As a lad in the high country of eastern Victoria, Tag Wardell shows an extraordinary gift with animals: he is followed to school by his pets; his rapport with his horse becomes the talk of the district; and he even manages to befriend a mob of brumbies during an adventure with his schoolmates in the Dargo high plains.
Focusing on the author's formative years, this prequel delves into Barry Heard's childhood and youth in Australia during the 1950s and 1960s. It sets the stage for understanding his later experiences as a Vietnam veteran, providing a deeply personal and emotional backdrop that enriches the narrative of his well-received memoir, Well Done, Those Men.
The narrative offers a poignant reflection on the experiences of young Australian conscripts during the Vietnam War, highlighting their lack of preparation for the emotional and psychological toll of combat. Through Barry Heard's personal journey and the stories of his comrades, the book provides a raw and honest account of the struggles faced during and after the war, including Heard's own gradual descent into crisis and his path to coping with the aftermath.