[Mini Book Review]

The Nature of Honour — Son, Duty-Bound Soldier, Military Lawyer, Truth-Teller, Father.

A life in full. The son of the doctor who exposed the birth defects caused by thalidomide, David McBride moved to England, studied at Oxford, attended Sandhurst and became a Captain in the British Army, serving in Northern Ireland.

A warts and all memoir, McBride recounts that his father was later accused of malpractice and scientific fraud; and that he himself washed out of the program to become a member of the British SAS.

As a private security advisor, he was in Rwanda during the genocide. Returning home, he joined the Australian Army, serving two tours in Afghanistan. Disturbed by the manner in which the politicians and military brass were conducting the war, he leaked top-secret files to the ABC, which led to exposure of war crimes by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, and the failure of the army to prosecute allegations of sexual abuse.

He has been plagued by PTSD and alcoholism, applauded as a heroic whistle  blower, and condemned as a traitor and conspiracy theorist. A troubled life.

– RB

BUY BOOK