An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 37 Author: Willie Carlin Publisher: Merrion Press (September 2019) https://irishacademicpress.ie ISBN: 978-1785372858 Pages: 300 Price: €16.95 Thatcher's Spy is a detailed account of the life and times of a former MI5 informant embedded within the ranks of Sinn Féin. Willie Carlin, coming from a republican area of Derry joined the British Army in the mid-1960's until he signed off in 1974. It was through his discharge papers that his file by chance came upon an officer's eyes, looking to recruit members for MI5. Willie was approached and after some time agreed to be an informer. One of the stipulations that Willie was told by his handlers that surprised me was that they weren't interested in any paramilitary ongoing of the IRA but solely wanted information on the political ideas and movements of Sinn Féin. Willie was in the army while the troubles were really starting to kick off and becoming quite dangerous, especially for a former soldier coming home to a republican area after incidents such as Bloody Sunday took place. Carlin spent 11 years as an informer for MI5, it came to an end when the IRA were given information of the tout, a fellow undercover operative in one of the IRA's assassination teams were able to pass on that Willie's cover was blown and that he was next on the list. Carlin and his family were then flown to Britain that very day, given new identities and never settling in one location permanently. This book was a great insight into the ground level workings of Republican and Crown operations, still fairly current in history's eyes. Hard for many to believe, it's vital stories like this are told and read. SG THATCHER'S SPY: MY LIFE AS AN MI5 AGENT INSIDE SINN FÉIN A BLOODY WEEK: THE IRISH AT ARNHEM Author: Dan Harvey Publisher: Merrion Press (July 2019) https://irishacademicpress.ie ISBN: 978-1785372735 Pages: 170 Price: €14.95 "I think we may be going a bridge too far" This statement is reported to have been said by Lt General Frederick (Boy) Browning to Field Marshal Bernard (Law) Montgomery. This would have taken place during one of the planning stages, with the architects of Operation 'Market-Garden'. In retired Lt Col Dan Harvey's well researched book, A Bloody Week: The Irish at Arnhem, the author informs us of the unknown hundreds of Irish soldiers, airmen with a mixture of backgrounds, experience's and ranks. These men from both North and South of Ireland gave their all-in Operation 'Market-Garden'. General Horrocks, General Adair and Lieutenant Col Vandeleur, all had strong Irish connections. The book looks at this part of the Second World War, which was now in its fifth year of hostilities, borne in part, on a war weary English-Irish population. General Montgomery was formulating a plan in order to shorten the war by Christmas 1944. Operation 'Market- Garden' was the first time that airborne troops, along with ground forces, were involved on such a scale. The objectives were to capture a series of nine bridges, allowing an Allied invasion into Germany. Land forces liberated Nijmegen and Eindhoven, but were unable to complete the operation, and secure the last bridge over the River Rhine at the Battle of Arnhem. A highly recommended read not just for the Irish connections but for the military story itself. SS Author: James Perkins Publisher: Lettertec (October 2019) www. irishmilitaryinsignia.com ISBN: 978-1-912606-49-8 Pages: 220 Price: €30 H/B Not since James J Hogan's book Badges, Medals, Insignia: Óglaigh na hÉireann (Irish Defence Forces), published in 1987 in association with Military Archives has there been a book that contains so much on the history of our badges and insignia. Flt Sgt James Perkins retired after 40-years of service in the Defence Forces in 2014. In that time James served in the Military Police Corps, and Air Corps in a number of different appointments. He has served overseas on numerous missions as a peacekeeper, including Cyprus, Lebanon, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and finally serving under Irish General Pat Nash for 18-months with the HQ element of EUFOR Chad/ CAR mission in Paris, France. His interest in collecting Defence Forces badges and insignia began back in the 1970s, when he found his father's kit box from his 38-years' service in the Defence Forces (1932-1970). Many people will know James because he has been a solid point of contact for all things uniform related in the Defence Forces for a number of decades. So this book is highly anticipated and will be this generations guide to collecting Irish Defence Forces badges and insignia, and James' legacy and knowledge will be etched into history for further generations to read and collect. The full story is on page 9 of this issue. The book contains 220 pages with over 2,000 images of full colour and in hardback. It is now a great guide of what badges and insignia the Defence Forces wore since 1922, and will be the go to reference book for years to come. To purchase a copy priced at €30 +P&P email James on jamesperkinsbadgebook@gmail.com from early 2020 can be purchased online. WF BADGES AND INSIGNIA OF THE IRISH DEFENCE FORCES

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