This is the memoir of a child growing up in England at war. Life on a small farm in Sussex was full of the beauties of the countryside; though it was peopled not only with all the rural characters - farmers and labourers, stockmen and squires, but also with poachers and poisoners, bobbies, blacksmiths, charcoal burners, pedlars, and maybe arsonists too. In the background, this was a countryside peopled with soldiers from many parts, tanks, Bren gun carriers, military convoys, and aria-singing prisoners. Overhead the Spitfires and the Hurricanes of the RAF battled with the Luftwaffe, and Typhoons practised the dangerous art of nudging Flying Bombs back towards the Channel. Life at a tough sports-mad public school on the coast was more to be endured than enjoyed. But a menace threatened from an unexpected quarter, which should have existed for our protection. It slowly became clear that our farm was fighting against the threat of intentional ruin.