The year is 1914 the place is the old manse colliery Birtley Co Durham England. Robbie bowman is at work down the pit, he is just fourteen years of age. Bobbie lives in a very large family, but his father is a lazy drunk and he beats Robbie up when he can't get money for a drink. But things change for Robbie when there is a disaster down the pit, and from then on his fortunes change.
