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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: 10: A false alarm

10: A false alarm

English KS2: The Machine Gunners. 10: A false alarm - BBC Teachdocumentaudioaudioaudio

The authorities realise the invasion is a false alarm, but no one has told the children.

As dawn breaks over Garmouth, the authorities realise the German invasion is a false alarm. But no one has told the children who are hiding out in Fortress Caparetto preparing to defend Britain. Meanwhile, their families have reported them missing and Constable Fatty Hardy is assigned to find them.

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The Machine Gunners

10: A false alarm

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