The true and colourful story of Donald McBeath of Perthshire when he  joined the Scots (Fusilier) Guards in 1851 and served through the Crimean War with them. He was in charge of the Brigade's sharpshooters, earning a Distinguished Conduct Medal, and was put up for a VC for rescuing a comrade under heavy fire. He fought in major battles, the Alma, Inkerman and the Seige of Sevastopol, and watched the Balaclava successes and disaster. He used the new Minie Rifle and Colt revolver, saw a railway built from scratch, and returned home to Blair Castle  to become Sergeant-Major of the Duke of Atholl's Atholl Highlanders.  His story covers the action, the conditions, the high and low  times, the friends he lost, and his return. All events described are based on documented historical fact.