“I was born and bred in Fremantle and spent my growing up years during World War II,” says J.P. Dolan. “My research showed very little had been written about Fremantle from the residents’ point of view.” So he decided to write “TOMMY McGEE at WAR” (published by Xlibris AU).
This is a story about teenagers left to their own devices in a wartime setting. It tells of how they relate to each other and to the adults they are in contact with. They form into gangs with their clearly defined zone and methods of operation. Tommy and his gang, the Holy Smokes, are at war with the Stinking Head Shea gang. There is also Sergeant Major John Daly, known to Tommy as Uncle Jack, leader of a Special Operations Group, based at the mysterious Garden Island. They are having trouble with their navigator who has gone AWL or Ack Willy as the military call it. He has been captured by the civilian police and is in custody in Fremantle gaol. The Holy Smokes and Z Force set out to recover him with the help of Poacher Kenworthy, a very bad man. There is a mistaken action between civil authorities and the Home Guard. The navigator is retrieved, which leads to a successful operation against the Japanese.
“TOMMY McGEE at WAR” is about the strength of a gang and their self-sufficiency during wartime. It shows that, just because people are in a difficult situation, it does not mean that they cannot have a sense of fun.
“TOMMY McGEE at WAR” By J.P. Dolan Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 86 pages | ISBN 9781499029451 Softcover | 6 x 9in | 86 pages | ISBN 9781499029376 E-Book | 86 pages | ISBN 9781499029536
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