Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

The Machine Gunners

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

School Radio,10 episodes

Episodes

ListGrid

1: The hunt for war souvenirs
After a night of German bombing, young Chas McGill is on the hunt for war souvenirs.
15 mins
2: Keeping a secret
Chas and his friends return to the crashed plane and saw down the machine gun.
15 mins
3: Getting the better of Boddser Brown
The police and Boddser Brown have found the plane and wonder who’s taken its machine gun.
15 mins
4: Setting up camp
Chas needs somewhere to hide the gun and befriends Nicky whose garden overlooks the sea.
15 mins
5: Life at the fortress
School has closed early for Christmas and the children spend time at Nicky’s.
15 mins
6: A home from home
A German bomb destroys Nicky’s house, killing everyone except Nicky.
15 mins
7: A German friend
Sergeant Rudi Gerlath parachutes to earth as his plane is shot down. What does he do now?
15 mins
8: Closing in
The Fortress now has a third resident, but the authorities are growing suspicious.
15 mins
9: The Germans are coming
Fear of a German invasion reaches fever pitch in Garmouth.
15 mins
10: A false alarm
The authorities realise the invasion is a false alarm, but no one has told the children.
15 mins