In the British war zone at Passchendaele, army private Arthur Hamp, played by Tom Courtenay. must go to trial for allegedly deserting during the war. He is to be defended at his trial by Capt. Hargreaves an upper-class officer. Hamp had volunteered at to serve in the war. Finding himself the sole survivor of his company, he leaves.

Discovered and taken into custody by the military police, Hargreaves is initially arrogant towards the inexperienced Hamp, but then feels sympathetic with his predicament when finding out more details.

Testimony is made in the court that the soldier must be made an example of in front of the other soldiers there at the army barracks. Found guilty, he is shot by a firing squad