Brendan O'Carroll lives in Auckland, New Zealand and recently retired from the New Zealand Customs Service. With a long time interest in military history, the Long Range Desert Group has become his speciality. He has interviewed over 30 veterans while writing 'The Kiwi Scorpions: The Story of the New Zealanders in the LRDG' (2000), 'Bearded Brigands' (2002) and 'Barce Raid: The LRDG's Most Daring Exploit in World War Two' (2005). This book is his first under the Pen and Sword Military imprint. He has numerous other published works and articles to his credit. In 2006 his work was recognised by awards from the New Zealand Military Historical Society.