William R. Young's Fighters of Derry has for decades been one of the most overlooked works on the Siege of Derry and as a local genealogical resource. First published in 1932, the book was the product of ten years' research which the author undertook when suffering from ill-health in the latter part of his life. He died in the following year. His reason for writing it is given in the Preface:

"The history of the great Defence of Derry] and the honour of the Defenders are safe in such hands Lord Macaulay and Dr. Witherow]: but it has occurred to me that the present-day generation...