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The Nature of Honour
Son
Of the renowned Sydney obstetrician, Dr William McBride, who raised the alarm on the anti-nausea drug thalidomide in the 1960s and was later struck off the medical register for falsifying research results in a bid to challenge the safety of another drug. David chose to study Law, firstly at Sydney University and then at Oxford. There he met some British army officers and decided that soldiering was his calling, going on to train at Sandhurst. He commanded a platoon in Northern Ireland while bomb and sniper attacks on British soldiers were still happening.
Civilian life
He worked in security protecting diplomats, journalists and businesspeople in Rwanda in the immediate aftermath of the 1994 genocide and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Soldier
After growing tired of the travel and the action, David returned to England, where he worked in reality TV. On moving back to Sydney, he briefly joined a major law firm and then joined the Australian Army as a lawyer, going on to serve two tours of duty in Afghanistan, on the frontline confirming or denying decisions made by soldiers under international laws. He was medically discharged with PTSD in 2017.
Whistleblower
In 2018, he was charged with offences relating to national security and is awaiting trial.
David was reregistered to practise law in NSW in 2022 and spends a bit of time defending those facing charges. Crammed with colour, adventure, achievements and some diversions, too David McBride leads a big life.
Of the renowned Sydney obstetrician, Dr William McBride, who raised the alarm on the anti-nausea drug thalidomide in the 1960s and was later struck off the medical register for falsifying research results in a bid to challenge the safety of another drug. David chose to study Law, firstly at Sydney University and then at Oxford. There he met some British army officers and decided that soldiering was his calling, going on to train at Sandhurst. He commanded a platoon in Northern Ireland while bomb and sniper attacks on British soldiers were still happening.
Civilian life
He worked in security protecting diplomats, journalists and businesspeople in Rwanda in the immediate aftermath of the 1994 genocide and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Soldier
After growing tired of the travel and the action, David returned to England, where he worked in reality TV. On moving back to Sydney, he briefly joined a major law firm and then joined the Australian Army as a lawyer, going on to serve two tours of duty in Afghanistan, on the frontline confirming or denying decisions made by soldiers under international laws. He was medically discharged with PTSD in 2017.
Whistleblower
In 2018, he was charged with offences relating to national security and is awaiting trial.
David was reregistered to practise law in NSW in 2022 and spends a bit of time defending those facing charges. Crammed with colour, adventure, achievements and some diversions, too David McBride leads a big life.
- GenresNonfiction
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 5, 2023
stunning book, and an abhorrent procedure of justice by the Australian high court
December 12, 2023
Sydney-born David McBride always wanted to be a soldier, defending democracy and the rule of law.
David has a great sense of humour as he tells his life story, recalling his youthful pranks. His life is full of adventure, as he always seeks out a challenge.
Drawn to serve, he served in the British army after studying law at Oxford. Years later, while doing a tour in Afghanistan this time serving the Australian SAS as a military lawyer, his moral courage is called on as he discovers all is not as it should be in Defence.
A must-read for anyone who cares about the safety and security of Australia's people.
David has a great sense of humour as he tells his life story, recalling his youthful pranks. His life is full of adventure, as he always seeks out a challenge.
Drawn to serve, he served in the British army after studying law at Oxford. Years later, while doing a tour in Afghanistan this time serving the Australian SAS as a military lawyer, his moral courage is called on as he discovers all is not as it should be in Defence.
A must-read for anyone who cares about the safety and security of Australia's people.
January 30, 2024
As someone who followed McBride’s case for more than a year, seeing almost exclusively criticism and vilification from both the media and governmental agencies of the U.S. and Australia, the book is a fantastic insight into his character, and the modern paradoxes of complex war fighting decision making, and the incessant pressure to keep up appearances for people at home with selfish motivations, both political and economic. A must read for anyone interested in military ethics, honour, a fascinating counter narrative to the war in Afghanistan, and contemporary war and politics in general.
May 6, 2026
Being a bit charitable with the rating of 4/5⭐️.
What this book mostly covers is a large amount of his personal life story before the events that brought him to national prominence.
It’s written like a conversation with an average guy with good intentions, no incredible prose, no poetry, just relatively straightforward vocab.
McBride does come from somewhat of a privileged background, being the son of a Doctor of fairly sizeable reputation (and later disrepute) and (not downplaying his efforts) having a pathway to prestigious institutions like Oxford Uni.
He also has consistent chance meetings with people who would rise to the highest levels of power (like Prime Minister Tony Abbott) which tells you he was living in a different kind of world to the average person.
The book has very little detail of the cases of interest, with only the last 10% of the book or so dedicated to the problems occurring in the military that are of interest to the public.
I have no doubt McBride was strongly bound by an ongoing case, but he leaves enough at the last 10% to give you somewhat of a feel of what the problems were that he was fighting against and what ended up getting him in trouble.
