Eighteen-year old Rifleman Willie 'Cockney Jock' McAndrew met and fell in love with Moira Buchanan. Her father a Presbyterian minister, asked the army to move Willie to where he could have no more contact with his daughter. Willie's platoon officer, Lieutenant Hugh Graham, detailed Willie for the advance guard of the Regiment's move to Germany. Graham himself fell in love with Moira but Willie was the one she wanted. Graham married her sister Flora which ended in her suicide.

Thirty years later, Willie was declared 'unfit' after being blown up in the Shankhill Road. The army was his life and that which he considered the best part of it ended the day the Cameronians were disbanded. Waging a continuing battle with authority he enjoys life nonetheless.

Hugh, now Major Graham, is the intelligence officer at a district headquarters marked for closure. He is stiff and upright and army to the core. He learns by chance of Willie's existence and invites him to the mess where is treated as the honoured guest. Willie mentions in passing that he is going to Kirkcaldy to see if he can find Moira.

Concerned that Willie who served a spell in the Fernywood Military psychiatric hospital might be a danger, he and a fellow major journey to Kirkcaldy to warn her. The door to the presbytery is opened by the spitting image of Willie, thirty years younger, Willie's and Moira's son. Some hours before, he had opened the door to Willie and slammed it in his face.

Willie is found dead on the Pathead sands near Kirkcaldy.

The hitherto dour and unemotional Graham confesses his blame in the affair to his friend.

A bomb is discovered tied to an outside door of the officers' mess. Despite his strictures that there should be no spectators, Graham accompanies the bomb disposal officer.