Two Men Went to War 2004

As the war rages on, two unlikely heroes from the Royal Army Dental Corps, Sergeant Peter King (character) and Private Leslie Cuthbertson, find themselves itching to trade in their dental tools for a taste of combat. Despite being held back by their superiors, they concoct an unauthorized plan to infiltrate occupied France, armed with nothing but two revolvers, a handful of grenades, and an unwavering desire to take on the enemy.

In a bold move, they pen a letter to none other than Winston Churchill himself, detailing their intention to fight against the Germans. Their plea for action falls on sympathetic ears, and after months of perseverance, they finally find themselves on French soil. Their initial success is short-lived, however, as they stumble upon a German radar station, which they proceed to blow up, believing it to be the main operations room.

Little do they know, their actions have inadvertently triggered a full-scale attack by the Germans, forcing them to make a hasty retreat in a small boat. Their escape is cut short when the vessel hits a mine, leaving them stranded and at risk of being captured as spies. After being picked up by British forces, they’re subjected to grueling interrogation before their identities are finally confirmed.

As they’re carted back to barracks for court-martial, it becomes clear that their unauthorized mission has landed them in hot water. Their hopes of a hero’s welcome are dashed when they’re slapped with lenient sentences: Sergeant King is demoted to corporal, while Private Cuthbertson is remanded to military prison for 28 days.

But just as all hope seems lost, an aide to Churchill appears at the court-martial, bearing news of a commando raid that eerily mirrors their own unauthorized mission. As the truth begins to unravel, Sergeant King and Private Cuthbertson find themselves exonerated, if only slightly. In a surprising twist, they receive an invitation from the Prime Minister himself to partake in a spot of tea at Whitehall should they ever find themselves in London.

Though their court-martial may have been a setback, it’s clear that these two unlikely heroes will never be the same again. As the credits roll, a subtle note reminds us that Sergeant King and Private Cuthbertson would never cross paths again, leaving behind only the faintest hint of what could have been.