Shamrocks Among the Poppies: The Story Behind the Siege

Welcome to the NI Veteran’s Commissioner Podcast, Once a Warrior: Life Beyond the Uniform. Today, we’re joined by Lieutenant Colonel Derek Plews VR, a former Army officer whose career spans journalism in Northern Ireland, work within the UK Civil Service, and multiple operational deployments overseas. A reservist who left the civil service to deploy to Afghanistan in 2006, Derek served during a pivotal and violent period of the campaign. He later completed tours in Iraq before going on to hold a number of senior roles within the Ministry of Defence. Since retiring in 2020, he has devoted his time to historical research, writing, and supporting local museum trusts. Derek is the author of A Brilliant Little Victory, a respected history of the 48th Division in the First World War. He joins us today to raise awareness of his latest book, Shamrocks Among the Poppies, a powerful and thought-provoking account of the siege of Musa Qal’eh in 2006, examining not only the fighting on the ground, but also the wider failures and consequences surrounding it. This episode explores the realities of conflict, the burden carried by those who serve, and the importance of preserving honest military history long after the uniform is hung up.