Ironclad Heart: A stokers story

By James Hutchinson

IRONCLAD HEART
A Novel of Courage, Grit, and Fire Aboard the HMAS Hobart
By James Hutchinson

In the smoldering engine rooms of the legendary Australian warship HMAS Hobart, one man fights a war beneath the decks - not just with coal and steel, but with fists, sweat, and an iron will. Jim Hutchinson, a Tasmanian stoker, boxer, moneylender, and part-time violinist, survived the Depression the only way he knew how: by never backing down. Now, in the chaos of World War II, he finds himself at the heart of some of the Pacific's fiercest battles - and the center of his crew's loyalty.

From the dusty alleys of Singapore to the bomb-blasted skies of the Solomon Sea, Ironclad Heart follows Jim's journey through fire and fury, brotherhood and betrayal, invention and absurdity. Whether rescuing downed pilots, operating a black-market laundry out of a torpedo bay, or navigating the fragile lines of trust between stokers and officers, Jim remains a man caught between the machine and the myth.

But when corruption threatens the lives of his mates and a warship turns on a penny to escape certain death, Jim must face a choice: bury the truth and survive - or fight for what's right and risk losing it all.

Gritty, lyrical, and steeped in authentic naval history, Ironclad Heart is a sweeping novel of resilience, humanity, and one man's refusal to go down with the ship.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0G33V987B
• ISBN13: 9798275295634
• Release Date: November 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"