Uncommon Courage
The Yachtsmen Volunteers of World War II
Published on 14. September 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-1-4729-8711-2 (ISBN)
Description
'An extraordinary account of heroism and sacrifice. An unexpected and important story, rivetingly told. Rip roaring stuff. Get this into the paws of the sea dog in your life.' - Griff Rhys Jones
'A book that had to be written' - Let's Talk
'People ashore don't realise what a grim war we are waging at sea with the Germans. A cold-blooded war, in a way I think requiring the maximum of bravery from the men of both sides in the long run, as it is so ceaseless and intangible. You just don't know whether the next moment will be your last.' Robert Hichens, RNVSR
Several years ago, Julia Jones was searching through long-forgotten items stored at her house and discovered some suitcases of old written material, which turned out to be accounts by her father of his experiences in the RNVSR (Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve). She realised that as a child she'd met some of the people mentioned, and although she was too young to truly know them, these youthful impressions spurred her on to rediscovery and understanding.
In this absorbing book Julia tells the compelling stories of the yachtsmen. Some were famous (such as Sir Peter Scott), others were wealthy (such as August Courtauld, who returned his pay to help with the war effort) but the majority were just 'ordinary' professionals such as publishers, lawyers and advertising agents, who signed up because they loved sailing. Few could ever have dreamed that they would end up acting in areas that were so far beyond their normal lives, as they found themselves commanding destroyers and submarines, and undertaking covert missions of sabotage. Some undertook the dangerous daily drudgery of minesweeping; others tackled unexploded bombs, engaged the enemy in high-speed attacks or played key roles in Ian Fleming's famous intelligence commandos.
This varied crew of men were given tasks vital to the war effort, requiring endurance, extraordinary bravery, resourcefulness and quick thinking. Some died in the process, but for the ones who survived, Julia asks how their experiences changed them. Could their love of sailing and the sea survive the harsh realities of war?
'A book that had to be written' - Let's Talk
'People ashore don't realise what a grim war we are waging at sea with the Germans. A cold-blooded war, in a way I think requiring the maximum of bravery from the men of both sides in the long run, as it is so ceaseless and intangible. You just don't know whether the next moment will be your last.' Robert Hichens, RNVSR
Several years ago, Julia Jones was searching through long-forgotten items stored at her house and discovered some suitcases of old written material, which turned out to be accounts by her father of his experiences in the RNVSR (Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve). She realised that as a child she'd met some of the people mentioned, and although she was too young to truly know them, these youthful impressions spurred her on to rediscovery and understanding.
In this absorbing book Julia tells the compelling stories of the yachtsmen. Some were famous (such as Sir Peter Scott), others were wealthy (such as August Courtauld, who returned his pay to help with the war effort) but the majority were just 'ordinary' professionals such as publishers, lawyers and advertising agents, who signed up because they loved sailing. Few could ever have dreamed that they would end up acting in areas that were so far beyond their normal lives, as they found themselves commanding destroyers and submarines, and undertaking covert missions of sabotage. Some undertook the dangerous daily drudgery of minesweeping; others tackled unexploded bombs, engaged the enemy in high-speed attacks or played key roles in Ian Fleming's famous intelligence commandos.
This varied crew of men were given tasks vital to the war effort, requiring endurance, extraordinary bravery, resourcefulness and quick thinking. Some died in the process, but for the ones who survived, Julia asks how their experiences changed them. Could their love of sailing and the sea survive the harsh realities of war?
