The core of the plot is the romantic triangle formed by the protagonist, a conscripted soldier named Private Brigg, a worldly professional soldier named Sergeant Driscoll, and Phillipa Raskin, the daughter of the Regimental Sergeant Major. The location is a British army base in Singapore during the Malayan Emergency.

Brigg

Phillipa Raskin

Sgt Driscoll

Sgt Wellbeloved

RSM Raskin

Mrs Raskin

Lt Col Bromley-Pickering

Juicy Lucy

Cpl Brook

Lantry

Fenwick

Villiers

Waller
October 14, 1969

Brigg

Phillipa Raskin

Sgt Driscoll

Sgt Wellbeloved

RSM Raskin

Mrs Raskin

Lt Col Bromley-Pickering

Juicy Lucy

Cpl Brook

Lantry

Fenwick

Villiers

Waller

