Set in 1916 in a British casualty clearing station the play tells of a young soldier brought to the hospital having been found critically wounded. Being the only survivor of a platoon serving close to the lines on the Western Front with no hope of recovery, the staff battle to make his last hours as comfortable as possible. However, they are faced with a dilemma when they receive papers regarding the desertion of Private Underwood and it soon becomes a case of should the Private be made to face the charges served or should he be allowed to die a hero?