Relive the drama in A Family at War Season 2, Episode 11 – “Hazard.” As the Ashton family faces new emotional and political turmoil during World War II, this powerful episode explores the tension between duty, sacrifice, and personal conflict. Watch as relationships are tested and secrets begin to unravel. Perfect for fans of classic British war dramas and historical series.
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TVTranscript
00:00.
01:00OK, lads. Stand down.
01:18It's about bloody time, too.
01:19Yeah, it is a bit parky today, isn't it?
01:21I hope that rotten tea's organised.
01:22Should be an imminent now.
01:24Corporal Hattersley, take over the section, will you?
01:28OK, come on.
01:29Oh, and, uh, Stoney, they want you to report to the company office.
01:34What floor call?
01:34Well, I'm not sure, but I think it's your posting come through.
01:37Oh.
01:41Aren't you pleased?
01:43I thought it'd all be forgotten.
01:45Well, I've got to go along, too, so it may not be that.
01:47Could be they're making you up to sergeant, eh?
01:49That's it, Coco.
01:50Today, 12th of the 3rd, 42, company stood two at 0500 hours and stood down at 0545.
01:58And that's about it.
02:00Yeah.
02:02Who said?
02:05Really?
02:05Yeah, well, we'll just have to watch that it doesn't go to our heads, then, won't we?
02:12OK.
02:14Roger and out.
02:16The colonel has it from the brigadier, the brigadier from the div commander, and the div commander
02:21from the orc himself, that we are the only British troops anywhere in the world in contact
02:26with the enemy at this moment.
02:27And we only see him once a fortnight.
02:29Yeah, but that can't go on for very much longer.
02:34Uh, any news of the CSM, sir?
02:37Yeah, it's been sent to base hospital.
02:39Looks like being a long job.
02:41Meanwhile, I shall have to ask you to carry on, sergeant.
02:43Of course, sir.
02:45Is it for me, serge?
02:46Oh, morning, sir.
02:47Morning, corporal.
02:49Get your kid together and report back here for the duty truck.
02:52What for?
02:53What for?
02:54You're going on a course.
02:55Didn't anybody tell you?
02:56No.
02:57Well, it'll come as a nice surprise, then, won't it?
02:59What sort of course?
03:00You needn't worry, Ashton, I'm not sneaking an octu on you.
03:03Yes, sir.
03:03It's only for ten days.
03:05Back up rear HQ.
03:07You'll have swimming, teething, I fee.
03:09It'll be nicer than soda fan.
03:10I'd rather stay with a platoon if it's all the same.
03:13Well, it's not all the same, corporal.
03:14You'll do what you're told like everyone else.
03:17Yes, sir.
03:18You'll put up another stripe, just for the course, local acting unpaid.
03:21It's an important subject, Ashton, and the CO's very keen on getting the latest drill on it.
03:28The engineers have set up a mine warfare school, mainly for their own chaps, but they are taking a few infantry.
03:36The pioneer sergeant will be going along as well.
03:40Sergeant Azard?
03:42Do you know him?
03:43No.
03:44Azard by name and Azard by nature.
03:46He's a good soldier.
03:48You could use more like him.
03:49One thing, you might have to make conversation.
03:51He taught the iron legs off a camel and have the rest for dinner.
03:54It's Private Stone outside.
03:56Yes, sir.
03:56Send him in, would you?
03:57Yes, sir.
04:03Is it his posting?
04:04Yes.
04:04He's not very happy about it.
04:06What is this?
04:07Anybody would think you lot liked it here.
04:09Well, we do.
04:10Didn't anybody tell you?
04:11Yes.
04:12It's not enough to keep you occupied.
04:13That's your trouble.
04:14Stone!
04:16Inside.
04:19And I'll see you later, Action Sergeant Ashton.
04:23I'm here.
04:30Well, it's a bit earlier the day for me.
04:32Go on.
04:33Okay, thanks.
04:34Don't you get me.
04:35Not many of you should do that.
04:37No, they're a great bunch.
04:39If it weren't for me, Mrs. Alec, I'm out of it.
04:41Nobody's going to blame you.
04:43Anybody you do the same.
04:44Anybody that was married, anyway.
04:47Now, if it weren't the necessary job you were going to,
04:49they wouldn't let you go.
04:50You believe me.
04:51I suppose so.
04:53Hey, where are we?
04:57Battalion.
04:58Hey, don't have some 9SM poking his nose in.
05:00It's all right.
05:00We're only stopping to pick up the pioneer sergeant.
05:02He's coming on the course with me.
05:04Who?
05:05Pioneer sergeant.
05:06Not as it.
05:07Uh-huh.
05:07Oh, roll on.
05:08That's all we needed.
05:09You know him as well, do you?
05:11Well, who doesn't in this mob?
05:12Of the old hands, that is.
05:13Oh, thanks.
05:15Oh, no offense, mate.
05:16You know what I mean.
05:17It's all right.
05:17I was only joking.
05:19Well, we might as well switch our legs out.
05:20We've got the chairs.
05:21We've got the chairs.
05:28He's a chancer, that one.
05:31When we first came out and went to Pipe Force,
05:33he got himself posted to one of those private army mobs.
05:36Long range desert lot or something.
05:38Swannin' round like cowboys and Indians.
05:40When he caught up with us again, he had three stripes up.
05:44Fancy himself as Douglas Firbanks.
05:46The way he bummed his load, you'd have thought the rest of us had done nothing but peel spuds and stir at the sphinx.
05:51Which, strictly speaking, was the case.
05:54Any road.