Reviews / Votes
From Childers to Monsarrat via Shute and Maurice Griffiths. Julia Jones links the world of yachting, literature, the navy and war into an extraordinary account of heroism and sacrifice. An unexpected and important story, rivetingly told. Rip roaring stuff. Get this into the paws of the sea dog in your life. -- Griff Rhys Jones A story that has been a long time coming... And who to tell it better than novelist and journalist Julia Jones who has not only the gift of the pen, but whose father was one of the cadre of sailors who helped ensure that the war was won * Classic Boat * This is a magnificent portrait of men at war and a most scholarly history. * Country Life * A book that had to be written * Let's Talk * The likes of Maurice Griffiths, Peter Scott, Robert Hichens, Nevil Shute Norway and Adrian Seligman brought an inventiveness to situations that sometimes challenged the 'Navy way' but got results... A remarkable mosaic of accounts of the war at sea. -- Peter Willis * Yachting Monthly * a good book that offers a welcome insight and turns the spotlight anew on some of the forgotten men of a terrible conflict * Sailing Today * Jones describes ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances, amateur sailors turned into minesweepers or commandos, but does not allow the picturesque to distract from the gruelling realities of their experiences. * The Tablet * interesting and well-researched ... a very absorbing book * The Cruising Association * [Jones] writes with vim and vigour ... a continously astonishing book * The Spectator * An excellent read for summer days onboard. * The Lady * absorbing...compelling...informative * Seagull: The Journal of the Indian Maritime Foundation * A masterful work, which gives a wonderful flavour of the RNVSR, with its lack of formality and its individuals capable of thinking and working 'outside the box'... An engaging and entertaining read. -- Ohil Russell * Warship 2024 *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 122 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
266 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4729-8711-2 (9781472987112)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
03/2022
1st Edition
Adlard Coles Nautical
€10.99
Available for download
E-Book
03/2022
1st Edition
Adlard Coles Nautical
€10.99
Available for download
Person
Julia Jones, formerly also known as Julia Thorogood, is an English writer, editor and classic yacht owner whose own father served in the RNVSR. She is Literary Contributor for Yachting Monthly magazine.
Julia's introduction to books and boats happened simultaneously when her parents bought Arthur Ransome's yacht Peter Duck when Julia was not quite three years old. She soon discovered that her berth on board Peter Duck was the snuggest place in the world for reading - and writing and dreaming as well. It wasn't until many years later when she and her husband Francis Wheen had bought Peter Duck back into their family that she discovered that her special reading place had originally been designed for Ransome to store his typewriter. This inspired her own Strong Winds series of sailing adventures. She was introduced to the River Deben at birth and remains an unashamedly East Coast sailor.
Julia's introduction to books and boats happened simultaneously when her parents bought Arthur Ransome's yacht Peter Duck when Julia was not quite three years old. She soon discovered that her berth on board Peter Duck was the snuggest place in the world for reading - and writing and dreaming as well. It wasn't until many years later when she and her husband Francis Wheen had bought Peter Duck back into their family that she discovered that her special reading place had originally been designed for Ransome to store his typewriter. This inspired her own Strong Winds series of sailing adventures. She was introduced to the River Deben at birth and remains an unashamedly East Coast sailor.
Content
Introduction: A riddle in the attic
1 'There must be hundreds of chaps like me'
2 'I happened to look around and he was gone'
3 'They ought to make some use of us'
4 'Are there many like you in England?'
5 'Do you think you'll like this sort of thing?'
6 'I hardened to the life'
7 'So casual and quiet in the extraordinary things that you do'
8 'I couldn't help noticing that it wasn't quite what you expected'
9 'He helped me out of a bit of a mess'
10 'The last strongholds were battered, stormed and overwhelmed'
11 'I sign articles'
12 'Small things sidled out of dark hiding places'
13 'The dark spaces of the North Sea'
14 'Mosquitoes with stings'
15 'The very splash of the surf and the bubble of the tides'
16 'Distracted by the multiplicity of its functions'
17 'Every inch of it must be important'
18 'It's a dirty-looking night and I don't like this swell'
19 'Would you care to join me in a little yachting?'
20 'Multitudes of seagoing lighters, carrying full loads of soldiers'
21 'There was an outburst of shouting which soon died away'
22 'Goodbye Old Chap'
23 'From that point our personal history is of no concern'
Endnotes
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Index
1 'There must be hundreds of chaps like me'
2 'I happened to look around and he was gone'
3 'They ought to make some use of us'
4 'Are there many like you in England?'
5 'Do you think you'll like this sort of thing?'
6 'I hardened to the life'
7 'So casual and quiet in the extraordinary things that you do'
8 'I couldn't help noticing that it wasn't quite what you expected'
9 'He helped me out of a bit of a mess'
10 'The last strongholds were battered, stormed and overwhelmed'
11 'I sign articles'
12 'Small things sidled out of dark hiding places'
13 'The dark spaces of the North Sea'
14 'Mosquitoes with stings'
15 'The very splash of the surf and the bubble of the tides'
16 'Distracted by the multiplicity of its functions'
17 'Every inch of it must be important'
18 'It's a dirty-looking night and I don't like this swell'
19 'Would you care to join me in a little yachting?'
20 'Multitudes of seagoing lighters, carrying full loads of soldiers'
21 'There was an outburst of shouting which soon died away'
22 'Goodbye Old Chap'
23 'From that point our personal history is of no concern'
Endnotes
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Index