A mismatched collection of conscripted civilians find training tough under Lieutenant Jim Perry and Sergeant Ned Fletcher when they are called up to replace an infantry battalion that had suffered casualties at Dunkirk.
Lieutenant Jim Perry
David Niven
Pvt. Ted Brewer
Stanley Holloway
Pvt. Evans Lloyd
James Donald
Pvt. Luke
John Laurie
Pvt. Sid Beck
Leslie Dwyer
Pvt. Bill Parsons
Hugh Burden
Pvt. Herbert Davenport
Raymond Huntley
Pvt. Geoffrey Stainer
Jimmy Hanley
Sgt. Ned Fletcher
William Hartnell
The Training Company Commanding Officer
Reginald Tate
Captain Edwards
Leo Genn
Old Chelsea Soldier
John Ruddock
Old Chelsea Soldier
A. Bromley Davenport
Marjorie Gillingham
Renée Asherson
Mrs. Gillingham
Mary Jerrold
Mr. Jackson
Raymond Lovell
Sgt. Buster
Jack Watling
Rispoli
Peter Ustinov
Sam Thyrtle
Lloyd Pearson
Mrs. Perry
Penelope Dudley-Ward
Mrs. Ted Brewer
Esma Cannon
Mrs. Bill Parsons
Eileen Erskine
Mrs. Ned Fletcher
Grace Arnold
Herself
Tessie O'Shea
Officer on Ship (uncredited)
Trevor Howard
Sergeant Major (uncredited)
George Merritt
Perry's Daughter (uncredited)
Tracy Reed
Colonel Walmsley
A.E. Matthews
Soldier in Pub Talking to the Chelsea Pensioners (uncredited)
John Boxer
Minor Role (uncredited)
Peggy Carlisle
Instructor (uncredited)
Alf Goddard
Garage Customer in Car (uncredited)
David Hutcheson
ENSA Artist (uncredited)
Benita Lydal
Gendarme in Café (uncredited)
Andreas Malandrinos
Sam - Friend of Pvt. Lloyd in Pub Scene (uncredited)
John Salew
Lewis Gun Instructor (uncredited)
Johnnie Schofield
Minor Role (uncredited)
Winifred Willard
Pessimistic Man Talking to the Chelsea Pensioners (uncredited)
Ben Williams