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. ClaireShammles88 said: "Shame they couldn’t be more realistic with the behaviour, storylines and accuracy of the time rather than this horrible stylised teenage boy fantasy of a show #SASRogueHeroes. Three UK based Army Commando units, Nos. 7, 8, and 11 Commandos, were initially combined within 'Force Z' for operations initially envisaged against Rhodes in the Eastern Mediterranean. Other elements of the Force included a number of men from No.3 Commando and the Canoe section of No.8 (Guards) Commando. They sailed from the Isle of Arran on the 31st January 1941, and arrived at Suez on the 7th March. Awarded the George Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service whilst on the strength of Force 133 (MEF) Special Operations Executive [2][3].

SAS Rogue Heroes cast revealed for new BBC One series

Yet his name is little known outside of the realm of military history buffs, and perhaps, thanks to a pending BBC drama, also Tom Hardy fans. 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. He wrote to McGonigal’s mother afterwards, informing her of his trip, but told no one else about this quiet, dignified tribute to his fallen friend.And yet six months later his Victoria Cross was downgraded to his fourth DSO instead. It’s not known who took this decision, or why, but it remains a wartime controversy that is still ongoing.

Irish Lion who joined the SAS Paddy Mayne: The bravehearted Irish Lion who joined the SAS

Son of Arthur Titterton and of Mary Annie Titterton, (nee Ratcliffe); husband of Helen Titterton (nee Casson), of Skerton, Lancaster. This offering from Pen and Sword provides you with a good insight in the progression of two men’s lives during wartime. Why did Douglas Henshall leave Shetland? As the new series of the popular crime drama arrives, a fan-favourite character is notably absent. Mortimer explained that the men who served with Mayne had a huge respect and admiration, drawing from his comforting presence on missions, but he had no close friends, other than Eoin McGonigal, who helped persuade him to join the SAS and who was killed in the Benghazi raid, the very first SAS operation in 1941. After Eoin’s tragic death, Paddy left the SAS to search for Eoin’s grave and he even wrote a heartfelt letter to Eoin’s mother sending his condolences.What should have been a triumphant first mission, Stirling conceded, had been ‘a complete failure’. He had feared that cancelling the operation might jeopardise the future of the SAS; by pushing ahead, he had very nearly destroyed it. ‘It was tragic … so much talent in those we lost,’ he reflected. The reduced detachment seemed likely to be disbanded. Author Martin Dillon was one of the first to question Mayne's sexuality. He told the Belfast Telegraph "Raising questions about his personal life, and conflicted sexuality, were not intended to besmirch his reputation. As I pointed out, there was no evidence he was a practicing homosexual, but I raised questions about his sexuality, as did some of those who served with him." By adding an immediate and terrifying clarity to what must have been a baffling confrontation, these three syllables sent the room of thirty into “pandemonium”. At the outbreak of war in 1939, he abandoned his law studies in Trinity College Dublin and headed to Ballymena to join the Royal Irish Rifles. AncientFaces is a place where our memories & family stories live. Where we share what we remember to make discoveries and meaningful connections with others.