The author at ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli, Turkey April 25 2008
Writer Kevin Gomm was born in Albany, Western Australia. His own heritage is from a long line of a combined military/musical family. His late father Brian was a very talented and acknowledged piano player and former National Serviceman. His grandfather Frank was a World War II veteran and former RSL (Returned Services League) Sub-Branch President who was later awarded the B.E.M. (British Empire Medal) for his tireless services to Legacy.
Throughout the late 1950’and early 1960’s Frank Gomm was also one of key individuals that assisted in orchestrating the establishment of the well known Desert Corps Memorial – from its initial shipment out from Egypt to where it now proudly stands on Mount Clarence at Albany. Kevin’s great-grandfather Harold (Harry) Gomm served in World War I in Belgium and France where he later suffered from the terrible effects of poison ‘mustard’ gas. Prior to 1914 Harry also served as an Armed Guardsman at the Princess Royal Fortress (The Old Forts) at Albany throughout the 1890’s. His other great-grandfather Ernest (Ernie) Eskett (on his grandmother’s side) served with the Kings Royal Rifles in the Boer War, South Africa (1899-1902).
Kevin himself is an accomplished musician having spent a considerable amount of his early years in the music industry. Since then he has significantly changed career and graduated to a freelance journalist, writer and self published author. Specialising in local Western Australian military history and heritage from the World War II (1939-1945) period, in 2010 he established Digger Press to print the results of his research, study and investigations, much of which has taken many years to gather, compile and collect together. He has also written several articles that have been published in various newspapers and magazines.
The author at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France June 2008 (D-Day June 6 1944).
Possessing a lifelong fascination involving all the enemy attacks that occurred directly on Australia, he is now recognised as one of the foremost authorities concerning the Japanese air raids that took place on towns and locations throughout the state of Western Australia during World War II. His first book, the popular “Red Sun On The Kangaroo Paw” which comprehensively details and describes these raids is soon to be re-released as a special 70th Anniversary 1942-2012 Edition. His widespread research also extends to the German Raiders and U-boats that operated off Western Australia and in the Indian and Southern Oceans. His latest book “Beneath Cold Waves” is a pictorial glossary of all vessels sunk as a direct result of enemy action in immediate Australian waters during both world wars.
The author at Villers Bretonneux, northern France 2008
In 2001 Kevin relocated back to Perth the capital city of his home state of Western Australia after residing in Sydney, New South Wales for 10 years in the 1990’s. He has travelled extensively both throughout Australia and overseas visiting WWI and WWII battlefields and historical sites. Kevin Gomm is available by appointment and frequently invited to deliver presentations and talks to various historical, heritage, social and media groups and societies on the books that he written and researched.
..and the Menin Gate. Ypres, Belgium
Inspecting the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin July 2008
In June 2013 Kevin and Digger Press relocated from Perth back down to Albany. Since then he has released the acclaimed Lifeboat #6 -The Sinking Of The SS Fort Lee. See page on this site for details.
The author at the Kwai River Bridge, Thailand (Burma-Thai Railway) and at El Alamein, Egypt (below)
