At first glance, it would seem an unusual subject matter for me to cover. To explain, I interviewed Herbert as a 20-year-old junior reporter while working at the Middleton Guardian and, since then, I have wanted to share his incredible story with a wider audience. I've finally done it!

This is from my foreword:

I have carried this story for many years, as Herbert did. I have written it because I owe it to him and others, the unknown and unsung, who, across many areas of life, have been burdened indiscriminately by great adversity and grief. They do really walk among us. And their grace, humility and strength is inspirational. While this is a tale of systematic malevolence, it is also about the resilience of the human spirit and a celebration of hope: there is more good than bad in the world, however it may sometimes seem.

And the press release…

Mark Hodkinson, brings us the untold story of Herbert Kenny, a humble army dispatch rider, who stumbled upon Bergen-Belsen in April 1945. He became the first soldier to witness the camp's harrowing conditions firsthand and to help bring about its liberation. For decades, Kenny kept his story a secret, burdened by the trauma of what he encountered and his abandonment in the aftermath. Now, with unprecedented access to his diaries, letters, and interviews, Hodkinson finally brings Kenny's story to life

Reviews:

The Sunday Telegraph

BBC Interview

The Sun