Part 2: Officers and Gentlemen, originally transmitted 9 January 1967

1940. As London suffers the blitz, army-officer Guy Crouchback and Ian Kilbannock, a military public relations officer, arrive at their club, Bellamy's. Colonel Tommy Blackhouse, one of Guy's ex-wife Virginia's later husbands, arrives and introduces Guy to Ivor Claire, a jockey now also serving as an officer.

Guy is re-assigned to the Commandos for training on the Scottish Isle of Mugg. There he is reunited with Ivor and Tommy, who is now his CO. He also meets Trimmer, who is using the assumed name 'McTavish', having signed on with the army again after being expelled from his previous regiment, with which he and Guy had trained.

On leave in Glasgow, Trimmer meets Virginia. She had previously known him as Gustav, a hairdresser on the Aquitania. He woos her but is soon recalled to Mugg.

Brigadier Richie-Hook arrives on the island to take over the Commandos, now known as 'Hookforce'. They sail for Egypt, but Trimmer is left behind as he has been assigned to a dietician for an experiment in living off the land. The plane carrying Richie-Hook, who was flying on to Egypt ahead, disappears. Tommy takes charge of Hookforce.

In London, Virginia is reunited with Trimmer in an army canteen where she is working due to her financial difficulties.

In Egypt, Guy visits Ivor, who has a leg injury, in hospital. There he meets socialite Julia Stitch, who he had known before the war.

As part of a public-relations exercise intended to promote the Commandos, Trimmer is dispatched on a minor sabotage mission off the coast of France. However, this goes wrong, with Trimmer and Ian landing on mainland France instead. On his return, Ian writes the story up for the press in the most glowing terms and Trimmer is made a hero.

Hookforce is sent to the defence of Crete. En route, Tommy breaks his leg and in invalided out of the operation.

On Crete, Guy and his officious superior Major Hound find only chaos and masses of British wounded. The creepy Corporal-Major Ludovic reports that men are shooting their officers and deserting.

A Cretan guides guy to a dead British soldier. He says a prayer and takes the dead man's identity disc.

The British forces are ordered to retreat. Hookforce are ordered to cover the retreat before surrendering. Ludovic tries to enlist Hound's help in deserting and takes his gun.

Incensed at the order to surrender, Ivor looks for an honourable justification for deserting first. Guy remains adamant that they must follow their orders.

In the morning, the remaining troops surrender and await the Germans. Ludovic returns without Major Hound but wearing the uniform of a Major. A few soldiers decide to risk trying to reach mainland Africa in a small boat. Guy and Ludovic join them.

In London, Trimmer, promoted to Colonel and making a nuisance of himself over Virginia, is sent on a tour of factories to boost civilian morale.

In Egypt, Guy wakes in hospital after his perilous voyage. From Julia he learns that Ivor also escaped, but it becomes apparent that he disobeyed orders and boarded one of the retreating ships. Guy is disappointed. Julia hopes Guy won't make trouble for Ivor.

Tommy tells Guy, who was delirious for much of the voyage, that Ludovic was the only other survivor from the boat and that he had carried him ashore. Tommy has recommended him for a commission and a decoration. Julia announces that the Germans have invaded Russia, to the displeasure of Guy, who is uncomfortable about being allied with Russia.

Guy learns that Richie-Hook has turned up in Abyssinia. Guy is ordered back to the UK, by a circuitous route - thanks to the intervention of Julie, who is trying to protect Ivor's reputation. Guy asks Julia to post an envelope containing the dead soldier's identity disc, but thinking it contains evidence against Ivor, she destroys it instead.

Back in London after an 80-day voyage, Guy meets Ian at Bellamy's. Ian has heard gossip about Ivor's desertion, but Guy feigns ignorance. Ian explains that Virginia has been sent to support the love-sick Trimmer on his morale-boosting tour. Guy reports back to base.