In the four foot coal seams of a Deepcar mine Joseph fought to survive, trapped in a world of poverty, constant danger, heartbreak and death. His only chance of escape was by bare knuckle boxing, taking on all comers to become the heavyweight boxing champion of Sheffield.

Jack, his son, was determined not to be trapped in the black hell hole of the mines like his father and finally escapes to join the elite force of the British army, the Coldstream Guards, where he carries his father's boxing skills to the ultimate heights and then experiences a love and passion he didn't believe could exist, changing his life forever.

His love is left behind as his Division leads the British Expedition Forces off to a war to end all wars, facing unbelievable horrors. Trying to survive in a insane world of terror, slaughter and constant death.

Annie was born in the poor house and raised in poverty, neglected and cast aside by her mother. Torn from her grandfather at a young age, the only person who had ever loved her, and raised in a Dr. Barnardos home where death came to seek her. Fighting to survive and finally finding a love that could cost her, her life.

Two people whose lives were set on a collision course that was filled with loneliness, misery, pain and heartache, tempered by passion and love.