Joe Maddisons War 2010 Tyneside ship builder Joe Maddison lost his faith in the trenches at the Somme in 1916 Now that World War Two has begun he is too old to enlist alongside his son and son in law and is also in a reserved occupation so, after his wife Polly has left him for a sailor,he joins the Home Guard with his friends,Marxist Eddie and cynical,wise cracking Harry Harrys anti authoritarian attitude causes problems with Mr Simpson,the company commander,and Joe leads the men out on strike after Harry is expelled However,after he has dealt with an unexploded bomb he is acclaimed a hero,and,along with his friends, reinstated,being promoted to corporal He also meets widow Selina who brings him out of his shell but Polly returns,with the sailors child,seeking a reconciliation, a request which splits the family Come 1945 and the war is ending but Joe still has his personal conflict to resolve