Gilbert Hackforth-Jones

Commander Frank Gilbert Hackforth-Jones R.N. (Royal Navy) was a prolific author of the mid 20th century. His writings reflected his own love and experience of the sea and sailing. He was the author of several novels and books for children and also wrote for BBC radio, the stage and cinema.

Hackforth-Jones was born at the end of the Victorian era in 1900, entering Osborne Naval College as a cadet in 1914. He saw active service in World War I in as a midshipman in the battleship "Emperor of India" before transferring to submarines in 1920. He became the commander of four submarines before his retirement in 1936.

During World War II Hackforth-Jones was recalled to the Admiralty, serving in the Technical Branch. His novel "Fish Out of Water" (1954), is informed by his experiences in Birmingham in the early years of this war. It concerns a technical officer battling against indifference, ignorance and sabotage in his efforts to ensure the efficient production of munitions in the war effort.

Style and appeal

The appeal of Gilbert Hackforth-Jones' writings lies in his own encounters with the experiences he portrays. His books about service in submarines avoid a false romanticism but capture both the life-threatening and the humorous aspects of such a deadly occupation. When writing for children in the "Green Sailors" series of books (1951 to 1961) he combines whole-hearted adventure with practical instruction in sea craft. There are many ways in which these writings recall better-known authors of the same period such as Nevil Shute and Arthur Ransome.

When Hackforth-Jones surfaced from submarines and used a Royal Navy ship as the background to a novel his sense of humour was allowed full play. Never quite becoming as irreverent as the contemporary BBC radio series "The Navy Lark" he nevertheless extracted fun from the 'red tape', pompous and bombastic aspects of naval life. However his loyalty and attachment for the Senior Service never allowed his humour to become disrespectful.

Bibliography

"One-One-One," (short stories) "Submarine Flotilla, "Rough Passage, "Sixteen Bells", (short stories) "No Less Renowned," (short stories) "Submarine Alone" (1943), "The Price was High" (1946),"The Questing Hound" (1947),"Dangerous Trade (1952), "Fish Out of Water" (1954), "Life on the Ocean Wave" (1960), "Crack of Doom" (1961), "Danger Below" (1963), "Fight to a Finish (1968), "Security Risk" (1970), "Yellow Peril" (1972), "Chinese Poison, "Warriors' Playtime, "One Man's Wars, "The Stern Chase, "Storm in Harbour, "I am the Captain, "Hurricane Harbour, "The Sole Survivor, "The Worst Enemy, "Sweethearts and Wives, "Rough Passage, "The Greatest Fool, "All Stations to Malta.

Paul Dexter Stories

3. "An Explosive Situation" (1973), 4. "Shadow of the Rock" (1973), 5. "Second-in-Command" (1974), 6. "Redoubtable Dexter" (1975), 7. "Dexter at War" (1976), ?. "Chinese Poison" (1969).

Children's Stories

1. "The Green Sailors" (1951), 2. "The Green Sailors on Holiday" (1952), 3. "Green Sailors, Ahoy!" (1953), 4. "Green Sailors, Beware" (1954), 5. "Green Sailors and Blue Water" (1955), 6. "Green Sailors and Fair Winds" (1956), 7. "Green Sailors to Gibraltar" (1957), 8. "Green Sailors in the Caribbean" (1958), 9. "Green Sailors in the Galapagos" (1960), 10. "Green Sailors in the South Seas" (1961).

Non-Fiction

"Come Sailing!"True Story of Submarines, "Life in the Navy Today, "Boys' Book of Sailing, "Sailing"

Plays (co-written with his wife Margaret Hackforth-Jones)

"The Policeman and the Lady, "Sweethearts and Wives, "Eight Points for the Admiral".

Screenplay

"The Baby and the Battleship (co-author)".

Trivia

In a preface in "Life on the Ocean Waves" (1960) Gilbert Hackforth-Jones thanks the author of "Life in the Navy Today" (himself!) for up-to-date information about Service activities.

"Yellow Peril" (1972), is the re-working of a short story that first appeared in "Sixteen Bells".