Sidney Palmer lives in a rural part of the Home Counties with his parents and doting grandmother. As an only child he learns to amuse himself at Kirkstone Grange where his father is the head gardener. Life is comfortable until 1939 when Britain declares war on Germany, but as the war progresses his peers are being called up for active service and, Joyce, his former school friend joins the WRNS. Sidney has high hopes of being a pilot in the RAF but his father casts doubts as to whether he would be accepted for military service because of his childhood illness. Meanwhile he and his father continue to ‘Dig For Victory’ as they help to feed the nation.