Chemical Warrior cover art

Chemical Warrior

Syria, Salisbury and Saving Lives at War

Preview
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free
Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just £0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible.
1 bestseller or new release per month—yours to keep.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Chemical Warrior

By: Hamish de Bretton-Gordon
Narrated by: Hamish de Bretton-Gordon
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly. Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

LIMITED TIME OFFER | £0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Premium Plus auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Terms apply.

About this listen

GRIPPING, MOVING AND INSPIRING: the remarkable life of a world-leading expert in chemical weapons defence.

"His work has saved lives and given hope." - Professor David Nott, bestselling author of War Doctor

For thirty years, Hamish has served and volunteered in conflict zones around the world. As the army's foremost chemical weapons expert, he built a unique first-hand understanding of how to prevent attacks and train doctors on the frontline - saving countless lives in the process.

After suffering near-death experiences time and again, Hamish discovered he had a ticking time bomb in his own chest: a heart condition called Sudden Death Syndrome that could kill him at any time. But with a new awareness for the fragility of life, he fought harder to make his count.

Despite facing extraordinary personal danger, Hamish has unearthed evidence of multiple chemical attacks in Syria and continues to advise the government at the highest level, including after the 2018 Novichok poisoning in Salisbury. Lifting the lid on Hamish's unique world of battlefield expertise and humanitarian work, Chemical Warrior is a thrilling story of bravery and compassion.©2020 DBG Defence Ltd
Military Science Weapons & Warfare Heartfelt

Listeners also enjoyed...

Rescue Pilot cover art
One of Our Submarines cover art
Escape from Kabul cover art
Typhoon cover art
Killer in the Kremlin cover art
Flying Forwards, Facing Backwards cover art
Surviving the Storms: Extraordinary Stories of Courage and Compassion at Sea cover art
Melting Sun cover art
The Strategy of Denial cover art
Challenging the Beast cover art
Toxic cover art
Spies, Lies, and Algorithms cover art
The Less You Know, the Better You Sleep cover art
Peace, War and Whitehall cover art

Critic reviews

A gripping account
A fascinating memoir
Gripping
A page-turning read, full of urgent questions, from one of the world's finest chemical and biological weapons experts. Compelling and unforgettable.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon has been one of my closest comrades on the front line. Completely fearless, he is one of the leading chemical weapons expert on the globe. His training has saved lives and given hope.
A career at the cutting edge of Britain's chemical weapons defence has bequeathed Hamish a deep and heartfelt mission for protecting the innocent victims of such heinous crimes. The risks he has taken to do so are legion, his commitment beyond belief, his inspiration truly humbling. One of my heroes, a word I do not use lightly.
This book is where theory meets reality. DBG is one of only a handful of highly experienced practitioners in this field. Of course, the science matters - but its application is what requires our full and undivided attention. DBG shines a light into that dark corner.
The international community has generally ignored the plight of the Syrian people, but there are a few bright lights and Hamish is one of the brightest. He is a brilliant humanitarian activist.
Hamish's incredible life story is unlike any account of warfare I've read. His courage on the front line and drive to make a difference in the world is truly inspiring.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is an outstanding humanitarian who has fought for justice and accountability for Syrians. He is one of the few heroes in a story of evil, misery and law breaking.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon's autobiography starts like the opening of a high-octane film
It is a remarkable story of rising above a truly terrifying experience and making a genuine difference in the world... DBG's writing is clear and enjoyable, making the book a pleasure to read
Chemical Warrior reads as a fast-paced thriller, each derring-do tale worthy of a book in itself.
All stars
Most relevant
a good inside of the events, eye opening of what happened and how things done

God inside

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I loved every minute of this book, it gives a great insight and I learnt a lot

amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Interesting subject, interesting time. But too much padding and gets boring quite quickly. Written for his accountant not for any real information.

Good subject but quite boring and too much padding

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.