Uncommon Courage

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 JonesA 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 *

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.