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World War Timor
World War Bloody Timor gives a revealing insight into the extraordinary life of the everyday digger and service in a conflict that was far from ordinary.
My name is Peter O’Hanlon, but everyone in the military, from the lowest digger to the highest officer, has always called me ‘Irish’. You won't see me, or the service men and women like me, featured in the latest blockbuster, but our service lives include drama, laughs and accounts of deep turmoil that are worth telling. I was a member of the Australian Army for 11 years and during my deployment as part of the INTERFET force, serviced three very impacting tours of East Timor.
What was it like, as a 19 year to land at the Dilli Airport in Australia’s largest deployment since Vietnam?
What are the little-known battles and obstacles that cause unseen scars through a deployment?
What are the impacts on re-integrating into the civilian community?
This is my story, an ordinary soldier; the juicy yarns, the laughs, the battles, the devastating lows, the soaring highs, the blood, sweat and tears we give in service every day. It will make you laugh and may make you cry. It's the cold hard truth about the impact of a different type of war fought by many who deployed to Timor.
My name is Peter O’Hanlon, but everyone in the military, from the lowest digger to the highest officer, has always called me ‘Irish’. You won't see me, or the service men and women like me, featured in the latest blockbuster, but our service lives include drama, laughs and accounts of deep turmoil that are worth telling. I was a member of the Australian Army for 11 years and during my deployment as part of the INTERFET force, serviced three very impacting tours of East Timor.
What was it like, as a 19 year to land at the Dilli Airport in Australia’s largest deployment since Vietnam?
What are the little-known battles and obstacles that cause unseen scars through a deployment?
What are the impacts on re-integrating into the civilian community?
This is my story, an ordinary soldier; the juicy yarns, the laughs, the battles, the devastating lows, the soaring highs, the blood, sweat and tears we give in service every day. It will make you laugh and may make you cry. It's the cold hard truth about the impact of a different type of war fought by many who deployed to Timor.
380 pages, Paperback
Published April 13, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 10, 2022
I devoured this book in two days!
An unbelievable, emotional and captivating story highlighting the harsh challenges during a soldier’s journey. It was a real eye-opener and now conscious of what our soldiers endured and the struggles to return to a normal life. But despite that, it’s also a very witty and honest read, with a cheeky Aussie tongue & cheek theme throughout that just keeps on climaxing until the very end. I loved it.
An unbelievable, emotional and captivating story highlighting the harsh challenges during a soldier’s journey. It was a real eye-opener and now conscious of what our soldiers endured and the struggles to return to a normal life. But despite that, it’s also a very witty and honest read, with a cheeky Aussie tongue & cheek theme throughout that just keeps on climaxing until the very end. I loved it.
December 20, 2023
I was probably not the intended audience for this book; I was only 5 years old at the end of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor (now Timor-Leste). However, despite this, or because of this, I found this a compelling read.
O'Hanlon writes with a genuineness and honesty that may not be found in books of this genre. He tells it for what it is and does not pretend to be perfect.
At times the pacing felt rushed and some topics were not fully explored. I would have liked a deeper dive into the negative impacts of his experiences and how they manifested in his familial and work relationships. Some concepts would be presented as A and B however, the journey between the two was only vaguely described.
Overall, I found this to be an insightful and exciting read. I would recommend this to those interested.
O'Hanlon writes with a genuineness and honesty that may not be found in books of this genre. He tells it for what it is and does not pretend to be perfect.
At times the pacing felt rushed and some topics were not fully explored. I would have liked a deeper dive into the negative impacts of his experiences and how they manifested in his familial and work relationships. Some concepts would be presented as A and B however, the journey between the two was only vaguely described.
Overall, I found this to be an insightful and exciting read. I would recommend this to those interested.
July 13, 2024
Written by a Regular Army soldier about his time in East Timor with other soldiers. Not another book about special forces or Generals, World War Bloody Timor gives you a great insight into what it is like for the other 90% of the grunts who served numerous tours in East Timor. This book gives a great insight from the soldiers perspective in what it is like to experience life in an Infantry Battalion as well.
January 31, 2025
a good read
An interesting story, a bit slow to begin but improved with the telling, especially of the author’s tours of East Timor. Worth reading to get a picture of that life.
An interesting story, a bit slow to begin but improved with the telling, especially of the author’s tours of East Timor. Worth reading to get a picture of that life.
April 12, 2026
this has helped me to better understand my partners time in ET. Thanks Pete
July 26, 2026
Great book on 3 tours of duty in East Timor by an Infantryman from the Royal Australian Regiment. A detailed look at the life of a rifleman on operations.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews