It's early days in the Boer War and the small farming community of Huia is gripped by patriotic fervour. Men, young and old, are eager to join up and head overseas to fight the 'evil scoundrel folk in Africa who opposed the British Empire and had to be taught a lesson'. When his two elder brothers join up, James is left to help his father run the family farm, as well as helping out in the local village store, for the irascible old 'Croaky Fred', a badtempered old codger who always speaks his mind - and he has nothing good to say about war in any form. Turns out Fred has a secret ...