Strang Methuen is an old soldier, a stiff-necked Scot who serves in the British Army in two world wars.

Methuen is able to show more courage in the face of enemy fire than when dealing with friends and family—those he loves and hates.

For nearly 40 years, every time he thinks he has escaped or defeated the bully, a quirk of fate makes Methuen the goat again.

The very qualities that keep him from winning, integrity and personal honour, also make him a sympathetic and interesting character.

The story ends when Methuen, now a brigadier general fighting in World War II Italy, uses his experience and wiles to perform a vital military manoeuvre, preventing a major defeat.