An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 37 Author: Dan Harvey Publisher: Merrion Press (August 2018) www.merrionpress.ie ISBN: 978-1785371851 Pages: 300 Price: €19.99 From 1969 to 1998 is a period not know to those that have been born to peace on this land, to those that lived through it, it's known as the Troubles. Where a number of terrorist factions were rising and splintering off and carrying out unspeakable acts on their unsuspecting victims. These included, killings, beatings, knee-capping, shoot-outs, kidnappings, bank robberies, subversive training camps, bomb-making factories, illegal weapons shipments, prison breaks and manhunts. During the Troubles the Irish Defence Forces faced very real threats of the Irish State. Soldiering Against Subversion covers many events that took place during this long period including, "From the kidnapping of Shergar and Quinsworth CEO Don Tidey, the manhunt and capture of INLA leader Dessie 'the Border Fox' O'Hare, the pandemonium as the Irish army quells a violet prison riot in Mountjoy in 1972, to the Irish navy's efforts to thwart gun-running off the coast of Kerry, these first-hand accounts reveal the true story of the fight for the nation's democracy." This previously untold period in Irish history of when the Defence Forces served all along the border, defending the state against paramilitary forces. This book by recently retired Lt Col Dan Harvey contains first- hand accounts by former Irish soldiers who served on security operations at the height of Ireland's critical right up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, and the cessation of terrorist actions. Lt Col Dan Harvey, now retired, served on operations at home and overseas for 40-years, including tours of duty in the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans and South Caucasus. He is the author of Into Action: Irish Peacekeepers Under Fire, 1960–2014 (2017) and Soldiers of the Short Grass: A History of the Curragh Camp (2016). WF SOLDIERING AGAINST SUBVERSION THE IRISH DEFENCE FORCES AND INTERNAL SECURITY DURING THE TROUBLES, 1969–1998 Author: Pat Poland Publisher: Oakroyd Publications (2018) ISBN: 978-1527222182 Pages: 320 Price: €20 (Waterstones / eBay +P&P) The Old Brigade: The Rebel City's Firefighting Story 1900 – 1950 is easily one of the best history books to be published in recent years. It is written with a rhythm and pace that allows the reader to absorb and consider all aspects of the story being told: the technical details, the historical contexts: the emotions, tragedies and excitement; the frustrations and at times consequences of what took place. The dedication, commitment and bravery of the firefighters leaps from the pages; this is a narrative of a group of heroes in Cork's 20th century history and they are deserving of the recording of their story. The period of the 'Black and Tan War' when Cork Fire Brigade faced its greatest- ever challenge, the infamous 'Burning of Cork' by Crown Forces in December 1920, and incidents during the ensuing Civil War, are all well covered from the unique perspective of those who were at the 'sharp end'. So too, is the Emergency (1939 – 1945), when Cork had to prepare for possible air- raids, with the fire service taking the lead in air raid precautions initiatives. The author (a former fire officer) has superbly recorded all the successes and difficulties faced by these front-line fighters both in their battles with the fires they faced and the administration that they served. This book sets the record straight and closes chapters in the brigade's history that until now were unfinished business. The volume (the second in a trilogy) is well- illustrated with 80 rare black and white, and 10 colour, images. It is complete with Notes and References, Bibliography, and Index. This reviewer eagerly awaits Volume 3 of the set. A O'C THE OLD BRIGADE THE REBEL CITY'S FIREFIGHTING STORY 1900 – 1950 DACHAU TO THE DOLOMITES: THE IRISHMEN, HIMMLER'S SPECIAL PRISONERS AND THE END OF WWII Author: Tom Wall Publisher: Merrion Press (February 2019) www.iap.ie ISBN: 978-1785372254 Pages: 272 Price: €19.95 After reading this book it seems very evident that you can watch all the documentaries you want on WWII and still not scratch the surface of exactly what went on in the concentration camps. The book is written almost in a story fashion, rather than a documentary style, with a cast of real life characters. Hearing familiar names such as Hitler, Himmler and Goering give you the reality check that the stories in the book are very real. The people involved in these stories you would be forgiven for not knowing about. Each character has their own story and the author goes into great detail about where they were and how they came about to be one of WWII's special prisoners in the Nazi regime. The author portrays the story in an individualistic fashion at first, telling each persons story then slowly brings all the characters together, where they all end up in one of the wars most significant concentration camp. The book gives you an idea how far the Nazi's were willing to go to win the war, trying to use political prisoners against there own forces, and when that wouldn't work, using them as bargaining chips. The author gives the reader a true sense of what it was like for a political prisoner in the war, some receiving favourable treatment and others being tortured and in some cases murdered. 'Dachau to the Dolomites' portrays a different look at WWII and brings home the fact that Irish people were more involved than history sometimes remembers. KB

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