05:54When he moved into the desert inside of those jock columns up, he's a leading light, of course.
05:59Mad bastard.
06:00He's mad for loot.
06:01Mad for anything.
06:03Wherever he was, something happened.
06:04There was a scrap and some poor squad he got killed.
06:07God, in the end, there's no one wanting him around if they could help it.
06:10They gave him the pioneer platoon to calm him down.
06:12Well, that should have cramped his style.
06:14I don't know.
06:15He fancies himself too much.
06:18And about time to.
06:22Hey.
06:23Hey, up.
06:24Looks as if we're away without him now.
06:25Take it away, K.V.
06:44Say it all.
06:46Sorry to have kept you waiting.
06:48Size mounted right in the back, eh?
06:50Well, that makes two of us.
06:51Looks not good enough, you know.
06:52Just because some pink and white second lifter then has to be taken up to the railhead.
06:56By the way, my name's Hazard.
06:58Jack Hazard, pioneer platoon.
06:59Ashton C Company.
07:00We're on the same course, I believe.
07:02I know you, don't I?
07:03I was in A Company.
07:05Yeah, I remember.
07:06Hey, I was just selling the corpid.
07:08The Sarge.
07:09About you and the long-range desert lot.
07:11Were you?
07:12Just newly made up to Sarge, eh?
07:14Yeah, that's right.
07:15Only rank in the army for a gentleman.
07:17So, what takes you on an army mine course?
07:20I thought it was a swan strictly for us gallant pioneers.
07:22There's not much happening with us at the moment.
07:24You want a two?
07:25No.
07:26Where then?
07:27Posting.
07:27Where to?
07:29Dental Corp.
07:30We traded Simby Street, you see?
07:31Jimmy.
07:32He's done his fair share, don't you worry.
07:34Oh, I'm not blaming him, old son.
07:36I'd do the sim myself if I had a mind to it.
07:39Smoke?
07:39What are they?
07:40Little cigars.
07:41Africa Corp, as you smoke like a nut.
07:43Oh, yes.
07:44Yeah, Sarge.
07:45Sometimes I think I should be in there, army.
08:02Better songs, better smokes, better rations.
08:05Bloody psych, better gear.
08:07Listen to this, clap that old wagon.
08:09We'll be lucky if we get anywhere today.
08:11They're all as mad as each other.
08:12Do you know what?
08:13Down at HQ, we've got eight trucks jacked up on bricks just because there are no tyres for them.
08:17Eight out of, what, 15 maybe?
08:20Now, what happens if Rommel suddenly decides to come in?
08:22She's going to do one of these fine days.
08:24I sure as God made them well.
08:26Anyway, you and I will be out of it for a while, eh?
08:30Yeah, I suppose so.
08:31What did I call you?
08:32I told you, Ashton.
08:33Yeah, what, Jim, Lofty, Eustace, Philip, actually.
08:36Oh, Pip.
08:37Ah, no.
08:38I'll call you Ashton.
08:40What do you know about mines?
08:41Well, nothing except that they're all over the place.
08:43That and they give me the creeps.
08:44Ah, too bloody right.
08:45Just waiting there for you.
08:47Hey, those booby traps at first.
08:48Just imagine picking up a water bottle.
08:51Wow, that's your loft.
08:52Get away.
08:53They're all right if you know what to do with them.
08:54I saw the fellow once done the mime.
08:57His cuts were laid out for inspection.
08:59Listen, Smiler.
09:01Where you're going, it's fireproof.
09:03So you stick to your gun bashing me.
09:05How's your getting on?
09:25Ah, shouldn't be long now.
09:26I told you this old wreck was dying on its wheels.
09:38Strictly speaking, we're not supposed to sit in stationary vehicles.
09:42Yeah, I know.
09:43So that sprog of a second lieutenant was saying.
09:45Where is he, anyway?
09:48Waiting patiently, the statutory distance away.
09:52What's the matter?
09:54Legs a bit stiff.
09:55You caught one, then?
09:56Yes, I did.
09:57Where?
09:57Up the goby?
09:58No, not there.
09:59Front?
10:00Well, not in the war at all.
10:02Well, not this war, anyway.
10:03Where, then?
10:05Spain.
10:06Go on.
10:07You were in Spain, then?
10:08Yes, I was.
10:10Not very successful, but it was.
10:11You know, I thought of it.
10:13I thought about going.
10:15This mick I knew wanted me to go with him.
10:17Bloody well nearly did, too.
10:19But I had this marvellous girl in this old car.
10:22An old Armstrong Sid, it was.
10:24Not a bad job.
10:25Well, not a bad job for me, anyway.
10:28So, I didn't go.
10:30We might have met.
10:32It's possible.
10:34What side were you on?
10:36Oh, Republicans, of course.
10:37Reds.
10:39What else?
10:41Oh, well, this fella I knew was for Franco.
10:44Still, we might have met.
10:47Hey, hey, look out!
10:49The mighty engine leaps into life!
10:53All right, come see, let's be over there!
10:54This is where you'll be, lads!
11:12Bit of all right, eh?
11:14You've got the whole place to yourselves.
11:16Too much to ask for him to give us a lift with the bloody gear.
11:22Well, it's not exactly Shepherds Hotel.
11:25I told you we should have kipped down with that mob at Mercer.
11:27You did.
11:28More than once.
11:35How's the time?
11:38Just after one.
11:39Oh, Jesus, hardly worth getting into pit!
11:41All right.
12:11Africa Corps issue. I picked them up when I was on a jock call and we shot up a German HQ.
12:18Yeah, you're a gentleman in that army.
