Albert’s War

Fitzroy, Melbourne. 1941.

Hot-headed 17 year-old Albert Morton

A Waratah motorcycle.


A turbulent mix that leads to strife for Albert. He joins the Australian Navy, working in the engine room of the HMAS Nimrod, an N-Class destroyer. A British frigate is bombed. Survivor Harry Jackson is rescued by the Nimrod. Albert and Harry become close friends. Tragedy strikes.

How does one pick up the pieces and move one’s life forward?


Fact: the Japanese bombing of Colombo took place on Easter Sunday 1942. 

Fact: Moor Street intersects with Brunswick Street; the building with its follies is still standing.

Fact: Stewart Jackel’s father-in-law, Bob, built a motor bike before WW2 and trained at HMAS Cerberus. 

Fact: Bob served in the engine room of an N Class destroyer (see forthcoming sequel). 

Fact: Jackel used memories from his maternal uncle’s noncombat service diary to create Harry. Fact: THIS BOOK IS FICTION, loosely based on some facts and created with lots of imagination.



About the Author:

Stewart Jackel taught young adults for many years and believes that young men, particularly those that read, have sharp minds that can find partly revealed truths; usually they despise being talked down to. As well as teaching Science Education (Biology and Environmental Science) to adolescents, Jackel has been head of Education at Melbourne Zoo, run his own educational consultancy business and researched for Encyclopaedia Britannica. He has also been the Treasure Chest manager for Black Dog Books. He now writes Science Curriculum materials when not writing fiction.


In 2002 Jackel suffered a stroke that affected the left side of his body and rendered him a one-handed typist. Despite this setback he enrolled in Professional Writing at RMIT and finished the course with a row of distinctions, an annual prize (the Judy Duffy Award) and several manuscripts looking for a home. Jackel wants his readers to know that this yarn is founded on historical dates (the Japanese bombing of Colombo did take place on Easter Sunday 1942) and places (Moor Street does intersect with Brunswick Street and the three storey building with its follies is still standing). This first book is a great read for boys and young men who are exploring life, their sexuality and their dreams.

A sequel to Albert’s Wars is planned: readers captured by Albert’s story will soon be able to read more about life aboard the N-Class destroyers, Albert’s developing professionalism, his family life, and his war-time exploits up to the signing of the Japanese surrender.