Gilbert Hackforth-Jones
Encyclopedia
Commander Frank Gilbert Hackforth-Jones R.N. (Royal Navy
) (1900–1982) was an 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.
In Yellow Peril (1972), Hackforth-Jones re-worked a short story that first appeared in Sixteen Bells (1946) into a full-length novel.
2. All Stations to Malta (1971),
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).
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).
True Story of Submarines,
Life in the Navy Today,
Boys' Book of Sailing,
Sailing.
The Policeman and the Lady (1955),
Eight Points for the Admiral (co-written with his wife Margaret Hackforth-Jones) (1963).
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
) (1900–1982) was an 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
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio, the stage and cinema.
Hackforth-Jones was born at the end of the Victorian era in 1900, entering Osborne
Osborne
- Places :Australia* Osborne, South Australia, an industrial suburb of Adelaide in South Australia* Osborne, New South Wales, a rural community in the Riverina regionCanada* Osborne Village, a neighbourhood in Winnipeg...
Naval College as a cadet in 1914. He saw active service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
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
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Hackforth-Jones was recalled to the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
, serving in the Technical Branch. His novel Fish Out of Water (1954), is informed by his experiences in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
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.
In Yellow Peril (1972), Hackforth-Jones re-worked a short story that first appeared in Sixteen Bells (1946) into a full-length novel.
Paul Dexter Stories
1. Chinese Poison (1969),2. All Stations to Malta (1971),
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).
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
Sweethearts and Wives (1952),The Policeman and the Lady (1955),
Eight Points for the Admiral (co-written with his wife Margaret Hackforth-Jones) (1963).