Twice a Hero by Phil Tomkins
A soldier’s story written by a soldier
The true story of hardship and horror in the blood and mud as seen through the eyes of a teenage volunteer and his comrades in the forgotten conflicts of Salonika and Palestine during the Great War, fighting for the freedom of small nations and in particular for Home Rule in Ireland. Then testing his extraordinary courage in the Irish War of Independence, which ended 700 years of bloody struggle and helped establish a nation.
The Book is dedicated to my maternal Grandmother Mrs Annie (Nan) Hewitt (nee Adamson), men and women of the Athlone Brigade, Irish Republican Army and the many brave Irishmen of Kitcheners army who served in the Great War, who gave their lives in the mistaken belief that their sacrifice would lead to an Independent Ireland.
Phil Tomkins
This is a very good book. It covers the life of George Adamson, his joining the 10th Irish division in 1915, to his induction to the Leinster Regiment and the service of these units in Salonika and Macedonia, 1916-1917. The campaigns are covered in detail up to George’s discharge from the British Army after 4 years and thirty eight days. He was awarded the DCM.
On his return to Ireland he joined the Athlone Brigade IRA. Because of his military past he was promoted to Vice O/C of the brigade.
The book is very well researched and there are very interesting details regarding service in the British Army in WW1 and also good detail on the Athlone Brigade in the the Irish War of Independence.
It is the story of one Irishman#s short life, but what an eventful life he had, and he ultimately gave his life for Ireland.
Dear Gary,
I’m thrilled to bits with your review of my book ‘Twice a Hero’ many, many thanks for the publicity and I am glad that you enjoyed the read. If it’s OK with you and the Committee I would like to put a Link with Irish Volunteers. org on my website. Please let me know if your happy with this, as I think you site is brilliant and more of our Irish brethren should get to know about it and be able to refer to it, especially our Irish/Americans who are the main target for my book, if and when, I can find a way to contact them. I’ve had a few trips to the States and find them more Irish than we are and long may it continue. I hope to get home and visit one of your exhibitions in the near future.
Best regards
Phil Tomkins
Hello Phil,please do,we will do likewise,let us know when it is up,best regards and again well done on a very interesting book.