Just a little bit...
No!
It doesn't feel right.
Oh, it does to me.
Mum says I should wait until I'm
18 before I do any funny business.
That's a whole year.
I'll explode!
Haven't you ever heard the best
things are always worth waiting for.
Katie!
Coming!
Katie!
Coming!
Mr Fisher.
- Bye. - Bye.
Go...
Austria-Hungary have accused the Serbs of murder.
Wash your hands.
They issued an ultimatum last night at six o'clock
with the full backing of Berlin.
"48 hours to arrest those
responsible for the assassination
"of the Archduke Ferdinand and deliver
them up or face the consequences.
"They must also publicly condemn all propaganda against
"the Austro-Hungarian people and remove
the same from all Serbian schoolbooks
"and public documents."
Can they do that?
Doesn't really matter what they can or can't do,
the point is they want the Serbs to kiss their arses.
William!
They'll hear worse, if it turns to war.
Will we have to fight?
There won't be a war. Eat your food.
It's no use lying to the boy.
You've only got one good leg and he's too young,
so,
there'll be no more talk of
anyone going anywhere to fight.
- I'm not scared. - Well, you should be!
If it comes to it, we'll have to defend ourselves.
If there is a war, then we'll stay on the farm and grow food
to feed the army, but I will not send them my children.
Michael, can you help your sister, please?
Thank you.
Sorry, lads!
Ladies!
- Hello, Tom! - Hello, Dad.
- Hello, love. - Hello, Mum.
If Germany invade France, they're
gonna have to go through Belgium.
Looks like they're having none of it.
That's good, isn't it?
Not if they decide to march through anyway.
Do you think there'll be a war, Dad?
Looks like things are moving that way.
But it's not us, is it?
I mean, it's Austria and Germany and that,
but they're miles away over the channel.
Well, the thing is,
Germany might invade Belgium,
and they're our friends,
you have to stick up for your friends.
If it comes to it, I'll go and fight.
- I know you will, son. - I'm not scared.
'Course you're not.
But it won't come to that.
If there is a war, it'll be over in a month.
What if I get killed?
You can't let me die before we've done it.
It was in the newspaper this morning,
that anyone who signs up to fight now
won't see any action.
The war will be over by the time you've finished training.
What if the training kills me?
You're definitely signing up then?
- Do you want me to? - Of course I do.
Everyone else's boyfriend's going, too.
Ah-ha.
You just don't wanna be stuck with a coward?
- I didn't say that. - No, no, I get it, I get it.
Two worst things in a boyfriend,
being a coward and a virgin.
So I was thinking...
When I sign up,
I'll get wages, proper wages.
More than I get working down the farm anyway.
So I thought, if you wanted,
I could buy a ring.
An engagement ring?
I'm late.
You... You didn't answer me!
"His Majesty's Government
declared to the German Government
"that a state of war exists
between Great Britain and Germany
"as from 11pm on August 4, 1914."
He's too young! He's too young!
The army says he's old enough to volunteer.
So we've just handed over our job as parents to the army?
We let them decide what's best for our son?
No...
That's what you've just said.
They said he's old enough and so it's all right...
Why aren't you asking me what I want?
Because I don't want to hear you telling
me that you've become a man overnight
and that you want to go and join
the army so you can kill other men.
There's a war, we have to fight.
Don't be ridiculous!
You've had one fight in your entire life,
you were nine years old and you
came home crying with a bloody nose!
Don't worry, this time I won't!
Michael!
Do something!
You'd better give Tommy another shout.
Thank you, sir.
Breathe in.
- Name? - Michael Lang, sir.
- Name? - Thomas Edwards, sir.
- Age? - 18, sir.
Do you mean 19?
Yes, sir.
Over there.
Wait over there.
You have to be 19 to go overseas.
Not much point signing up and not going anywhere is there?
- Cyril Griffiths. - Thomas Edwards. Tommy.
Can't shorten my name...
Not that it matters, everyone calls me Wing Nut.
No idea why.
I'm joking.
Keep moving!
Next one, please!
Next, please.
Breathe in.
Say "Ah!"
And breathe out.
Turn around for me
Next!
Turn around.
It'll all be over before he's finished his army training.
Don't, David.
Our little boy is gonna fight in a war.
Against grown men.
Grown men who will be trying to kill him.
So don't think that saying, "Everything
will be all right" is enough.
Because it isn't.
Nothing you can say to me will be enough,
or will make it all right,
or will make me understand,
or will make me feel any different to the way I do now.
So just don't.
You can't stop him.
- Yes, we can! - For how long, Annie?
- He's 17. - And then what?
He runs away?
He goes over there anyway,
all on his own?
Without knowing his family love him,
that we're waiting for him?
