During the Japanese invasion a British patrol unit is pinned down in the Burmese jungle. When a Japanese scout is captured the men face a dilemma. Sergeant Mitchum (Richard Todd) wants to take the prisoner to headquarters, much to the chagrin of his contemptuous second in command Corporal Johnstone (Richard Harris). As tempers flare, the previously gruff Private Bamforth (Laurence Harvey), gradually becomes the conscience of the platoon.