Tynesideship-builderJoeMaddisonlosthisfaithinthetrenchesattheSommein1916.NowthatWorldWarTwohasbegunheistoooldtoenlistalongsidehissonandson-in-lawandisalsoinareservedoccupationso,afterhiswifePollyhaslefthimforasailor,hejoinstheHomeGuardwithhisfriends,MarxistEddieandcynical,wise-crackingHarry.Harry'santi-authoritarianattitudecausesproblemswithMr.Simpson,thecompanycommander,andJoeleadsthemenoutonstrikeafterHarryisexpelled.However,afterhehasdealtwithanunexplodedbombheisacclaimedahero,and,alongwithhisfriends,reinstated,beingpromotedtocorporal.HealsomeetswidowSelinawhobringshimoutofhisshellbutPollyreturns,withthesailor'schild,seekingareconciliation,arequestwhichsplitsthefamily.Come1945andthewarisendingbutJoestillhashispersonalconflicttoresolve.
Tynesideship-builderJoeMaddisonlosthisfaithinthetrenchesattheSommein1916.NowthatWorldWarTwohasbegunheistoooldtoenlistalongsidehissonandson-in-lawandisalsoinareservedoccupationso,afterhiswifePollyhaslefthimforasailor,hejoinstheHomeGuardwithhisfriends,MarxistEddieandcynical,wise-crackingHarry.Harry'santi-authoritarianattitudecausesproblemswithMr.Simpson,thecompanycommander,andJoeleadsthemenoutonstrikeafterHarryisexpelled.However,afterhehasdealtwithanunexplodedbombheisacclaimedahero,and,alongwithhisfriends,reinstated,beingpromotedtocorporal.HealsomeetswidowSelinawhobringshimoutofhisshellbutPollyreturns,withthesailor'schild,seekingareconciliation,arequestwhichsplitsthefamily.Come1945andthewarisendingbutJoestillhashispersonalconflicttoresolve.