This time tomorrow he'll be gone.
And all you'll be able to think
about are the things you'd say to him
if he was still here.
Well, he's here now.
It's funny to think that wherever you go,
you'll be able to see the same stars as me.
We'll both be looking at them at the same time.
When I'm looking at them,
you'll be able to see them, too.
Are you frightened?
No.
A little bit.
I do love you.
Whatever you have to do, you come back to me, do you hear?
I'll be all right, Mum, stop worrying.
Promise me.
I promise.
Come here!
- It's for you! - Thank you, it's beautiful!
All right, I've gotta go, mate. See you, mate.
I've never been on a bus before!
You stay out of trouble.
I'm proud of you.
I've packed you gloves and extra wool socks
- in case you get cold at night.
Oh, and there's a scarf, I don't know
if they'll let you wear it...
Mum!
But maybe if you have it under your tunic.
Mum, I'll be fine.
You don't have to be a hero, you know.
At least I won't die a virgin.
Shh!
Write every day!
Be back before you know it.
Bye!
Thank you.
Hurry up, hurry up. Come on!
Hold!
All right, lads, off the buses.
Buses one to three, barracks seven and eight.
Four to six, tents row A to D.
We're together. Come on.
Find your tents as quick as you can.
Gentlemen, come on, to your tents.
Don't worry, I'll give you a chance to win it back.
Anthony. AJ.
- Tommy. - You know how to play cards?
Not really.
Oh, don't worry, I'll teach you.
Just give him whatever money you've got now.
Save you the time.
That's Ben, he thinks he's funny.
- How old are you? - 17.
I've got a brother your age, our
dad had to lock him in the bedroom.
I'd have climbed out the window.
Good man.
That's Kev.
Just don't introduce him to your sister.
Or your mum.
This is Cyril. People call him Wing Nut.
Don't know why.
Attention!
Over there,
the Allied army is gathering,
they've been working and training hard!
You must do the same
if you are to defeat them!
While you're here,
it's my job to try and kill you.
Those of you that survive
will be sent to France to fight the boche.
The logic being
that if I can't kill you, neither can they.
Shoulder arms!
Present arms.
Eyes right!
Eyes front!
Shoulder arms!
Left turn!
Forward march!
Left! Left!
Pack up!
Take all your personal possessions!
Where do you think we're going?
They say "run," we run, they say "pack," we pack.
I want this place spotless before you go!
Forward march! Left, left, left!
We're going! We're actually bloody well going.
Germans won't know what hit 'em.
Aye, as soon as they get a whiff of Wing Nut's socks.
- Oi! - Hurry up, boys!
The boche are waiting!
Up you get, boys, come on, then!
The boche are waiting! The boche are waiting!
Do you think we'll come back?
Bloody right we will.
Does it matter that I don't speak French?
♪ It's a long way to Tipperary
♪ It's a long way to go
♪ It's a long way to Tipperary
♪ To the sweetest girl I know
♪ Goodbye, Piccadilly
♪ Farewell, Leicester Square!
♪ It's a long, long way to Tipperary
♪ But my heart's right there
Someone was telling us about the third light rule,
Corporal, is that true?
What's that?
When you spark up, sniper sees the first light,
takes aim on the second,
and shoots on the third.
If you're stupid enough to stick
your head above the sandbag
- and spark up, I'll shoot you myself.
Keep those ears under cover! - Ow!
What are those, Corporal?
Ah, ticklers...
The Germans have real bombs, we don't.
So we're improvising.
- With jam tins? - Welcome to the war, son.
We're at stand down now,
but reconnaissance reckon the Germans
have got a load of reinforcements in,
so it looks like it's gonna be a busy day.
Morning hate starts in five minutes.
They've been carrying out morning raids,
so we are gonna let them know that we are here
and ready.
Now get to your dug-outs!
You're responsible for your own
equipment, so keep your weapons clean!
If your rifle doesn't fire when you need it to,
then you or the man next to you is dead.
The enemy are less than 200 feet
in front so keep your heads down!
Wonder what it's like getting shot?
Well, if you find out, let me know.
Does anyone fancy a bet?
- What on? - Who gets shot first.
- He's actually serious. - I know.
- Be good though, wouldn't it? - Yeah, right.
Good idea, let's all get shot.
Nah, just get winged a bit, to go home with.
Just a little scar to show the girls,
right here!
Come on, then.
Let them know we're here!
Positions!
Get to your positions, quickly.
Mortars! Mortars!
- We're getting leave. - When?
Soon.
Was anyone else hurt? My friends?
I'll ask.
You seem so much older.
He's home. That's all that matters.
- Where are you from? - I'm Polish.
We're fighting everyone.
Ready!
I know you don't want me to worry.
There's really not much to tell.