Relative value: How a deserter became a decorated war hero

Irish Examiner journalist Dan Buckley reveals how few Irish families — and his was no exception — were left untouched by the reach of the Great War.

EVERY family has its heroes and villains. Mine is no different. On my father’s side is Maurice Buckley and, although it has never been established where exactly he fits in the family tree, we like to claim him anyway — not so much for his brave deeds but for his less glorious ones.

Maurice won the Victoria Cross in the First World War and, thankfully, lived to tell the tale.