The Machine Gunners facts for kids
First edition
|
|
| Author | Robert Westall |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's historical novel, war story |
| Publisher | Macmillan |
|
Publication date
|
18 September 1975 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover; paperback) |
| Pages | 189 pp (first edition) |
| ISBN | 0333186443 |
| OCLC | 2186118 |
| LC Class | PZ7.W51953 Mac3 |
| Followed by | Fathom Five |
The Machine Gunners is an exciting children's book written by Robert Westall. It was first published in 1975. The story takes place in northeastern England during World War II, in February 1941. This was a time when German planes were bombing British cities.
The book is about a group of children who find a crashed German airplane. They discover a working machine gun and lots of bullets inside. The kids decide to build a secret fort. They even manage to capture a German pilot and keep him prisoner. Robert Westall also wrote a play based on his book. Later, others turned the story into TV shows and radio dramas. A second book, Fathom Five, continues the story two years later. It came out in 1979.
Westall won the important Carnegie Medal for The Machine Gunners. This award is given each year for the best children's book by a British writer. In 2007, for the medal's 70th anniversary, The Machine Gunners was chosen as one of the top ten winning books of all time.
Contents
The Story: Kids, a Gun, and a German Pilot
The story happens during the Second World War. It follows six children who live in a made-up town called Garmouth. This town is often attacked by German planes dropping bombs. These attacks were part of what was known as the Blitz.
Finding the Machine Gun
One day, a boy named Chas McGill finds a crashed German Heinkel 111 bomber plane. He discovers a fully working machine gun and over 2,000 bullets. Chas gets help from his friends: Cem, Clogger, Carrot Juice, Audrey, and Nicky.
Together, they build their own secret hideout. They call it "Fortress Caporetto." This name comes from a World War I battle where Chas's grandfather fought.
A Friend in Hiding
Later, a bomb hits Nicky's house. Everyone thinks he is dead. But Nicky actually survives and hides in the secret fortress. Only his friends know he is alive. Soon after, Clogger leaves his own home and joins Nicky in the fort.
Capturing a German Pilot
During an attack by a German Bf 110 fighter plane, the children try to shoot at it with their new gun. They miss the plane, but it gets shot down anyway. The pilot dies, but the German gunner, Rudi Gerlath, manages to parachute out.
Rudi finds the children's hidden fortress. The children quickly capture him. They take his pistol, even though their own machine gun is now broken.
A Deal with the Enemy
The children decide not to tell the grown-ups about the German pilot. Instead, they keep him prisoner at their fort. They offer Rudi a deal: if he fixes their machine gun, they will give him a boat. Rudi agrees and repairs the gun.
After fixing the gun, Rudi is taken to the docks. He rows off into the sea. That same night, the church bells ring. This is a signal that a German invasion might be happening. The children rush to their fortress, but they don't see anything. It turns out to be a false alarm.
Out at sea, Rudi realizes he is too tired to row all the way to German-occupied Norway. He is forced to turn back to England. He then rejoins the children at their fortress.
The Final Confrontation
The next day, people realize the children are missing. Some Polish soldiers are sent to look for them. The children hear people speaking a foreign language. They think it's a German invasion force and open fire with their machine gun.
However, the children are quickly overpowered. They are forced to give up. During the confusion, Clogger accidentally shoots Rudi with Rudi's own pistol, wounding him.
The children's very well-built fortress is given to the Home Guard. Clogger and Nicky are taken to a children's home. The other children are returned to their parents.
From Book to Screen and Stage
The Machine Gunners has been made into different types of shows.
Television and Radio Shows
- In 1983, the BBC made The Machine-Gunners into a TV series. William Corlett wrote the scripts for this show.
- In 2002, the story was adapted into a ten-episode radio drama for BBC Radio 4. Ivan Jones wrote this version.
Stage Play
- A new play based on the book was created by Ali Taylor. The Imperial War Museum asked for this play to be made.
- It was performed at the Polka Theatre in London in 2011. Adam Penford directed the play. The cast included Chris Coxon, David Kirkbride, Claire Sundin, Scott Turnbull, Matthew Brown, and Michael Imerson.
- This play was published as a book by Nick Hern Books in 2012.
