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The Machine Gunners

Learning: Primary

Robert Westall's famous novel set during World War Two in the fictional town of Garmouth.

Listen to The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall, abridged in 10 episodes. Set during World War Two, The Machine Gunners is the story of young Chas McGill and his friends living in the fictional town of Garmouth in the north east of England. With Nazi planes raining bombs on Garmouth night after night, every boy has a collection of war souvenirs. But nothing comes close to the machine gun which Chas pulls down from a crashed German bomber plane. While the police and Home Guard search frantically for the missing gun, Chas and his friends build a secret fortress and plan to fight the Germans themselves.

Antony Byrne

Penny Leicester

Roland Taylor

Bridget Dowty

The Machine Gunners: 8: Closing in

8: Closing in

English KS2: The Machine Gunners. 8: Closing in - BBC Teachdocumentaudioaudioaudio

The Fortress now has a third resident, but the authorities are growing suspicious.

After Rudi blunders into Fortress Caparetto, the children hold him captive with his own gun. But a rapport develops between them and life settles into an amiable routine. Meanwhile, the authorities are growing more and more convinced that the children have the gun and are closing in.

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The Machine Gunners

8: Closing in

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