12:20If you're so keen on the Germans, why don't you go and join them?
12:23Oh, well, there's the rub. How do I go about it?
12:26Application for posting. 498-665-Sgt. Hazard J.
12:32Request transfer to 9th Panzer Grenadiers.
12:35Somehow I don't see that going through.
12:37Don't you ever think of them as enemies?
12:38Nope. I just think of them as someone who's got it all organized.
12:42Yeah, they organized in Spain, all right.
12:45Is that where you went there?
12:47What do you mean?
12:48Well, for the politics, for the idea.
12:51Without any other reasons?
12:52I'd have gone to see how I liked it under fire.
12:56Yeah.
12:57To see some place foreign, different.
13:00For the wine and the senoritas.
13:03Hey, how did you go with the senoritas?
13:05I didn't meet any.
13:06Oh, that wouldn't have done for me.
13:12Has she?
13:13Hmm?
13:15What did you do on the service street?
13:17I translated cables in a telegraph.
13:19No, no, no. Before that, when you went to Spain.
13:23I was studying.
13:25Don't tell me.
13:26Oxford.
13:29How did you guess?
13:30Oh, one Oxford chap can always tell another, you know.
13:33Some indefinable stamp.
13:35Were you there?
13:36Well, of course, old boy.
13:37Jesus.
13:38I don't remember.
13:39No, you wouldn't.
13:41My old man was head porter.
13:43He used to take me up there when I was a little lad.
13:46But only in the vacations.
13:49Hey, do you know something?
13:51When I was 15, I ran away from home and joined up with a fairground mob.
13:55The University of Life, eh?
13:56You know what it's about, do you?
14:10You know what what's about?
14:12Lily Marlain.
14:14It's about a whore who stands outside the barric gates.
14:17Wants to do as much for a country as the gallant soldier boys who risk their lives.
14:22So she, uh, she gives it away.
14:25Free.
14:30Do you know that Jerry's have field brothels?
14:33Straight up.
14:35Can you imagine?
14:36Now what's your unit, my man?
14:38Number eight field brothel, sir.
14:46They've even given us our homework.
14:49Mines and mine warfare.
14:51Hey, listen to this.
14:56Ponder the paths of thy feet.
14:59And let all thy ways be established.
15:03Turn not to the right, nor to the left.
15:10Remove thy foot from evil.
15:12What we're showing you now is the drill for clearing a road or track, which may be mine.
15:37Now the golden rule is still to send for the sappers if you possibly can.
15:42That's why we're paying an extra sixpence a day.
15:45But if you're out in the blue, on your own, that may not always be possible.
15:49And the recommended way is by the time-honored method of prodding for them, which is still the best, if you don't do it too hard.
16:00The prodders keep in line one for each yard of road, paying particular attention to potholes and soft spots.
16:07And if the road is cratered or otherwise blocked, they mark out the diversion with tapes.
16:14Behind the prodders comes the trap with the mine detector, if you've got one.
16:20Now this is the invention based on the principle of magnetic fields.
16:24We'll be showing you one.
16:26But there aren't going to be many around for some time.
16:28Then comes the NCO in charge, whose job is to keep everyone in line and generally to give encouragement.
16:38Then, finally, at least 50 yards back, the leading vehicle, which should contain a gratinol, several hundred yards of signals cable,
16:49also one or two reserves to take the places of those whose lucky day it isn't.
16:55Now, when anybody encounters a mine, as you see number two has done,
17:03he mocks it in the case of an anti-tank mine.
17:07It's all right, it's only a dummy.
17:10If it's an anti-personnel mine, he has to deal with it there and then, which isn't always fun.
17:16We'll be doing this with you later on in the course.
17:19Now, we'll assume the prodders have gone on down the road.
17:23So, what do we do with the marked anti-tank mines?
17:27The answer is, pull them.
17:36Now, you don't try and lift them.
17:39You tie something to the handle and pull from a safe distance.
17:42This is where the signals cable comes in.
17:46You'll need 50 yards at least.
17:48The reason being, of course, that all anti-tank mines are liable to be booby-trapped.
17:55And life being short as well as precious, we don't want to spend all day groping around under some temperamental object.
18:05And while I'm the subject of booby-traps, don't forget, assume all vehicles, guns and other equipment to be mined or booby-trapped or both.
18:14Okay, that should be far enough.
18:21Just a slow, steady pull does the trick.
18:24That was just a TNT slab.
18:34The real thing's like that only more so.
18:37The idea was to remind you to take cover before you pull.
18:42Okay?
18:43Bloody comedian.
18:44Ah, sod this for a joke.
19:01Keep your head down, Sergeant.
19:02Try to imagine you're under fire.
19:04You mean people shooting at me?
19:05You know what I mean.
19:06Yeah, yeah, I think I've seen other films.
19:08All right, that's enough of that.
19:09And for future reference, I'm addressed as Q, sir, or Mr. Briggs, all right?
19:12Come on, a bit more poke about it, Sergeant.
19:14You wouldn't reach half the mines.
19:16His gracious, your wife wouldn't think much of you if that's the best you can do.
19:21Another bloody comedian.
19:22The place is crawling with them.
19:29You encountered something, Sergeant?
19:30Yes, Q.
19:31All right, uncover it, then.
19:37All right, know what it is.
19:39Anti-tank mine.
19:40All right, know what to do.
19:41Mark it.
19:41All right, do so.
19:47What's the matter with you, Sergeant?
19:48Trying to hypnotize it.
19:49He won't bite.
19:50And face the front, the third golden rule in this game is always prod facing the enemy.
