To Serve Them All My Days(1980)

The BBC's classic story of an English schoolmaster's life of tragedy and triumph between the wars

To Serve Them All My Days is a 1980–81 British television drama serial following David Powlett-Jones, a shell-shocked World War I veteran who becomes a teacher at the prestigious boarding school Bamfylde. Adapted from R. F. Delderfield's 1972 novel by Andrew Davies, the series traces Powlett-Jones's personal transformation and deepening relationships over two decades at the school. As he settles into his role, his wartime trauma gradually gives way to a renewed sense of purpose, while his perspective on society, education, and human connection shifts profoundly. The drama captures both the intimate struggles of a man rebuilding his life and the broader social changes rippling through interwar and postwar Britain. A thoughtful portrait of resilience, duty, and the redemptive power of teaching.