JustaftertheFirstWorldWarFredRobertsgoesforajobasanewspaperjournalistandtellsthesub-editorhow,inthetrenchesin1916,hediscoveredaprintingpressinworkingorder.Helpedbyex-printerSergeantHarrisandwithhisfriendJackPearsonashisassistant,hesetsuptheWipersTimes-thenamecomingfromthesoldiers'pronunciationofthetownYpres.DespitedisapprovalfromofficiousColonelHowfieldbutwithbackingfromsympatheticGeneralMitfordtheyproducetwenty-threeissuesofasatiricalmagazine-itsarticlesrepresentedonscreeninblackandwhite-whichboostsmoraleandevengetsmentionedintheTatler.ThepressisdestroyedbyaGermanshellbutanotherisfoundandthepaper'stitlechangedtofitinwithwherevertheregimentisdeployed.