November 1916. Matthew is fighting in the horrific Battle of the Somme but at Downton Robert, given a courtesy title as head of the local yeomanry but deemed too old to fight, and William, forbidden by his father to enlist, feel frustrated as white feathers are given to non-combatants. Sybil also feels useless and goes to York for nursing training whilst Mary hides her disappointment when Matthew, home on leave, brings his betrothed, Lavinia Swire, to meet her. She nonetheless sees him off, giving him her lucky mascot, as he returns to the fighting, Back in the trenches he meets Thomas, sick of the war, who deliberately gets himself wounded. John returns from his mother's funeral, hoping to buy off his greedy wife Vera with his inheritance and marry Anna. However, now that he has money, Vera turns up and threatens to expose Anna's part in Mary's indiscretion with the Turk Panuk unless he leaves with her immediately - which he does. Fortunately a suspicious Mrs. Hughes has overheard ... Written by don @ minifie-1

April 1917. With John still absent, Isobel's butler Molesley makes a play for Anna but is rejected. Robert gets a new valet, shell-shocked ex-soldier Henry Lang, whilst William goes off to war. Edith learns to drive a tractor extremely well, and nearly succumbs to a kiss from the married farmer Mr. Drake. Sybil and Thomas work in the cottage hospital, where the latter begins to learn some humanity. At Isobel's suggestion - and to Violet's dismay - Downton Abbey is turned into a convalescent ward to ease the hospital's bed shortage. Mary invites middle-aged newspaper tycoon, and prospective beau, Sir Richard Carlisle to a dinner party, also attended by the Crawleys and Lavinia. Suspicious of Carlisle, Violet invites her daughter and sister to the Earl, Lady Rosamund, who is intrigued by the fact that Carlisle and Lavinia already seem well-acquainted. Carson, despite being taken ill whilst serving dinner, is still perceptive enough to suggest to Mary that Matthew is really the man for ... Written by don @ minifie-1

July 1917. As Isobel's plan to turn Downton into a hospital unites upstairs and downstairs in protest, O'Brien persuades Cora to make Thomas the hospital manager. Ethel enjoys the patients' attention whilst Edith earns respect as an auxiliary nurse. Chauffeur Branson, extolling the Russian Revolution, intends to be a conscientious objector but is rejected on medical grounds as former footman William, on his way to the trenches, proposes to Daisy. As Lang finds his trauma interferes with his work Anna discovers Bates working in a local pub. He tells her that Vera has been unfaithful and he is hopeful of a divorce. Violet and Rosamund learn that Carlisle coerced a reluctant Lavinia into exposing government secrets by using her father's debt - thus the engagement is still on. Written by don @ minifie-1

The simmering dispute between Isobel and Lady Cora comes to a head. When Isobel learns Cora has re-arranged the meal times for the servants and the work schedules for the nurses without consulting her, she suggests that if she is not to have a meaningful role, she will leave. Cora tells her that may be a good idea and Isobel heads to France. With Isobel away, her servants try to keep themselves busy. Her cook takes to feeding unemployed ex-servicemen but O'Brien, always bent on causing trouble, it seems, tells Lady Cora but she doesn't quite get the reaction she was expecting. Robert meanwhile learns that Bates is working in a nearby pub and pays him a visit. Branson the chauffeur tells Lady Sybil that he is in love with her and he will only leave when she is ready to leave with him. Lady Mary decides that she will marry Sir Richard Carlisle. When housekeeper Mrs. Hughes finds Ethel in bed with one of the patients, she fires the housemaid on the spot and sends her packing without a ... Written by garykmcd

August 1918: Deserted by the baby's father, Ethel has been installed with her child in a cottage on the estate by a sympathetic Mrs. Hughes, who brings her food. Jane, a war widow, has taken Ethel's place as a maid. Vera Bates returns, having spent John's money but with no intention of sticking to their arrangement and planning to make money by selling the story of Lady Mary's indiscretion to Carlisle's newspaper. Tipped off by Anna, Mary goes to see him and explains all, thus scotching Vera's plan as the newspaper owner threatens her with libel action. Having returned to the war, both Matthew and William sustain severe injuries at the Battle of Amiens, fatally in the case of William, who marries Daisy. Mary is glad to become a hospital auxiliary to nurse Matthew, though his spinal damage will, in all probability, leave him paralysed from the waist down and impotent. Written by don @ minifie-1

November 1918. Believing her marriage to have been a sham, Daisy is reluctant to accept a widow's pension whilst Robert writes to the father of Ethel's child, only to learn that he was killed in the war. As the Armistice is announced a Canadian soldier, suffering terrible burns, comes to recuperate and declares that he is Patrick, the heir presumed dead on the 'Titanic' and until recently an amnesiac. Only Edith believes him. Carlisle plans to buy a house near Downton and poaches Carson as his butler. He also notes Mary's devotion to Matthew and threatens to expose her affair unless she proves a loyal wife. John returns from a meeting with Vera in London, with a cut on his face. Written by don @ minifie-1

With the house no longer a hospital Thomas hopes to make money on the black market but is ruined after being cheated by his supplier. Mrs Hughes helps Ethel to confront Mr and Mrs Bryant, the parents of her baby's late father but, whilst his wife seems moved, Bryant dismisses Ethel as a liar and fraud with no proof of paternity. Carlisle tries to bribe Anna to spy on Mary but she refuses and tells Mrs Hughes and Carson, the latter consequently withdrawing his offer to work for Carlisle, whom he sees as underhand. Robert, disillusioned by the war's failure to accomplish anything, makes a play for Jane but quickly apologises whilst Sybil, liberated by her war work, elopes with Tom Branson, though her sisters follow and bring them back. John is concerned that, whilst Vera officially killed herself by taking poison, it was rat poison bought by him and fears he may be incriminated. The big news, however, is Matthew regaining the use of his legs. He announces his forthcoming wedding to ... Written by don @ minifie-1

April 1919. As Downton Abbey prepares for Lavinia and Matthew's wedding, Sybil and Tom shock the family by announcing their intention to move to Dublin, where he has work, and marry. However, events are overtaken and the marriage is put on hold when Carson, Cora, Lavinia and others fall sick with the Spanish flu. Thomas uses the situation as an excuse to get his job back but Lavinia, aware of Matthew's feelings for Mary, suggests that the marriage be called off. After admitting their mutual feelings, Jane gives Robert her resignation, her young son's future assured thanks to the earl, whilst Ethel decides to keep her son Charlie rather than give him to the Bryants, who would raise him to forget her. The flu goes away, having claimed one victim, and Robert finally gives Sybil and Tom his blessing as they leave for Ireland. Anna and John also marry, by special license. However, the day after the wedding they receive unwelcome visitors. Written by don @ minifie-1

At Christmas 1919 the Crawleys welcome Edith's former suitor Sir Anthony, now a war invalid, who tells her that he is too old for her, and Robert's sister Rosamund with her beau, the raffish Lord Hepworth. Sybil writes to announce her pregnancy. After Carlisle's selfish attitude towards the servants and his jealousy when Mary accompanies Matthew to visit Lavinia's grave, Robert prises from his wife the fact that the newspaper baron is effectively blackmailing his daughter into marriage to keep her secret and, on her father's advice, Mary breaks off the engagement, knowing that the angry Carlisle will now probably expose the family. Aware that Hepworth is penniless, Violet unsuccessfully tries to warn Rosamund against marriage but Rosamund is determined to go ahead with the wedding - until she catches her fiancé in bed with her maid. Things do not go well for John, on trial for killing Vera, though Robert and Matthew vow to contest his life imprisonment. Upstairs and downstairs at ... Written by don @ minifie-1