Iris Black falls for Johnny Fenwick but decides she wants more from life than becoming his wife and goes to train as a nurse. The Second World War is looming and she is determined to do her part. At the front line she learns to survive to put the patient first and to fight tiredness and despair - and she also learns about love. Johnny is still suffering from her rejection when he meets Nan Fielding a shy impoverished girl who no one bothers to get to know - but will Johnny be able to forget about Iris the girl who left him behind?