Major-general (United Kingdom) Clive Wynne-Candy (Roger Livesey) is a senior commander in the Home Guard (United Kingdom) during the Second World War. Before a training exercise, he is "captured" in a Turkish bath by soldiers led by Lieutenant "Spud" Wilson, who has struck pre-emptively. He ignores Candy's outraged protests that "War starts at midnight!" They scuffle and fall into a bathing pool.