19:54What is it?
19:55Prod facing the enemy.
19:57Q, sir, Mr. Briggs.
19:58Bloody good, sir.
20:00They're probably knocked out a field breaker, I shouldn't wonder.
20:03Or perhaps a field brothel, eh?
20:18All those poor bastards caught on the job.
20:19Hey, can you imagine the telegrams going out tonight?
20:21We regret to inform do thine husband killed in action.
20:22Hey, cocker, how's the beer situation tonight?
20:23Two bottles each, Sergeant?
20:23Well, we'll have one apiece right away.
20:24Send a wok over with them, will you please?
20:58Hey, what's up on the radio?
20:59Singapore gone.
21:00Stalingrad likely to go.
21:01Burma, the Philippines.
21:02All they can drag up on the bright side is some pittling little patrol action.
21:07As you said, probably a field bakery.
21:09But don't take it to heart, old son.
21:10I was only trying to make conversation.
21:12The bastards are winning.
21:14Hey, come on, cheer up.
21:15We're in our halls.
21:16And here comes the beer.
21:18And how's the war going for you, Ahmed, you thieving old wog?
21:22Hey, and what's all this about old King Farouk being held to ransom in his own palace, eh?
21:26King Farouk, King Farouk caught his...
21:28Shut up, Jack.
21:29Oh, don't be like that.
21:30Really, I love him, don't I, Ahmed, you old thief?
21:33Abu ben Adam, may your tribe increase.
21:36That's a poem about you.
21:38And how you told the angel of the Lord to put you down as one who loved his fellow men.
21:42And I'll bet you you do, you thieving old sod, eh?
21:46Off you go now.
21:47Lift right, lift right, lift right, lift right.
21:49All men prod facing the enemy.
21:52You have to stir it up all the time.
21:54Oh, what do you mean?
21:55It is their mess.
21:56We are only guests.
21:57And the instructors, why do you have to rile them so much?
21:59Ah, these blokes get on my wick.
22:01Treating you like raw reinforcements, as if we'd never been near any action.
22:04They're the ones who are safely away from it all.
22:06Well, they weren't always.
22:08Yeah, I know.
22:09Up there, soldiering about long before we even had our knees brown.
22:13And a fat lot of good it did them.
22:15Up to Benghazi every autumn, back next spring.
22:18Blimey, they had season tickets.
22:22Gentlemen, can I get you a drink?
22:24Yes, thank you.
22:25We're only allowed one more.
22:26All right, I'll get it.
22:27Mr Briggs.
22:28Yeah?
22:29We were just discussing the conduct of the war.
22:31Mr Briggs.
22:32What conclusion did you come to, then?
22:34Well, my friend Sergeant Ashton here is rather disturbed.
22:37He's an idealist, you know.
22:39Fought against the Jerrys in Spain.
22:40All that.
22:41He should be wearing your Crusader flashes.
22:43What other reason is there for fighting a war?
22:45I don't know about the reason, mate.
22:47But I know about the ways of doing things.
22:49I know about fighting and losing and winning.
22:51Yeah, you Crusaders will come in very handy when we start to attack.
22:55If we ever do start bloody well attacking.
22:58But at the moment, we're neither attacking nor falling back.
23:02We're neither winning nor losing.
23:04Nothing's happening and nothing's certain except there's a long flog ahead.
23:08And who's the soldier for that, eh?
23:11Well, I'll tell you.
23:12It's someone like me, or the Jerrys,
23:14who's in for the loot and the fun, the booze and the bints.
23:18Up to now, we've been dealing with anti-tank mines,
23:29which in themselves are not dangerous to the individual soldier.
23:33Requiring a pressure of two to four hundred pounds to detonate them.
23:37The exception being, Sergeant Ashton?
23:40An Italian four igniter mine.
23:42Which, if the weight is applied to the corner of the pressure plates,
23:45only requires?
23:46A hundred pounds.
23:48Thank you, Sergeant.
23:49That is seven stones.
23:51So you don't have to be a primo canera to set that one off.
23:57We now come to anti-personnel mines.
24:00Some other devices which concern the infantry more intimately.
24:04And the one that's been causing the most casualties lately,
24:07and which we anticipate most trouble in the future, is this.
24:13The German S-mine.
24:15As you can see, it's in two parts.
24:19This is the mine itself.
24:22And this outer section here acts as a small mortar.
24:26When the mine is set off, a small lifting charge projects the inner part into the air to a height of some three to five feet,
24:34whereupon it explodes.
24:36The inner casing contains some 360 steel balls, which are scattered in all directions with considerable force.
24:49How many, Sergeant Hazard?
24:51How many balls, Sergeant?
24:54358 more than any mine needs.
25:01All right, quite so.
25:07What isn't so funny is that no one stands a chance within 25 yards of the explosion.
25:13Now, normally, the charge which lifts a bomb into the air contains and incorporates a four-second delay fuse.
25:22On a quiet occasion, such as a night patrol, it's possible to hear the sound of the igniter,
25:28like a sharp click, or the sound of a cap pistol, as it's been described.
25:33You then have four seconds to get away.
25:37And believe me, some Olympic records have been broken during those four seconds.
25:45This is the standard pressure igniter, SMI Z-35, or Schutzenmeinensunder Fumpfendreisic.
25:53Ten to fifteen pounds is all it requires.
25:57Note the characteristic three prongs.
26:00Hidden amongst grass or scrub or even loose sand, it's very difficult to spot.
26:05The igniter is armed by withdrawing this little safety bolt.
