Just Binnie — Dick King-Smith

When Mr and Mrs Bone go down with the Titanic, their six children are left on their own. Binnie, the eldest at 17, stands her ground against well-meaning relatives and says she will bring up the family. And for the next four years she runs the Edwardian household, looking after her brothers and sisters, and starting a gentle romance with the vicar. Then the First World War breaks out and Binnie's two elder brothers and her sweetheart all volunteer - but not all of them come home.