Chemical Warrior

A gripping account * Daily Mail *
A fascinating memoir * Salisbury Journal *
Gripping * Daily Express *
A page-turning read, full of urgent questions, from one of the world’s finest chemical and biological weapons experts. Compelling and unforgettable. * John Simpson *
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon has been one of my closest comrades on the front line. Completely fearless, he is one of the leading chemical weapons expert on the globe. His training has saved lives and given hope. * Professor David Nott, bestselling author of WAR DOCTOR *
A career at the cutting edge of Britain’s chemical weapons defence has bequeathed Hamish a deep and heartfelt mission for protecting the innocent victims of such heinous crimes. The risks he has taken to do so are legion, his commitment beyond belief, his inspiration truly humbling. One of my heroes, a word I do not use lightly. * Damien Lewis, bestselling author of APACHE DAWN *
This book is where theory meets reality. DBG is one of only a handful of highly experienced practitioners in this field. Of course, the science matters - but its application is what requires our full and undivided attention. DBG shines a light into that dark corner. * Sir Graeme Lamb, former director of UK Special Forces *
The international community has generally ignored the plight of the Syrian people, but there are a few bright lights and Hamish is one of the brightest. He is a brilliant humanitarian activist. * Dr Ghanem Tayara, Syrian doctor *
Hamish’s incredible life story is unlike any account of warfare I’ve read. His courage on the front line and drive to make a difference in the world is truly inspiring. * Billy Billingham, ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’ *
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is an outstanding humanitarian who has fought for justice and accountability for Syrians. He is one of the few heroes in a story of evil, misery and law breaking. * Andrew Mitchell MP *
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon’s autobiography starts like the opening of a high-octane film * The New European *
It is a remarkable story of rising above a truly terrifying experience and making a genuine difference in the world… DBG’s writing is clear and enjoyable, making the book a pleasure to read * History of War *
Chemical Warrior reads as a fast-paced thriller, each derring-do tale worthy of a book in itself. * Wiltshire Life *

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is a world-leading expert in Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) weapons. He served twenty-three years in the British Army, including service as Commanding Officer of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment, the UK CBRN Regiment and NATO’s Rapid Reaction CBRN Battalion. His operational deployments included the First Gulf War, Cyprus, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been in Syria and Iraq frequently in the last ten years, setting up the CBRN Task Force in Syria and advising medical charities. This considerable experience in the field places Hamish as one of the world’s foremost and most current experts in chemical, biological and nuclear counter terrorism and humanitarian operations.

Hamish is a commissioned reserve officer in the British Army’s Staff Corp as senior advisor and mentor to the Ministry of Defence on CBRN. He is advising the Ukrainian government, NGOs and journalists on CBRN defence.

Today, Hamish gives advice to UK and US government agencies and is a senior Ministry of Defence advisor on CBRN and Syria. He is frequently seen on global news channels providing expert commentary and writes for UK, Middle East and US news journals and newspapers. He was a Visiting Fellow at Magdalene College Cambridge in 2020-2022 and his memoir, Chemical Warrior, was published by Headline in 2021.

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