Cruellest War

The contrast between officer treatment and ordinary soldiers when confronted with mental problems caused by battle. How Sargent Smyth tries to defend the soldiers to his superiors and is demoted, but continues to support them against the officer class thinking. On his return to duty Captain Malt hears from Smyth about how the soldiers where treated and the threat of court marshal to come. Malt visits is men in the French hospital appalled by the conditions and the state of his men. Malt helps the men to accept release and face what is to come. Both Malt and Smyth try to defend their men in the military court. However in the end they are convicted of cowedness in the face of the enemy and are shot by firing squad together in a lonely field. Malt and Smyth watch them die and walk back to the trenches to meet a new squad of four men who will take up the task of clearing the field of wounded after attacks. The sound of battle, gun fire and explosions around them means the Captain shouting to them about their duties – the four men see fear in the Captains eyes!