Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Sparrow: A Chronicle of Defiance” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

more photos (1)

Sparrow: A Chronicle of Defiance

Grant McLachlan (Goodreads Author)

4.44 · Rating details · 9 ratings · 4 reviews

(www.sparrowbook.net) Sparrow is a seldom-heard but uplifting story of The Sparrows – Battle of Britain vets who defended Timor as part of Sparrow Force.

It is the story of Charlie McLachlan’s war: a triumph of stubborn Scottish defiance and laconic Aussie genius over the relentless violence of man and nature.

From the Rudolph Hess crash-landing to the atom bomb, from histor ...more

Get A Copy

Hardcover, Dustjacket, 798 pages

Published November 11th 2012 by Klaut

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Sparrow, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Sparrow

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-13

Average rating 4.44 ·

Rating details

· 9 ratings · 4 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Sparrow: A Chronicle of Defiance

Aug 06, 2013 Dorothy Harvey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

‘Sparrow’ is without doubt a chronicle of defiance. Grant McLachlan in this amazingly well documented and researched book has captured the true spirit and grit of his Scottish grandfather Charlie McLachlan who defied all odds and managed to survive being a prisoner at the hands of the Japanese in World War II. Charlie with his self-effacing manner manages with dignity and tenacity to earn the respect of his fellow prisoners (and on occasions the Japanese themselves) while at the same time being ‘Sparrow’ is without doubt a chronicle of defiance. Grant McLachlan in this amazingly well documented and researched book has captured the true spirit and grit of his Scottish grandfather Charlie McLachlan who defied all odds and managed to survive being a prisoner at the hands of the Japanese in World War II. Charlie with his self-effacing manner manages with dignity and tenacity to earn the respect of his fellow prisoners (and on occasions the Japanese themselves) while at the same time being an inventive, witty and ‘cheeky sparrow’ in order to survive the P.O.W. camp.

Grant McLachlan takes us from the beginning of his grandfather Charlie’s early life working as a compositor for the Daily Record in Glasgow, witnessing the crashing of Rudolph Hess’s plane, leaving his wife and small son to enlist and then through the harrowing events that no-one could have predicted. This emotional roller coaster of an ordinary man’s story against the extraordinary detailed historical events of the war, and the bravery of Sparrow Force, is fascinating, enthralling, funny, sometimes heart rending but best of all true!

History can be misrepresented or re-invented by those who have the power to manipulate yet have never been on a battlefield or witnessed the horrors of war first hand. It is therefore refreshing and enlightening to get a real individual account of one man’s heroic, inventive and often humorous tactics and skills used to survive and endure his circumstances. This impressive book is a big read but is a massively well researched record of events with pictures maps etc. and a book that I personally will return to again and again for its superb reference facility.

The author over several years of extensive travel and research in writing this epic book conducted many in depth interviews with the actual war veterans themselves including one of the Japanese guards who by invitation came face to face again with his former prisoner Charlie who was in his 90’s at the time of the reunion. Charlie died only a few months before reaching his 100th year.

...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 27, 2013 Jill Shaikh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am pleased that a friend referred me to Grant McLachlan’s book “Sparrow. A Chronicle of Defiance.” It has been described as an epic account of The Sparrows – Battle of Britain gunners who defended Timor as part of Sparrow Force in 1942, but it is in fact very much more. Included are the experiences of the Australian and American forces, the men who fought with the British during that time. There are also harrowing accounts of capture by the Japanese and of time spent in concentration camps.

A ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 06, 2013 Sarah Rowe rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is a very well researched and thought out book.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 29, 2013 Grant McLachlan rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

The ANZAC Memorial's Brad Manera wrote this review for Tasmania's The Mercury.

Check out the book's website at www.sparrowbook.com. The website contains a gallery of photo and films clips and an interactive map of all the places mentioned in Sparrow. ...more

flag Like · see review

Sparrow Force rated it it was amazing
Mar 23, 2015

Johannes T Jansen rated it it was amazing
Jan 18, 2020

Catherine rated it it was amazing
Jan 19, 2016

Lynn rated it it was ok
Oct 01, 2019

Yvonne McKenzie rated it really liked it
Dec 09, 2017

Elizabeth Hamid marked it as to-read
Nov 13, 2013

Robert Villanueva added it
Oct 13, 2016

Robert Villanueva added it
Mar 06, 2017

Allan Smith marked it as to-read
Jun 22, 2014

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Mercury Review	1	1	Dec 26, 2013 10:07PM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

About Grant McLachlan

Grant McLachlan

1 follower

Grant McLachlan is the grandson of Charlie and Mary McLachlan - the central characters of Sparrow. Born on the 30th anniversary of his grandfather's liberation, Grant interviewed over 100 war veterans and travelled throughout twelve countries to research a true story told in the way the veterans of Sparrow Force wanted them told.

A barrister, solicitor, and hearings commissioner, Grant has wor ...more