The Bofors Gun

Evans is assigned to lead a six-man guard unit guarding an anti-aircraft Bofors gun at a British base in West Germany, 1954. His few respectful colleagues are Flynn, while the others resent his lack of enthusiasm and ability, setting up a tense dynamic for the long night. The setup establishes Evans’ precarious position as an underpowered NCO facing open contempt from his men.

O'Rourke openly defies Evans by striking Rowe and daring him to discipline him, testing the limits of Evans’ authority. Evans hesitates, unable to assert control and letting the incident fester. The rest of the section watches the exchange with growing unease.

O'Rourke and Featherstone press to go to the NAAFI to buy cigarettes, and Evans reluctantly grants the permission. The decision undermines his authority and hints at a pattern of leniency that will complicate later discipline. Flynn’s warnings about being decisive echo in the background.

O'Rourke confides that at midnight he turns 30 and the two decide to go to the canteen and start drinking, fully aware that guard-duty rules forbid it. The moment exposes O'Rourke’s grim past and his breaking point, while also showing Evans’ misguided belief that he can manage the situation with patience. The plan sets the stage for the night’s unraveling.

Drunk and unstable, O'Rourke attempts to jump from an upper-floor window, but only sustains minor injuries. Evans refuses to report the incident, not out of concern for his man but from fear that it would ruin his own chances of becoming an officer. The episode underscores the fragility of discipline and loyalty within the squad.

Sgt Walker arrives for a late-night check and finds Evans has effectively lost control of the section. He warns that if Evans can’t discipline O'Rourke, he will bring the duty officer on the next visit. The warning makes clear the looming consequences of Evans’ mismanagement.

Gunner Flynn presses Evans to exercise real authority, arguing leniency won’t restore order. Evans wrestles with his ambition to become an officer against his responsibilities to the men. The tension between aspiration and duty deepens the night’s stakes.

O'Rourke and Featherstone return, and Evans, against Flynn’s advice, puts O'Rourke back on guard duty. The move reopens the fault line in the unit and maintains an unsafe level of risk. The guard’s morale and Evans’ credibility continue to deteriorate.

Walker and Lieutenant Pickering arrive for the nightly inspection while Evans checks on O'Rourke. O'Rourke accuses Evans of caring more about his own officer prospects than the welfare of the men, turning the personal conflict into a public confrontation. Evans is forced to confront the cost of his choices.

Evans admits to Walker that his ambitions influenced his decisions, acknowledging that becoming an officer is his only hope to return home. O'Rourke threatens to attempt suicide again, underscoring the emotional collapse threatening the whole guard. The admission seals the sense that the night has slipped beyond controlled management.

Walker orders the section to assemble; Evans goes to fetch O'Rourke and discovers him fatally stabbed by his own bayonet after stripping to the waist. The room fills with shock as the men confront the consequences of their failure to command. Evans reacts with anger and kicks O'Rourke’s corpse, a brutal outburst that underscores his own ruined prospects.

Walker and Lt Pickering arrive as the tragedy sinks in. Evans is informed that he will spend the rest of his service in the ranks, the ultimate punishment for his failed leadership. The night ends with the unit fractured and Evans facing a bleak future.