This is an interesting and exciting first book by Mr. McGonigal. Its subject is his Grandfather, Ambrose McGonigal, known to many who served in Northern Ireland as one of the few Catholic Judges the IRA didn’t manage to murder, and Ambrose’s brother Eoin. These two brothers, both lawyers by profession, were early members of Special Forces in the British Army, Eoin in the SAS, and Ambrose the SBS... The author has done extensive research using official and unofficial documents, letters, conversations with those who were there, as well as family memories. Light is also shone on the brothers’ close friend, the legendary Blair Mayne and the controversial decision to downgrade the award of his Victoria Cross. I first came across the bravery of Ambrose McGonigal and his younger brother Eoin two years ago while researching the life of the legendary SAS officer, Lieutenant Colonel Blair “Paddy” Mayne, DSO & three Bars. Mayne is arguably the bravest man never to be awarded the Victoria Cross and, had he enjoyed a more conventional career, that decoration might well have been bestowed upon him. But that’s another story for another day. Despite the demands of his large practice, McGonigal found time to take on many onerous and important positions in public life. In 1945 he was appointed chairman of the Irish railway wages board, and later he was chairman of the Joint Industrial Council as well as a member of the banks’ arbitration tribunal. His appointments to important bodies in the sensitive fields of industrial relations and salary fixing were a recognition of his sense of fairness and impartiality. The author Patric McGonigal story is based on two Irish brothers in Special Forces. He guides readers

https://web.archive.org/web/20100615033338/http:/www.belfastcathedral.org/visitors/virtual-tour/item/5/regimental-chapel/ The author has done extensive research using official and unofficial documents, letters, conversations with those who were there, as well as family memories. On the outbreak of the second world war in 1939 McGonigal enlisted in the British army and was commissioned into the Royal Ulster Rifles in 1940. He served with 12th commando (1943–4) and in the Aegean with the Special Boat Service (the naval counterpart of the Special Air Service) (1944–5). Awarded the MC in 1943, and a bar in 1944, he was mentioned in dispatches while serving with the Special Boat Service. This is an excellent book. Not a constricted biography of the brothers but includes detailed information on the development of Commandos and L Detachment of the SAS from the start, including the dreadful operation where so many were killed, injured, or captured. Paddy Mayne’s role in the commandos, SAS and how he mourned the loss of a close friend and fellow soldier and how he tried to solve the riddle of his disappearance are given significant attention. Ambrose’s role and times in the SBS is very useful additional material on the activities of the unit of which more is still to be unravelled. Robert Bartlett - Oxford and Cambridge Club Military History Group

Ambrose was demobilized from the Army in the rank of major, completing his law studies and being called to the Bar in 1948. He became senior crown prosecutor for County Down in 1964 before being appointed a judge of the High Court in March 1968 – at the beginning of some of the worst times during the Troubles in the north of Ireland. Highlight: 'This is an analysis of two very important soldiers that clearly originates from a place of passion and family pride. It is a must-buy for special forces fans.' Eoin Christopher McGonigal was the Son of John and Margaret McGonigal of Dun Laoghaire, Co.Dublin, Eire. His brother Ambrose McGonigal was also a member of the British Special Forces. [2] 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. On 28 May 1975 McGonigal was promoted to the court of appeal in Northern Ireland as a lord justice of appeal, and shortly afterwards was knighted and sworn of the privy council. As was the custom in Northern Ireland, after his appointment to the court of appeal he sat regularly at the first hearings of both civil and criminal cases. As the lord chief justice usually gave the leading judgment in the court of appeal, McGonigal had few opportunities to make a distinctive contribution to the development of the law, most of his judgments reported in the law reports being given at first instance. A sound and thorough lawyer, his judgments were rarely reversed on appeal.

Full Book Name: Special Forces Brothers in Arms: Eoin and Ambrose McGonigal: War in the SAS and SBS In May 1944, Ambrose became involved with what were known as the Dover “Tarbrush” raids. This led to him receiving a Bar to his MC after this recommendation: “This officer [Lt. Ambrose McGonigal] was the commander of a military force which landed to the East of Calais on the North coast of France on the night of 16/17 May 1944, to carry out a reconnaissance of enemy beach obstacles. The operation was of the highest importance and was of an extremely hazardous nature, involving as it did a three mile approach to a heavily defended enemy coastline, by night in an 18 foot Dory, and the carrying out of a minute examination of beach mines and obstacles of unknown potentialities. During the run in, and the return passage to the parent M.T.B., Lt. McGonigal was forced to alter course on two occasions to avoid a single enemy vessel and a convoy of seven vessels proceeding towards Calais a mile offshore. Despite such interference he so navigated his craft as to reach the selected landing point without error thus greatly facilitating the task of the landing party. Throughout the entire operation his skill, courage, and level headedness inspired his force to the maximum of effort and resulted in the obtaining of vital information.” Within days of officially being informed that Eoin was missing in action, Ambrose was married on December 19 1940 to Patricia “Paddy” Taylor, whom he had met while training in Ballymena. Having served with the RUR, Ambrose joined 12 Commando on May 21 1943, by this point looking for revenge over his brother’s death. 12 Commando was often simply known as the “Irish Commando” because so many of its members were Irish.This book covers a lot of the story of the founding of the SAS and its initial missions in Africa, which would make a volume by itself. It details the birth of the Commandos and the difficulties of establishing both organisations in the face of opposition from senior, established Military figures. The hard training, disappointments at cancelled operations, loss of morale, disbandments, formation of new units, all weave a fascinating tale of these two brothers’ lives, and make for a great read. After leaving school, both also seemed set on law careers. Ambrose initially attended Queen’s University in Belfast (QUB) where in his own words, he spent “two inglorious years” studying for an arts degree – before enrolling at King’s Inns in Dublin with the aim of becoming a barrister. In fact, both brothers only managed to complete a year’s legal study before war broke out in September 1939, when Ambrose was aged 21. This offering from Pen and Sword provides you with a good insight in the progression of two men’s lives during wartime. He became great friends with the legendary Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne as their career paths were the same.​ Special Forces Brothers in Arms: Eoin and Ambrose McGonigal: War in the SAS and SBS by Patric McGonigal is a 2022 book telling both brothers stories.

In 1975 Ambrose was appointed to the Court of Appeal and the Privy Council, when he was also knighted. His judicial role was so dangerous that he was forced to carry a gun under his robes and also to keep it at his bedside every night. Ambrose continued as a judge until his death from cancer on September 22 1979, aged 61. He left a widow and four children. He served with distinction in the British Army during the Second World War and was awarded the MC in 1944. [4] In 1948 he was called to the Northern Ireland Bar and became a High Court judge on 8 March 1968. Sir Ambrose Joseph McGonigal, MC (22 November 1917 – 22 September 1979) [1] was a High Court Judge in Northern Ireland.

Military Person

McGonigal was a member of many committees and public bodies in Northern Ireland, and served terms as a member of the senate of Queen's University and as a governor of St Mary's college of education. Keenly interested in the improvement of legal education, he made a significant contribution to the foundation of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at QUB in 1977, at the time a unique institution providing for the common vocational training of barristers and solicitors. One of his comrades, Ian Smith, later recalled that Ambrose had “an insatiable thirst” for adventure and was “totally without fear”.