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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: 9: The Germans are coming

9: The Germans are coming

English KS2: The Machine Gunners. 9: The Germans are coming - BBC Teachdocumentaudioaudioaudio

Fear of a German invasion reaches fever pitch in Garmouth.

With nightly bombing raids worse than ever, fear of a German invasion and life under the Nazis reaches fever pitch in Garmouth. Then, one night, church bells are heard ringing - the signal that a German invasion is taking place. The people of Garmouth prepare themselves to fight or to flee.

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The Machine Gunners

9: The Germans are coming

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