26:11In order to make it safe again, all you need to do is to replace it.
26:15But as Jerry is not usually considerate enough to leave one lying around for you,
26:20a nail or a heavy piece of gauge wire is recommended instead.
26:25The S-bomb can also be fitted with a pull igniter and tripwires as in booby traps.
26:32And these can be neutralized in much the same way.
26:42Found something, Sergeant?
26:44S-mine with push igniter.
26:46Very well.
26:47You know what to do.
26:56What's the matter, Sergeant?
26:57Too many late nights.
26:58It's a good thing he's only a dummy.
27:00Q?
27:01Yeah?
27:02I'm not quite sure what I do now.
27:04Have you neutralized igniter?
27:06Yes.
27:07All right.
27:08Now what do you do?
27:09Cut it.
27:10What about the other end of the wire?
27:12Where does that lead to?
27:13Ah.
27:14Yeah.
27:15Better make sure.
27:16You only make one mistake in this game.
27:18Shutsen, Meinens, unden, Fumpfund, Dreisig.
27:21Jesus.
27:22They try to strangle you to death if they can't blow you up.
27:24You know these things give me that galloping out, David.
27:26So I've noticed.
27:28What do you mean?
27:29Nothing.
27:30What are you getting at?
27:31I told you, nothing.
27:32Do you want to make something out of it?
27:34For Christ's sake.
27:35Nobody likes them.
27:36They give me the hab dabs too.
27:37Yeah.
27:38Yeah.
27:39That bloody comedian about QMSI can't see that.
27:41There's no fight with a box in the ground.
27:44It kills you but you can't hurt it.
27:50Did I ever tell you about my old man?
27:52Well, only that he was the head porter at Jesus.
27:57Go on.
27:59No.
28:00I'm superstitious.
28:02You know my wife's mother reads hands.
28:05She read mine once and told me that I'd lived to a ripe old age.
28:08And then she looked at it again and started talking about the weather.
28:11She did see me once lying on a Greek plain under the sun.
28:15Yeah.
28:16And that was long before we ever got orders for coming here.
28:18Really?
28:19Yeah, really.
28:20Yeah, really.
28:37What are you reading?
28:38It's a novel.
28:39I can see that.
28:40Orange for novels, green for crime, blue for biography.
28:43When I was on the troop ship I read the whole lot.
28:46It's Death of a Hero by Richard Aldington.
28:49Huh?
28:50What's that one about?
28:51It's about a chap that cocked it in the last lot right at the end.
28:54Officer?
28:55Yes.
28:56And the woman he'd had?
28:57Yeah.
28:58The one that was right for him and the one he was no good for.
29:01You could put it that, were you?
29:02Yeah, I remember it.
29:03It was a bit officer-y but it wasn't bad.
29:05Yeah.
29:06It wasn't bad at all.
29:08You know, I had a woman like that wife once.
29:11I taught her a few things.
29:13You married, are she?
29:14It's alright, you know.
29:15No.
29:16Well, you should be.
29:17Have a look at that.
29:19Very nice.
29:20No, no.
29:21She is very, very pretty.
29:22Yeah.
29:23Her name's Mahala.
29:24It's her own your name.
29:25She's got gypsy blood in her, that one.
29:27No, you wouldn't do so well with the Panzer Grenadiers then.
29:30What do you mean?
29:31Hitler's got it in for the gypsies just as much as for the men.
29:33Well, Hitler's got it in for the gypsies just as much as for the men.
29:37The gypsies just as much as for the Jews.
29:39They're non-Aryan.
29:40Get away.
29:41It's true.
29:42I didn't know that.
29:44You know, if there wasn't a war on, I'd take her to Germany.
29:49But stay in the best hotels.
29:51And if any bastard said one word against her, I'd knock his teeth down his stupid throat.
30:00Yeah.
30:01I wish she was there instead of you.
30:04No doubt.
30:05Hey, Ashy.
30:06Let's go down to the wogger here.
30:07There's bound to be a spare with a skirt out of Barnes.
30:08No, thanks.
30:09Well, perhaps Archman could fix us up, the thieving old wog.
30:13He-he.
30:14I bet he rents out his kid sister.
30:16Ashy, if you were to step on an S-man, heard a click and had four seconds.
30:26What would you think about?
30:27I wouldn't think about anything.
30:28I'd be too busy getting the hell out of it.
30:33One, and two, and three, and four.
30:39That's four seconds.
30:41But we'd be thinking or praying at the same time.
30:44I know what I'd think about.
30:47I'd think about all the women I'd ever had.
30:50Because once you're dead, boy, you've had all the women you're ever going to get.
30:53You ever had it, Ashy?
30:54What?
30:55I said, have you had it?
30:56Have you broken your duck?
30:57What do you think?
30:58I don't know.
30:59You don't seem to talk about it much.
31:00Not everybody does.
31:01You don't mind reading about it in books, though, eh?
31:02Oh, for God's sake.
31:03Oh, well, don't mind me.
31:04Just tell me to shut up if I offend you.
31:05You see, I just hate to think of a guy who is not picking up his rations.
31:08Shut up, then.
31:09All right.
31:10Well, I think I'll take a shuff to you around.
31:11Are you coming?
31:12No, thanks.
31:13Okay, then.
31:14Suit yourself.
31:15All right.
31:16All right.
31:17I think I'll take a shuff to you around.
31:18Are you coming?
31:19No, thanks.
31:20Okay, then.
31:21Suit yourself.
31:45Oh, God.
31:46Oh, God.
31:47Oh, God.
31:48Oh, God.
31:49Oh, God.
