The Life and Times of Major Thomas Falcon Hazell DSO, MC, DFC and Bar.
Connemara’s Fighting Ace of the First World War
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Pub Date May 28 2026 | Archive Date Aug 10 2026
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Description
Major Thomas Falcon Hazell DSO, MC, DFC and bar, Britain and Ireland’s most successful fighter ace to survive the Great War, is one of the unsung heroes who out-fought Herrman Goering’s Jasta and duelled with Ernst Udet, second only to Baron von Richthofen himself.
Firsthand graphic accounts from those who fought alongside Hazell bring alive the full horror, mixed with elation, of the lethal dog-fights above the Somme. These are interposed with family and other matters in the west of Ireland and his growing up during a crucial period in 20th century Irish history. Retiring from the RAF in 1927 after action in Iraq and the Northwest Frontier, Hazell was instrumental in the formation of the Irish Aluminium Co. Ltd which became one of the largest manufacturing enterprises in an independent state.
To set the story in its historic context and as a background to Hazell’s career, The Life and Times of Major Thomas Falcon Hazell DSO, MC, DFC and Bar explores the build-up to the First World War, raises the issue of why the war started in the first place and reviews its aftermath, echoing past history through to the present day.
A Note From the Publisher
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781806343690 |
| PRICE | £5.00 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 128 |
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Featured Reviews
John B, Reviewer
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The subject of this biography is undeniably worthy, but the challenge is that he left behind very little recorded history. With no diary, letters, reports, or personal writings, the author had limited material to build a full picture of the man himself. I appreciate the effort to incorporate letters and reports from others who served in the same areas to suggest what he may have experienced, but there were simply too many gaps to form a cohesive narrative.
On the positive side, the book offers excellent background on the political and economic conditions that led to World War I, as well as insightful context on Ireland in the early 1900s. Those sections were far more compelling than the biographical portions.
Ultimately, I’m giving this three stars—primarily for the strong historical background rather than the biography itself.
Kevin M, Reviewer
The author offers his readers an unusual blend of Irish history and episodes in the life of Major Thomas Falcon Hazell DSO, MC, DFC and Bar. The action-filled life of Major Hazell gives an insight into the fast changing nature of air fighting in the late stages of the Great War and Air Policing in the Middle East in the inter war years. In this way Mr Jocelyn adds a useful perspective to an established body of written accounts. However, for this reader the relative weight given to Major Hazell’s life story and exploits relative to the somewhat idiosyncratic and occasionally partial history of Ireland is rather unbalanced, set against the expectations that the title might encourage.
Sandra M, Reviewer
This account of Major Thomas Hazell brings to light details of the life of an Irishman, schooled in England and fought in WWI in the Royal Flying Corps and then the RAF. He was one of the highest scoring fighter pilots of the conflict but although he was offered a permaanent Commission in the RAF he refused and returned to Ireland to assist in the commercial expansion in the new Republic of Ireland. His connections with the Midland Aluminium Co allowed him to transfer skills and provide employment at a time of recession up to the start of WWII. He did not return to active service but did join the Home Guard near his Midlands base a company commander. After the war he returned to Ireland to enjoy his country sports, especially his fishing, until he passed away from heart failure in 1946.
Well written and a great read for those who follow wartime aviation.
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