Specifically, the targeting of soldiers who acted in difficult circumstances to compensate for not punishing soldiers in other cases who had egregiously committed war crimes.
The book gets a bump up (outlining my bias here) for the ethical stance he took and the sacrifice that meant for him and his family.
Given recent developments, though, with arrests of certain (alleged) war criminals, at least there may be some justice for his sacrifice.
What this book mostly covers is a large amount of his personal life story before the events that brought him to national prominence.
It’s written like a conversation with an average guy with good intentions, no incredible prose, no poetry, just relatively straightforward vocab.
McBride does come from somewhat of a privileged background, being the son of a Doctor of fairly sizeable reputation (and later disrepute) and (not downplaying his efforts) having a pathway to prestigious institutions like Oxford Uni.
He also has consistent chance meetings with people who would rise to the highest levels of power (like Prime Minister Tony Abbott) which tells you he was living in a different kind of world to the average person.
The book has very little detail of the cases of interest, with only the last 10% of the book or so dedicated to the problems occurring in the military that are of interest to the public.
I have no doubt McBride was strongly bound by an ongoing case, but he leaves enough at the last 10% to give you somewhat of a feel of what the problems were that he was fighting against and what ended up getting him in trouble.
Specifically, the targeting of soldiers who acted in difficult circumstances to compensate for not punishing soldiers in other cases who had egregiously committed war crimes.
The book gets a bump up (outlining my bias here) for the ethical stance he took and the sacrifice that meant for him and his family.
Given recent developments, though, with arrests of certain (alleged) war criminals, at least there may be some justice for his sacrifice.
June 11, 2024
I found this to be a very interesting read, especially as someone who (at best) deeply distrusts the Australian military and Australian state and (at worst) sees them as illegitimate enforcers of imperial violence.
I’m sure that I would disagree with David McBride on a lot of things. But this being said — I have an immense amount of respect for him, and don’t doubt that when it comes down to it, we share more values that one would think on the surface.
I’ve been following McBride’s case for a while, and it reveals both the pathetic lack of protections for whistleblowers and the political (and moral) corruption of the ADF.
One of my other biggest take-always from McBride’s memoir is how much the British and Australian militaries are old boys clubs. McBride spent his life surrounded by almost unfathomable privilege, which makes it almost more impressive that he chose to bite the hand that fed him.
While this book does (in my opinion) go a bit too easy on the military, I don’t doubt that the legal complexities were numerous. And, I do think it did a fantastic job of demonstrating that war is a game of politics and marketing and smoke and mirrors, and that the losers are always those on the ground.
I definitely agree with others who say that this book feels unfinished. I would chalk this up to the fact that David was working against the clock — at the time of writing he’s been sentenced to six years in prison.
I’m sure that I would disagree with David McBride on a lot of things. But this being said — I have an immense amount of respect for him, and don’t doubt that when it comes down to it, we share more values that one would think on the surface.
I’ve been following McBride’s case for a while, and it reveals both the pathetic lack of protections for whistleblowers and the political (and moral) corruption of the ADF.
One of my other biggest take-always from McBride’s memoir is how much the British and Australian militaries are old boys clubs. McBride spent his life surrounded by almost unfathomable privilege, which makes it almost more impressive that he chose to bite the hand that fed him.
While this book does (in my opinion) go a bit too easy on the military, I don’t doubt that the legal complexities were numerous. And, I do think it did a fantastic job of demonstrating that war is a game of politics and marketing and smoke and mirrors, and that the losers are always those on the ground.
I definitely agree with others who say that this book feels unfinished. I would chalk this up to the fact that David was working against the clock — at the time of writing he’s been sentenced to six years in prison.
May 28, 2024
This book held my interest however it felt unfinished. Knowing the predicament David is in now I presume he could not continue his memoir due to legal constrictions. It just feels incomplete. I await his next book that I hope will be written to continue his memoir.
January 15, 2024
A captivating read, with at times highlighting occurrences that are deflating and unsettling. The book reminds me of similar aspects I have experienced with my own observations working in government and echoes shared sentiments from individuals with similar experiences. It prompts contemplation on the values and double standards of the "West" and questions prevailing norms and everything we have been told growing up in the West post 9/11.
The book is timely and resonates with today's state of affairs.
The book is timely and resonates with today's state of affairs.
October 23, 2024
David McBride is a hero. Having read his story and history, I feel sad to know that someone like him is in jail. He makes me feel proud to be an Australian. I hope his appeal early next year in 2025 March is successful.
God bless you McBride.
God bless you McBride.
July 27, 2025
An eye opening biography, which steps through McBride's education, family life, career as a lawyer and service in the military and how these events shaped his perception of honour.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews