A Family At War

Season 1

The Ashton family struggles to deal with the harsh realities of the Second World War as their sons are sent away to fight. Those who remain at home in Liverpool live in constant fear of a knock on the door with a telegram from the War Office or the Luftwaffe bombs overhead as they sleep at night.

Where to Watch Season 1

13 Episodes

The Facts of Life
E1
The Facts of LifeThe episode begins with Edwin and Jean Ashton's wedding anniversary. David Ashton is expecting to be given a job in the printing works, but Sefton promotes his son to manager instead of Edwin, and, in desperation David joins the RAF. Philip Ashton is anxious to get back to war in Spain, and Margaret Ashton brings home John Porter for the first time.
To Die For Spain
E2
To Die For SpainPhilip Ashton decides to return to Spain to rejoin his old brigade in the Spanish Civil War, much to the dismay of the rest of his family. After some time in Spain he is wounded and returns home.
Lines of Battle
E3
Lines of BattleJune 1939: Margaret Ashton marries John Porter. Gwyn Roberts is in trouble.
The Summer Before the War
E4
The Summer Before the WarMargaret is busy evacuating schoolchildren and John is drafted. David now in the Airforce, meets a local girl, Peggy, whom he gets pregnant. Sheila decides she can't bear to have her kids evacuated - much to the family's disapproval. Relations between Sefton and Tony become more strained. In the final scene we hear Chamberlain's speech announcing the outbreak of war.
The Gate of the Year
E5
The Gate of the YearMargaret is feeling the strain of living with John's Mother, and decides to pop home for the evening, as she has done often in the past. John gets an emergency posting overseas and has two hours before his train leaves. He arrives home after Margaret has gone out and because his mother pretends not to know where Margaret is goes abroad without seeing her and it is Edwin who tells him that Margaret is expecting a baby.
The Breach in the Dyke
E6
The Breach in the DykeTony Briggs agrees to help find a flat for Margaret and her baby. After an argument with Mrs. Porter, Margaret moves back home. John Porter is fighting in France, gets separated from the rest of his division and is hit by a lorry on the road.
The War Office Regrets
E7
The War Office RegretsThe Ashton family is still waiting for news of John Porter. Sheila has taken a job at the Naafi. David come home on a 48-hour leave and Sheila asks him if he knows a girl called Peggy (she has received an anonymous letter). Harry Porter has received a letter from the war office saying that John is missing, presumed killed and after keeping it to himself for two days, takes it round to the Ashtons.
For Strategic Reasons
E8
For Strategic ReasonsExcerpts from episodes 2, 3, 4, & 6 showing how Phillip Ashton came to be in Guernsey.
The Night They Hit No. 8
E9
The Night They Hit No. 8A night of bad air raids on Liverpool - David and Sheila's children can't be found.The local policeman brings a lost boy for the Ashton's to look after. Margaret gives birth to a son.
One of Ours
E10
One of OursDavid Ashton is the navigator in a Wellington bomber crew in a raid over Germany and the aircraft is hit on the return home. Fred Ashton is angry about Sheila's relationship with Bob O' Connell.
Brothers in War
E11
Brothers in WarRobert, the youngest son is home from Nautical college. His mother will not be accept that he is now grown up, as this only means he will be called up. Peter Collins meets Freda again and we sense that she is not particularly keen on seeing him. David and Phillip meet in a pub with Susan present - it becomes obvious that Phillip is more Susan's type, but when David discovers that Phillip is going away,, probably to the Middle East he gives way.
If It's Got Your Number On It
E12
If It's Got Your Number On ItFreda has to work late, and on the way home meets an Australian airman, Owen Thomas, in a public air raid shelter. She goes out with Owen for a week and is discovered with him one night by her childhood boyfriend, Peter Collins. A fight ensues. At the end of the episode Peter is killed by a bomb. Phillip is home on embarkation leave.
The End of the Beginning
E13
The End of the BeginningIt is Christmas and their is much dissension in the Ashton family. An incendiary bomb has landed on the roof, revealing amongst the wreckage caused in the bedroom, a copy of Jean's Mothers will, which upsets Edwin. Jean is furious with him for signing papers allowing Robert to go to sea. Freda is unsure of her feelings for Owen who has arrived for Christmas, Tony comes home on leave and finds Sefton ill with flu and more difficult than usual. Margaret is finding the strain of the situation unbearable. The episode is mainly about the changes the war is causing in the family.