31:50Oh, God.
31:51Oh, God.
31:52Oh, God.
31:53Oh, God.
31:54Oh, God.
31:55Oh, God.
32:03Hi, there.
32:04This is Mina.
32:05Mina, meet Philip Ashton.
32:08For God's sake, has it?
32:10Hey, would you like to try it yourself?
32:14It's quite painless.
32:15I can recommend it.
32:17Mina, why don't you go to see nice Philip, huh?
32:21Go on.
32:26Oh, no.
32:29No.
32:30Oh, poor little Bint.
32:32You've gone and upset her.
32:33Now, can't you be a bit more bloody gracious?
32:35She's only a kid.
32:36Well, they matured earlier in the sun.
32:38Haven't you noticed?
32:39Send her away.
32:40Yeah.
32:47Hey, Mina.
32:48Come here.
32:49Come on.
32:52Here.
32:53Stuff that up, your knickers, if you ever had any.
32:55It's more than you deserve.
32:57If I get a packet of the blue, it's not good to me.
33:00And listen.
33:01Don't give any of it to that old rascal Ackman.
33:03Huh?
33:04Now him she.
33:09And you can save your breath if you're thinking of coming all moral on me.
33:12Just because you're a vestal virgin doesn't mean to say...
33:14Shut up.
33:16Listen.
33:18What you do is your affair.
33:20You can bring a camel in here for all I care, but don't expect me to leave the cheering and the clapping.
33:23What do you mean by that?
33:24It's all a big show, isn't it?
33:26A great big show.
33:27Whether it's women or war.
33:29You need an audience, don't you?
33:31Somebody to lead the applause.
33:33Well...
33:38You remind me of my brother David.
33:39He's like that.
33:40The one you're jealous of?
33:42Well, actually, I'm not.
33:44Mostly I'm sorry for him.
33:46Me too, I suppose.
33:48No, not for you.
33:52Why don't you give it a rest?
33:53What?
33:54Why don't you stop trying to impress everybody?
33:56Look, these mines.
33:58What about them?
34:00Well, I saw...
34:01I saw fellow copies in a minefield.
34:03He was as close as you are.
34:05He wasn't very pretty.
34:07And I'm scared to hell of him.
34:09But I don't mind admitting it.
34:11You won't admit it because it doesn't fit in with the image.
34:14In fact, the whole mine thing doesn't fit in, does it?
34:17There's nothing very dashing about having your parts blown off by a gadget
34:21some bloke you never saw buried in the ground some six months before.
34:24What do you say that for?
34:25What?
34:26About being hit there.
34:27Well, it's a figurative speech.
34:28Besides, if something does come off at you from the ground...
34:30Now, look, listen.
34:31Do you know what I did in the Seve Street?
34:33Nothing.
34:34I bombed around a few fairgrounds, got into trouble.
34:36The best job I ever had was selling cars.
34:39The old push talk.
34:41The only one thing I was really good at was giving the Jules a good time.
34:45So if anything happens in that department, well, I'd...
34:47I'd...
34:49In fact, you know what I think I'll do on my next leave?
34:52I'll pay a visit to the WOG tattooist.
34:54Get them to tattoo a dotted line right below their guts across there.
34:57With a little message at the side to the sawbones saying,
35:00If hit below this line, please finish off.
35:03Signed, Jack Hassett.
35:11Get knotted, Ashton.
35:15You've got it all wrong.
35:17You don't know the half of it.
35:30Hello, Ashton.
35:31Good course.
35:32Not bad.
35:33Something's a bit alarming at times.
35:34Do you know these Germans have 22 ingenious ways of blowing a man to bits?
35:47Yeah.
35:48Well, the Colonel wants you and Jack Hassett to run a training programme through the battalion.
35:52How did you get on with him, by the way?
35:56He saw quite a bit of each other.
35:58Still as full of bullshit as ever.
36:00Has his fair share.
36:01He has his fair share of everything.
36:05Some would say more than his fair share.
36:09I know the Major who want to see you.
36:11He's out on a recce at the moment.
36:13The main thing is you can keep up that third strike.
36:16But... but how...
36:17You're taking over the platoon.
36:19My platoon as was.
36:20Our platoon, I should put it, maybe.
36:22They're a bloody idle lot, but the best in the company.
36:25You keep them on their toes.
36:26Well, what about you?
36:27Well, Sergeant Major Seasons won't be back for a while.
36:30If at all.
36:31I'll be stuck here in the company office for a while longer.
36:33Ah, congratulations in order?
36:35I'll be made up acting, I shouldn't wonder.
36:37I'm pleased.
36:38That's for trade.
36:39Yeah, Sergeant Hazzard doesn't seem to think much of regulars.
36:42Ah, just more of his bullshit.
36:44The soldier's in his blood.
36:46This old man was RSM of the 2nd Battalion.
36:50You tell me he was a college porter at Oxford.
36:53Ah, when they pensioned him off, he was.
36:55Probably called a bit sharpish in 39.
36:58Then went and got himself killed on the bombing range.
37:00Usual story.
37:01Some fool recruit drops the bloody thing, petrified.
37:04RSM goes to pick it up.
37:06And that's that.
37:07So that's what he was keeping back.
37:37Oh.
37:38Maybe I'd rather get out on wall than this.
37:42Aye.
37:43And if you were walking, you'd be mourning about riding in a truck.
37:47Is it much farther, Sarge?
37:49Well, not according to the map reference I've got.
37:52A nice cushy little job.
37:54Just what I needed.
37:55Bury in some stinking crowd who's probably been in the sun for the last fortnight.
