The First World War devastated Europe and beyond, stirred revolutions and toppled governments and empires. For three young friends from Galloway in Scotland, embarking on their own personal journeys it was no less devastating. A bizarre set of circumstances brings them together again at Easter 1917 with tragic results.

Andrew McDowall, who recently emigrated to Canada, returns to Europe to fulfil his duty for his king and country. His carefree best friend Tam Murdoch, a territorial soldier, sees action at Gallipoli and returns home wounded. Andrew’s old flame, and Tam’s secret desire, Kathleen overcomes prejudice at home to serve as a nurse in the famous women’s’ only hospital at Rayoumont, Northern France. Unbeknown to them, they end up serving within a few miles of each other during the battle of Arras.

Each of their experiences of the war changes the three friends lives dramatically. The loss of a close comrade and the horrific consequences of an execution haunt Andrew for the rest of the war and into his civilian life back in Canada. A chance meeting with a long-lost veteran leads him to return to France where he hopes to find the answers to his troubling questions, not least of which is who served well?