Gethin Russell Jones combines being a Baptist Pastor with a prolific writing career, and is a columnist for the Plain Truth and IDEA magazine. He has written several books.

This is a searingly honest account of a son’s efforts to comprehend his father’s decision to be a conscientious objector rather than fight in the Second World War. He offers reasons not excuses,gives insights not alibis, details his own youthful embarrassment rather than pride,and shows deep respect for the courage of resolute conviction rather than exhibiting unconditional love. Because of that candour,readers will be left with greater understanding of “a different kind of courage” - and they might join me in having strengthened confidence in a rational system which wages war to defeat evil and,in doing that,protects the right of individuals to believe that it is wrong to fight and kill. The test of civilisation is,after all,not in the treatment of consenting majorities but in the toleration shown to non-conforming minorities

• ContentsFamily Tree 8Chapter 1: War Child 9Chapter 2: Conchie 12Chapter 3: A Good Year for Diaries 25Chapter 4: Strong Mothers 34Chapter 5: Hovel Fit for a King 44Chapter 6: I Was in School with Him 57Chapter 7: John the Baptist 71Chapter 8: 1936 and the Rise of Nationalism 85Chapter 9: 1938, a Year of Preparation 97Chapter 10: Sunday 1 September 1939 110Chapter 11: 1939, Cardiff 9050 117Chapter 12: 1940, Air Raid Warden 129Chapter 13: An Appointment in London 143Chapter 14: Let Me Now Be God’s Soldier 159Chapter 15: 1943, a Badly Chewed Suit 171Chapter 16: 1944, a Love Letter to Piety 186Chapter 17: Today I Had a Long Discussion with a Young Lady AboutPacifism and Christianity 196Chapter 18: 1944, a Deep-Rooted Problem 205Chapter 19: Not Fit for Human Occupation 212Chapter 20: A Strange Courage 223Notes 233

Gethin Russell Jones combines being a Baptist Pastor with a prolific writing career, and is a columnist for the Plain Truth and IDEA magazine. He has written several books.

This is a searingly honest account of a son’s efforts to comprehend his father’s decision to be a conscientious objector rather than fight in the Second World War. He offers reasons not excuses,gives insights not alibis, details his own youthful embarrassment rather than pride,and shows deep respect for the courage of resolute conviction rather than exhibiting unconditional love. Because of that candour,readers will be left with greater understanding of “a different kind of courage” - and they might join me in having strengthened confidence in a rational system which wages war to defeat evil and,in doing that,protects the right of individuals to believe that it is wrong to fight and kill. The test of civilisation is,after all,not in the treatment of consenting majorities but in the toleration shown to non-conforming minorities

• ContentsFamily Tree 8Chapter 1: War Child 9Chapter 2: Conchie 12Chapter 3: A Good Year for Diaries 25Chapter 4: Strong Mothers 34Chapter 5: Hovel Fit for a King 44Chapter 6: I Was in School with Him 57Chapter 7: John the Baptist 71Chapter 8: 1936 and the Rise of Nationalism 85Chapter 9: 1938, a Year of Preparation 97Chapter 10: Sunday 1 September 1939 110Chapter 11: 1939, Cardiff 9050 117Chapter 12: 1940, Air Raid Warden 129Chapter 13: An Appointment in London 143Chapter 14: Let Me Now Be God’s Soldier 159Chapter 15: 1943, a Badly Chewed Suit 171Chapter 16: 1944, a Love Letter to Piety 186Chapter 17: Today I Had a Long Discussion with a Young Lady AboutPacifism and Christianity 196Chapter 18: 1944, a Deep-Rooted Problem 205Chapter 19: Not Fit for Human Occupation 212Chapter 20: A Strange Courage 223Notes 233

Gethin Russell Jones combines being a Baptist Pastor with a prolific writing career, and is a columnist for the Plain Truth and IDEA magazine. He has written several books.

This is a searingly honest account of a son’s efforts to comprehend his father’s decision to be a conscientious objector rather than fight in the Second World War. He offers reasons not excuses,gives insights not alibis, details his own youthful embarrassment rather than pride,and shows deep respect for the courage of resolute conviction rather than exhibiting unconditional love. Because of that candour,readers will be left with greater understanding of “a different kind of courage” - and they might join me in having strengthened confidence in a rational system which wages war to defeat evil and,in doing that,protects the right of individuals to believe that it is wrong to fight and kill. The test of civilisation is,after all,not in the treatment of consenting majorities but in the toleration shown to non-conforming minorities

• ContentsFamily Tree 8Chapter 1: War Child 9Chapter 2: Conchie 12Chapter 3: A Good Year for Diaries 25Chapter 4: Strong Mothers 34Chapter 5: Hovel Fit for a King 44Chapter 6: I Was in School with Him 57Chapter 7: John the Baptist 71Chapter 8: 1936 and the Rise of Nationalism 85Chapter 9: 1938, a Year of Preparation 97Chapter 10: Sunday 1 September 1939 110Chapter 11: 1939, Cardiff 9050 117Chapter 12: 1940, Air Raid Warden 129Chapter 13: An Appointment in London 143Chapter 14: Let Me Now Be God’s Soldier 159Chapter 15: 1943, a Badly Chewed Suit 171Chapter 16: 1944, a Love Letter to Piety 186Chapter 17: Today I Had a Long Discussion with a Young Lady AboutPacifism and Christianity 196Chapter 18: 1944, a Deep-Rooted Problem 205Chapter 19: Not Fit for Human Occupation 212Chapter 20: A Strange Courage 223Notes 233