I. [Reel One] 'NEWS FROM ENGLAND.' Members of the Home Guard patrol Lake Windermere in small motor boats mounting a Vickers .303-in heavy machine guns on the bow. The commentary points out that until the arrival of the motor boats, the lake was patrolled by rowing boat. Home Guard practice landing drill on the shore of a small inlet, the troops jump from the small motorised craft as thunderflashes are thrown into the water to simulate artillery shell explosions from an opposed landing.

II. 'PACIFIC BATTLE.' USS Calcaterra (pennant number 390) escorts merchant shipping in heavy seas during the approach of the United States invasion force for the Solomon Islands. A US Navy Douglas Dauntless dive bomber aircraft overflies the fleet, waggling its wings as a gesture of comradeship. A Boeing B-17(E or F) Flying Fortress is shown in flight. The commentary points out that the vital element of surprise was forthcoming and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) successfully managed to gain a foothold on the islands. Landing craft ferry USMC troops to the landing beaches. A Willys Jeep is unloaded by crane from a merchantman. United States Navy ships fire their main guns in support of the landings with smoke from the impacting shells evident on the distant horizon. USMC infantry of the First Marine Division dig defensive emplacements, fill sandbags, and position a water-cooled .30-in Browning Machine gun against possible enemy counterattack (Guadalcanal Island ?). A tented encampment, used by the Japanese as a command centre is displayed. A Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat lands at a rough landing strip (Henderson Field ?) apparently carrying Admiral Chester William Nimitz (United States Commander-in-Chief US Pacific Fleet). The aircraft bears the legend "Commander aircraft South Pacific Force" on its fuselage side. The United States flag is raised on an island described by the commentary as being the first American flag to fly over a stronghold taken from Japan.

III. 'TOUGH TACTICS.' A soldier of the British Army looks at a poster extolling the virtues of unarmed combat and bearing the slogan "Fighting Fit: Fit To Fight." The activities of an unarmed combat training depot are highlighted with the commentary stressing that many trainees are veterans of the Western Desert campaigns while others are new recruits. Australian infantrymen enjoy some bayonet fighting practice with the antagonist being thrown to the ground. Bare chested troops use long metal poles to perform exercises designed to tone upper torso and arm muscles. Troops indulge in a strenuous bout of tug of war using ropes tied in a cruciform manner. Troops run up a sand embankment and jump to the ground from head height. Other exercises designed to improve stamina and confidence include rope climbing, plank walking at height, and jumping off moving vehicles. Various techniques for disarming antagonists armed with stilettos, pistols and bayonets are displayed for the benefit of the camera. the infantrymen now train in full battle kit. A Universal carrier drives past concealed infantry positions and is subject to a mock grenade attack.

IV. 'NATIONS DAY OF PRAYER.' Panoramic views of the English countryside and Stratford-on-Avon church. Various views of Cathedral congregations at prayer on the third anniversary of the start of the Second World War. The frontal elevations of famous Abbeys and Cathedrals are displayed including Westminster Abbey, Winchester Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral and St Paul's. The commentary such places of worship have sustained "Generations in arms, which earlier tyrannies have sought to subdue." The frontal elevation of St Paul's Cathedral is shown with bomb damage evident in the surrounding buildings. Elsewhere, over seven thousand members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) parade for a special religious service on the National Day of Prayer. Veterans from the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) look on as the simple service of re-dedication takes place. The assembled congregation salute as the RAF flag is raised. A Vickers Wellington bomber apparently overflies the ceremony.

V. [Reel 2] 'THE FIRST BLOW.' The title appears on screen and a fist smashes through it. Universal carriers and soft-skinned vehicles of the Eighth Army drive in convoy across desert scrubland during the successful offensive operation against the German Deutsches Afrika Korps (DAK). Eighth Army infantry march in the wake of the soft-skinned vehicles. British Valentine tanks move at speed across desert terrain. M3 General Grant light tanks avoid the blast from buried charge explosives during a tank exercise, views from the driver's vision port follow. The commentary stresses that the battle was expected by both sides and subsequently preparations had been underway for months. A South African radio operator sends co-ordinates for an artillery barrage to the crew of an Ordnance 25-pounder howitzer which then fires from the cover of camouflage netting. Commonwealth infantry move with bayonets fixed, under the cover of an artillery barrage. The commentary outlines the events of the Alamein battle and highlights the close cooperation between service arms that led to the eventual Allied swamping of the German defensive lines. A German PzKpfw III lies abandoned by retreating DAK forces, bodies of German infantry and tank crew are displayed. Large numbers of DAK prisoners are escorted to holding camps to the rear of the lines. Men of the Eighth Army pose for the cameras as reversed stock shot footage of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini is shown as a comedy finale.