37:59Well, never mind.
38:00He might have an iron cross you could snitch.
38:03You're riding forward, eh?
38:05Scrumpy.
38:07You what?
38:09Scrumpy.
38:10He's been in the sun too long, the poor old son.
38:14Ah.
38:15I'm just thinking, that's what I feel like just now.
38:17A nice pint of Scrumpy.
38:18Oh, give up, aren't I?
38:19Oh, that takes me back a bit.
38:21You know, the first time I tasted Scrumpy in Dorset, apparently I went berserk.
38:26I filled in a naval patrol, four of them.
38:28Come on.
38:29Straight up, come on, straight up.
38:30Then I sorted out this fantastic bin who'd been watching
38:33and said that fighting made her excited.
38:36She was a real darling, you know.
38:38But she wouldn't leave her ugly friend.
38:41Of course, he did the gentlemanly thing.
38:44Oh, yeah.
38:45I talked to him up with the old Scrums and took them both men a bit.
38:47I love a story with an happy ending.
38:50Happy ending my left boot.
38:52But I woke up in the morning, they'd both scarpen and taken all my money with them.
38:55We watched a lot.
38:56Oh, isn't that sad?
38:59Never mind.
39:01You must have made up for it now.
39:03How many watches have you got?
39:08Seven.
39:09Well, it would have been eight.
39:10Only I had to throw away the one of Jerry bleeding because it gummed up the works.
39:13Oh, bloody hell, give up.
39:15Make for that notch in the hill over there.
39:18Do you see?
39:19Is that it now, Todd?
39:44I'm not sure.
39:46Hey, Christ, that can't be right.
39:48What's the matter?
39:49Oh, there's something moving.
39:51Yeah, I can see the dust.
39:53It's not much.
39:54Oh.
39:55Let's take a ship here.
40:18Well, I'll be jiggered.
40:19What is it, sir?
40:20Looks like a carrier.
40:21Shouldn't be out this way.
40:22I can't-
40:23Well, I'll be jiggered.
40:24What is it, sir?
40:25Looks like a carrier.
40:37Shouldn't be out this way.
40:38Well, I'll be jiggered.
40:40What is it, sir?
40:41Looks like a carrier. Shouldn't be out this way.
41:09Well, well, well.
41:11If it isn't my old mate, Philip Ash.
41:14What are you doing out here?
41:16I could ask the same about you.
41:18But seeing as we're old friends,
41:20I'm just showing Mr. Perkins here.
41:22He's just joined us from Blighty as a pioneer officer.
41:25Showing him some of the waterholes, alleged minefields,
41:28and other points of professional interest.
41:30How do you like it, sir?
41:31Fascinating. Fascinating.
41:33And now, what are you on?
41:35Burial detail.
41:36Who's Burial, if it's not a rude question?
41:38I don't know.
41:39Kilroy's, maybe.
41:41Some A.O.P. officer who doodles around here in an orster
41:44keeps reporting what looks like a body in a waddy
41:46just south-east of the pimple.
41:48Just a body in a waddy.
41:51By a Jerry Halftrack, apparently.
41:53We had a patrol mixed around here about five days ago.
41:55Yeah, we heard about that.
41:56But they didn't report hitting anything.
41:58Anyway, the Colonel says that according to the articles of war,
42:01we have to bury him,
42:02and the I.O.'s worried about whether anybody's checked his identity tag.
42:05Well, hey, what about joining forces?
42:07Oh, er...
42:09All right with you, sir?
42:10By all means, Sergeant.
42:11Good, good.
42:12Right, eh?
42:17Corporal Addenley.
42:19Er...
42:20Follow us behind, will you?
42:22Right, Sergeant.
42:23Is your course report all right?
42:39I gather so.
42:40Sergeant Ashton and I were on a mine course together, Mr. Perkinson.
42:44I see.
42:45Very worthwhile, I should think.
42:46All right, if you like a skive.
42:48I'm sorry.
42:49I didn't know about your old man.
42:51Oh, yeah.
42:52Hey!
42:53What the old bastard?
42:54Yeah, we, er...
42:55We both spoke out of turn a bit.
42:57A strain of two men thrust together by circumstances or more, Mr. Perkins.
42:59What?
43:00Quite so, Sergeant.
43:01I take it this is no man's land, Sergeant.
43:02What man would want it, Mr. Perkins, sir?
43:03From here down to the Free French in Pierre-Hackheim, there's 50 miles of sud-all except minefields.
43:08We should be nearly there by now.
43:09Over there in that scrub, maybe.
43:10Okay, well, let's have a shofty.
43:11Sure, sir.
43:12You should be nearly there by now.
43:13Over there in that scrub, maybe.
43:14Okay, well, let's have a shofty.
43:15Sure, sir.
43:16Yes, very well, sir, if you like.
43:17Or an idly...
43:18Yeah, sir.
43:19Yes, my name is James.
43:20I'll be black-faced.
43:21I'll be black-faced.
43:22I'll be black-faced.
43:23I'll be black-faced.
43:24When you're black-faced, you have a black-faced green-eye moly.
43:25Pris-eyed man's land, Sergeant?
43:26What man would want it, Mr. Perkins, sir?
43:27From here down to the Free French in Pierre-Hackheim, there's 50 miles of sud-all except minefields.
43:30You should be nearly there by now.
43:31Over there in that scrub, maybe.
43:32Okay, well, let's have a shofty.
43:33Should I come?
43:34Yes, very well, sir, if you like.
43:35Papa Andersley, stay here till I whistle you up with you.
