Dark Times, Decent Men
Stories of Irishmen in World War II

At least 130,000 Irish – from north and south of the border – served during the Second World War. Seven thousand never returned. They
fought as soldiers in Europe, North Africa and the Far East, as sailors in U-boat infested seas, and as airmen in the dangerous skies. Once again, the politics of home disappeared on the battlefields as Irishmen from different religious and political backgrounds struggled and died side by side.
In this poignant yet detailed book, award winning author Neil Richardson documents veterans’ stories with personal interviews, military records, diaries and letters. The time has now come to honour and acknowledge all those Irishmen who went to war.

Neil Richardson is the award winning author of A Coward if I Return, A Hero if I Fall. He works as a creative writing teacher and editor, as well as writing books. He studied Philosophy in University College Dublin and is also a member of the Reserve Defence Forces. His family’s long tradition of military service, stretching back over 150 years, sparked Neil’s interest in military history.