The War-Workers

Originally published in 1918, the story centers around the characters that live and work at an army support institution during WWI. Charmian Vivian (Char), the charismatic Director, runs the Depot like an amateur dictator a la P. G. Wodehouse's Roderick Spode. She uses tyranny and the cult of personality to overwork her employees and to take over other operations like a café that are not her concern.
Enter Grace Jones, an archdeacon's daughter, who has moved to the area to contribute to the war effort and who is also, upper-class.