43:38Planes, anything like that, OK?
44:02Snaps.
44:05You two don't miss a trick, do you?
44:08Come on.
44:23Hey, Ashy, we're not anywhere near any minefields, are we?
44:27Well, not according to this, anyway.
44:38Well, I can't see him, whoever it is.
44:39Perhaps he got tired of waiting.
44:40Ah.
44:41Ah.
44:42There you are.
44:43Ah.
44:44There you are.
44:45Ah.
44:46There you are.
44:48There you are.
44:49Somebody got here before us.
44:50Yeah.
44:51But who?
44:52Wrecking boys?
44:53No, they'd have reported it.
44:54You mean you think the enemy came back?
44:55Yeah.
44:56You think the enemy came back?
44:57Yeah.
44:58Well, they might have done.
44:59There's a half-track.
45:00There's a half-track.
45:01Must have said right down in here.
45:02Oh, I can't see him.
45:03I can't see him, whoever it is.
45:04Must have said right down into the gully during the shindig.
45:05Yeah.
45:06Yeah.
45:07Yeah.
45:08Come on.
45:09That's how I look.
45:10Come on.
45:11Come on.
45:12Come on.
45:13Come on.
45:14Come on.
45:15There you are.
45:16There you are.
45:17Somebody got here before us.
45:18Yeah.
45:19But who?
45:20Wrecking boys?
45:21No.
45:22They'd have reported it.
45:23You mean you think the enemy came back?
45:24Yeah.
45:25Well, they might have done.
45:27There's the half-track.
45:28Must have said right down into the gully during the shindig.
45:31Yeah.
45:32Come on.
45:33Come on.
45:34Let's have a look.
45:41Blow me.
45:42It's a Krauss-Maffei.
45:43We were using a couple of them on eight parts.
45:45Until we ran into spares trouble.
45:47They were very crafty German vehicles indeed.
45:50I wonder if they stripped down.
45:52It's hard to tell.
45:53We could use a spare set of tracks and an oil cleaner and a mug.
45:56Hey, Ashley, whistle up the boys.
45:57It's a bit out of our area.
45:59Soft trucks.
46:00No protection.
46:01Oh, come on.
46:02I see you've got me.
46:03Yes, come on, Sergeant.
46:04It should be rather interesting.
46:05Now, you should be very careful, sir, before you move.
46:06If the Jerry's have come back to bury their man, they may have been over there too.
46:09You never know.
46:10Yeah, look some bloody good nick to me.
46:11Now, you should be very careful, Sergeant.
46:12It hasn't before you touch anything.
46:14The Jerry's may have left some little memento.
46:16Oh, Christ.
46:17We'll never have time for that.
46:18Anyway, it looks as if he has been stripped clean.
46:20Well, perhaps we should look for some marked documents or maps or some souvenirs.
46:25Good idea, Sergeant.
46:34No, no.
46:35There's nothing up here.
46:36Ashton!
46:37What's the matter?
46:38The wire.
46:39They've wired it!
46:40Well, don't touch it.
46:41Come down.
46:42I can't!
46:43You've got to!
46:44Don't you see, man, if there's a time to wire it, if there's a time to put them all over!
46:45Well, you can't stay there!
46:46Come down, Sergeant!
46:47Don't move!
46:48Now, Jack.
46:49Now, what was your last leg up?
46:50I had a bloody hell to hide, though!
46:51Left.
46:52Left, I think.
46:53Well, I'm not.
46:54I'm not.
46:55I'm not.
46:56I'm not.
46:57I'm not.
46:58I'm not.
46:59I'm not.
47:00I'm not.
47:01I'm not.
47:02I'm not.
47:03I'm not.
47:04I'm not.
47:05I'm not.
47:06I'm not.
47:07I'm not.
47:08I'm not.
47:09I'm not.
47:10I'm not.
47:11I'm not.
47:12I'm not.
47:13I'm not.
47:14Put your weight on your right.
47:18Bring your other leg down.
47:19Down.
47:20Further up.
47:21Slightly.
47:22Right.
47:23That's it.
47:24Bring your arms back.
47:25Okay.
47:26I feel it.
47:27Take your weight on your left.
47:30Bring your right leg down.
47:32That's it.
47:33Now look for the footmark.
47:35Christ!
47:37They've planted them all around me!
47:39I know.
47:40Other leg.
47:41Turn in your own footmarks.
47:48That's it.
47:50Now, come back in your own feetmark.
47:57Take your time.
48:11Well done, sergeant.
48:19Down!
48:36Yes, Bob.
48:37Must be our lucky day.
48:41You all right?
48:44I'm afraid that was my fault. I'm most frightfully sorry.
48:47That's all right, sir. You just got to remember that when you're in a...
49:07Feel better now?
49:10Yeah.
49:13Yeah, I do.
49:23We won't be needing this to die then, sergeant.
49:25Not today, sergeant.
49:26Not today.
49:31See you in Cairo, Ashie.
49:34And thanks, mate. I'll tell her she owes it all to you.
49:36I'll tell her, sir.
49:37I'll tell her...
49:38...that she owes it all to you.
49:40You bet it's that it's...
49:44This is a little bit...
49:45I'll tell her.
49:46I'll tell her...
49:47Yes!
50:17ORGAN PLAYS
50:47In Liverpool, the Ashtons have yet to come to terms
51:11with the loss of their youngest son, Robert,
51:13but Margaret is on her way home from hospital
51:15and Tony Briggs is bringing his girlfriend
51:18back with him on leave.
51:19In every family, especially in war,
51:22there is both giving and taking...