Like all bullies, Maxwell was also a coward, and he hadn’t picked on Rupe for obvious reasons – not so much the man’s size, for there were many big men among the black troops, but rather his professionalism – Corporal Rupert Barrett’s military knowledge and experience rendered him virtually unassailable. The boys who were newer to the ropes, however, had been easy game, simple to find fault with, and Maxwell had appeared to take a great deal of pleasure meting out punishment.

‘That’s what the army is all about,’ he would stipulate as he abused his men mercilessly. ‘You niggers got to learn that the army is all about discipline! Particularly you, pretty boy,’ he’d add when singling out Kasey.

The truth of the matter was, Maxwell’s background did not make him an ideal choice to command a company of black soldiers. Twenty-six-year-old Charles ‘Chuck’ Leroy Maxwell III was born son of Sheridan Leroy Maxwell II, one of the wealthiest men in Alabama and fifth-generation owner of the Elliston cotton plantation. ‘Daddy’, as Chuck still referred to his father, was a member of the Alabama State Government and also the Exalted Cyclops (‘president’ to those unfamiliar with the term) of the Montgomery chapter of the Ku Klux Klan.

Chuck Maxwell’s entire life having been one of privilege and assumed racial superiority hardly qualified him for his current position of command. But it appeared those allotting command weren’t too fussy about the social niceties.

Rupe was all too aware of the demoralising effect Maxwell had had upon the young troops of Company C, particularly Kasey. Perhaps Maxwell had simply been relieving his boredom, Rupe had thought – hell, they’d all been bored throughout the month-long sea voyage. But if Maxwell continued his unnecessarily heavy bullying tactics when they were settled in Townsville, Rupe intended to seek the assistance of the company’s other commanding officer. Captain Samuel Robinson was older, wiser and more tolerant than Maxwell, but most important of all he was not consumed by racial hatred.

‘Ah well,’ Rupe now said as the three of them watched Maxwell climb into a waiting jeep with another two white officers, young lieutenants, platoon commanders of Company C. ‘There he goes, off for a good time.’ Then, catching the scowl on Kasey’s handsome face, he added, ‘Don’t worry, Kase, it’ll be us in a few days’ time. They can’t keep us on this ship forever. We’ll be landing in Townsville before long.’

‘Oh yeah,’ Kasey sneered, ‘and what’ll happen then? You think Townsville is going to be any different? I bet they’ll head us right out of that place just as quick as they can.’

But Townsville did prove different. And young Kasey Davis was the first to acknowledge the fact.