This Above All

A strong-willed, upper-class woman who defies expectations by enlisting in the WAAF. Her resolve drives much of the drama as she navigates military life, romance, and social judgments. She argues for England’s values while confronting the limits of her privilege.

A moody, secretive soldier with a sharp sense of injustice toward class oppression. He is honored for his wartime actions at Dunkirk but struggles with personal demons and a desire to escape the constraints of the English elite. His romance with Pru tests his loyalties and beliefs.

Clive’s friend who acts as a catalyst in the romance and the plot’s turning points. He keeps a light, loyal presence while navigating wartime loyalties and social boundaries. Monty’s interventions push Pru and Clive toward critical choices.

Pru’s aunt who disapproves of her wartime enlistment, embodying the social constraints of the aristocracy. Her stance reflects the tension between tradition and the changing roles women must embrace during war.

Pru’s father, a doctor who embodies practical support and authority. He provides medical and moral guidance, reinforcing the family’s stake in Prudence’s decisions and the wartime stakes a family faces.

A district nurse who tends Clive’s wrist after injury and chooses compassion over strict authority. She becomes a quiet confidante and helps move the plot toward reconciliation and understanding.

A one-armed rector who invites Clive for tea, introducing a moment where church authority and personal vulnerability collide. He represents both tradition and the moments when human connection overrides rigid rules.

A rural farmer who encounters Clive after his disappearance and tries to hand him over to authorities. His intervention highlights the everyday consequences of war on ordinary people.