when the jobs were completed, five grueling days later.

At night, when the jobs were completed, the eight weary Nor'Easters are in the sidings next to Knapford Station, waiting for Mr. Star to talk to them. Mr. Star arrives and congratulates his engines for their performance. Mr. Star confirms to his engines that the shipment was part of a buildup for a campaign and that the engines weren't told about this before because Mr. Star and Mr. Zorro had only just been told that this was the case. They were also told that the entire shipment will be going to Africa and they will need engines to move the shipments around. Mr. Star then says he was instructed to ask for four volunteers, and Thomas, Edward, Henry and Gordon instantly and enthusiastically answer, to Mr. Star's bewilderment. Gordon remembers how the Nazis had destroyed half the train of evacuees at Highbridge back in 1940, and Thomas remembers how they killed Colin and he had considered him a friend ever since he saved him from the fire at Wellsworth back in 1935. Edward answers that he has no reason not to volunteer and Henry says he welcomes the chance to give the Nazis a good thrashing. Mr. Star salutes the four engines' bravery and tells them that they and the others will make Sodor and Britain proud.

The others were the Midis, who, at Brendam, Mr. Zorro had been having a similar conversation with his engines, and just like the Nor'Easters, Mr. Zorro called for a quartet of volunteers and Adam, Lily, Douglas and Peter quickly and enthusiastically replied. The day after they volunteered, the eight engines visited the works at Crovan's Gate where they were outfitted with radios and were assigned code names. Two days later, they were officially inducted into the military's ranks as the 110th Platoon of the Steam Core, nicknamed the Wild Nor'Westers, with Edward being named its commanding officer. Four days later, after saying their goodbyes and amidst heavy fanfare, Edward, Gordon, Henry, Thomas, Lily, Adam, Peter and Douglas left Sodor for Africa. Once they arrived, they were right in the thick of it, squaring off against the Desert Core of Field Marshall Desert Fox, Erwin Rommel.

We then cut to a battle, and explosions go off everywhere, including near the tracks where Henry, Edward and Lily are. Just then, Thomas and Peter retreat back to Edward, who says they were supposed to be holding the town, but the two engines couldn't hold it. Now that the Nazis can outflank their position up on the ridge, Edward orders Lily to warn the others who are up there. Meanwhile, Adam, Gordon and Douglas, along with other men are holding off the Germans and numerous engines when Adam gets Lily's news about enemy forces approaching them from behind and relays the news to Douglas and Gordon. Gordon gets the captain's attention and he orders his men to fall back. The soldiers climb aboard Gordon's coaches, the three engines leave their guns and start reversing. Adam then informs Lily that they have abandoned their position and they will meet at Waypoint 579. Lily tells Edward the three engines are on their way back, and Edward says that they'll have to retake the town for the chance to meet up with them, if only temporarily. Edward then instructs that all the engines except Peter stay with him, who he instructs to go back to the base and grab the big gun the Americans had given them. Thomas protests, but Edward knows that while it will keep them from advancing, it will stop the Germans from breaking through the lines. Edward then tells Peter that once he gets the gun to position himself at Grid 3F and tells him to not fire unless he gives the order. Peter heads off and Edward says, "Come on engines, let's give them hell!"

Edward, Henry, Thomas and Lily go off into the fighting as Peter goes to get the gun and Adam, Douglas and Gordon are still reversing when just behind them are Nazi soldiers and are just about to fire when Thomas, Henry, Lily and Edward's guns fire and kill the Nazi soldiers and the three engines reverse through. However, their celebration is short-lived, as they see more German engines advancing towards them. Henry wonders if they should hold them off, but Edward, thinking that they could have reinforcements nearby, orders to fall back and leave their guns. The four engines reverse away as the German engines follow them. Meanwhile, Peter had obtained the gun and positioned himself at Grid 3F. Once the four engines make it past a bridge, Edward orders Peter to fire. "FIRE IN THE HOLE!" Peter shouts. The gun fires the bullet and hits the bridge just as the German engines were just about to cross it.

After the screen goes black, Edward reveals that what the audience had seen was one of the smaller skirmishes they would fight across Africa. Though the bridge had been taken out by his orders, they had won the battle that day, and after the bridge was mended, they would fight another, reclaiming both the town and the ridge. From there, they went on to a number of victories that put that Nazis on the run. However, for all their triumphs, it wouldn't be enough to protect them from the enemy within…

## Characters

* Thomas
* Edward
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Toby
* Douglas
* Eric
* Diesel
* Peter
* Lily
* Adam
* Rosie
* Benson
* Mr. Star
* Mr. Zorro
* Duck *(cameo)*
* Donald *(cameo)*
* Reginald *(cameo)*
* Clive *(cameo)*
* Neil *(cameo)*
* Matthew *(cameo)*
* Whiff *(cameo)*
* Kate *(cameo)*
* Wendell *(cameo)*
* William *(cameo)*
* Colin *(mentioned)*
* The Fat Controller *(mentioned)*
* Amanda *(indirectly mentioned)*

## Trivia

* This is the first episode where a part of it takes place in another country.
* The events of this episode take place in the latter half of 1942.