Special Forces Brothers in Arms: Eoin & Ambrose McGonigal: War in the SAS & SBS

Product Information

This book is quite a riveting read and does read like a comic book hero-type book, but then this is what the brothers got up by living a decorated life where they got to do all sorts of military activities in the name of war. A thoroughly good read. The young Irishman did encounter the odd like-minded soul, one in particular Newport-born Wales hooker William “Bunner” Travers. Hundreds attended his funeral. His life is commemorated in books, film and a statue in his native Newtownards. The town’s western bypass is also named after him.

SAS Rogue Heroes cast revealed for new BBC One series

Ambrose Joseph McGonigal was born in Dublin on November 22 1917 – during the second half of the First World War and just a year after the Easter Rebellion that saw armed resistance to British rule. His younger brother, Eoin, was born three years later in 1920, the same year that the Government of Ireland Act was passed that resulted in the partition of the country the following year. However, Ambrose, also had a much older brother, Richard, who was 15 years his senior, and four sisters. SAS: Rogue Heroes – a historical drama depicting the fascinating true story of how the famed Special Air Service was formed – is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The six-part series has been created by Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight, and is based on the bestselling book of the same name by historian Ben Macintyre.Bill Fraser will be played by Stuart Campbell (Credit: BBC One) Who plays Bill Fraser in SAS Rogue Heroes? Gunner Joe Kearney was attached to No.11 Commando 1 Troop from the 57th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery. He was reported missing 24 November 1941 after Operation Flipper in the Western Desert, later found to be a prisoner of war.

Eoin McGonigal: Paddy Mayne’s best friend and SAS original

It was 3am. The Rev George Cromey had recently extinguished a bedside light when the door to the room splintered. Peering through the darkness he recognised the towering figure of Robert Blair “Paddy” Mayne, framed in the threshold, wearing a white dress suit, cummerbund and a broad grin, with what appeared to be a dead Springbok draped over his shoulders. Lance Sergeant Alexander Davidson died of wounds serving with 1 SAS having left the Commando. He had previously been attached to No.11 Commando since August 1940. He also served in the ME Commando and 1SSR.

Training ranged from the somewhat farcical – jumping from jeeps cruising at 30 miles an hour to simulate parachute landings – to map-reading and desert navigation; skills that could mean the difference between life or death when operating in the million-square-mile expanse of the Libyan desert; an area approximately the size of India. The Bay actor Corin Silva stars as Jim Almonds, while Karen Pirie star Michael Shaeffer stars as Lt Gen Ritchie.