Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- Chronology -- Map of story locations -- Introduction: Dan Davin's war stories -- 1. Below the heavens -- 2. The Persian's grave -- 3. Under the bridge -- 4. Danger's flower -- 5. Jaundiced -- 6. East is west -- 7. Coming and going -- 8. Bourbons -- 9. The dog and the dead -- 10. Finders and losers -- 11. Unwrung withers -- 12. In transit -- 13. North of the Sangro -- 14. Psychological warfare at Cassino -- 15. Cassino casualty -- 16. When mum died -- 17. The general and the nightingale -- 18. Mortal -- 19. Liberation -- 20. Not substantial things -- Glossary -- Select bibliography