The Man Who Turns Forgotten Disasters Into Memorials

Ep46: Richard Jones - Naval Engineer and Author

Today I'm speaking with Richard Jones — Royal Navy weapons engineer by day and one of Britain’s most prolific shipwreck and disaster historians by night. Richard shares how a lifelong fascination with maritime disasters turned into nearly three decades of research, 27+ published books, and multiple memorial campaigns honouring forgotten tragedies.

The conversation dives into shipwrecks, air disasters, historical myths, and the emotional weight of researching real loss. Richard explains why he focuses on overlooked stories, how social media transformed historical research, and why he believes history belongs to everyone — not locked away in private archives. From Costa Concordia to lost wartime ships, this episode explores the thin line between human error, hubris, and remembrance.

Key Takeaways

History isn’t owned — it’s shared. Richard’s mission is to preserve forgotten disasters before their stories disappear forever.

Research is part detective work. Separating myth from fact often takes years of interviews, archives, and firsthand accounts.

Modern tech changed everything. Social media now connects historians directly with survivors, families, and rare evidence.

Memorials matter. For families, plaques and books can provide long-overdue closure and public recognition.

Human error repeats itself. From Titanic to Titan, lessons at sea are often ignored — with tragic results.

Respect over sensationalism. Some truths don’t need to be published to honor the people involved.

https://shipwreckdata.wixsite.com/richard-m-jones

https://bsky.app/profile/wreckmasterjay.bsky.social

https://disasters-shipwrecks.blogspot.com

⏱️ YouTube Chapters (01:08:27)

00:00 – Welcome Aboard Deck Tales

Setting the scene: life at sea, disasters, and forgotten stories

04:12 – From Navy Engineer to Shipwreck Historian

How Richard Jones balances classified work with disaster research

09:35 – Why Most Tragedies Are Forgotten

Media bias, death tolls, and how history chooses what survives

15:48 – Shipwreck Myths vs Reality

Separating fact from fiction in maritime disasters

21:32 – The Human Cost of Disaster Research

The unseen emotional toll of studying real loss

28:10 – When Research Brings Families Closure

Memorials, survivors, and why remembrance matters

35:04 – Titanic, Titan & Repeating Mistakes

Why maritime disasters keep happening — again and again

41:22 – The Survivors Who Defied the Odds

Rafts, wartime sinkings, and impossible survival stories

48:05 – The Worst Captains in History

Ego, negligence, and decisions that doomed thousands

54:18 – The Biggest Shipwreck Conspiracies Debunked

The Titanic switch theory and other myths destroyed

01:01:10 – Beyond Titanic: Why These Stories Matter

Legacy, memory, and preserving history before it’s lost

#piratelegend #seadogs #piracy #shipstories

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