Early Childhood:
* Growing up in Devon: Tommo and Charlie are close brothers, playing in the fields, fishing, and sharing adventures.
* Meeting Molly: Tommo falls in love with Molly, a girl he meets at the village church.
* The death of their father: A tragic accident on the farm leaves Tommo and Charlie orphaned.
* Working on the farm: The boys work hard to support themselves, and Tommo continues his romance with Molly.
The War:
* Enlistment: Tommo and Charlie decide to enlist in the army together, seeking adventure and a way to escape the drudgery of farm life.
* Training: The brothers face the harsh realities of military life, training for combat and grappling with their fears.
* The Battle of the Somme: Tommo and Charlie experience the horrors of trench warfare, seeing their friends die and witnessing the senseless violence.
* Charlie's Death: Charlie is killed in a shelling, leaving Tommo heartbroken and filled with survivor's guilt.
* A Moral Decision: Tommo is given a choice to leave the war but decides to stay, feeling a responsibility to his friends and the cause.
* The Arrest and Trial: Tommo is falsely accused of desertion and faces a court-martial. He is found guilty and sentenced to death.
The Execution:
* Facing his fate: Tommo awaits his execution in a prison cell, reflecting on his life and the events that led him to this point.
* Final Thoughts: He thinks about Molly, Charlie, his friends, and the innocence of his childhood.
* The Execution: Tommo is shot by a firing squad, accepting his fate with quiet dignity.
Throughout the novel, Tommo's memories interweave with the present, as he reflects on the events leading up to his death. The narrative structure allows the reader to understand the impact of war on Tommo's life and the devastating consequences of the conflict.