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Synopsis

The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall

Living in World War II Britain, Chas McGill is determined to outdo his rival Boddser Brown in obtaining the ultimate war souvenir. When he finds a crashed German bomber in the woods complete with machine gun, he knows he can not only beat Boddser hands down, but can also play a role in the war.

This book is one of five books set during wartime and featured in the Imperial War Museum's fascinating exhibition called Once Upon A Wartime: Classic War Stories for Children. The exhibition delves into the pages of well-loved books, bringing stories of war dramatically to life. This new family-friendly exhibition at Imperial War Museum London takes a fresh and engaging look at five of the best-loved books written for children about conflict - War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden, The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier, The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall and Little Soldier by Bernard Ashley.

Through stunning life-size sets, intricate scale models and interactive exhibits, families are invited to enter the imaginary worlds of these five classic war stories. From the bleak landscape of no man's land in War Horse to the imposing tower blocks of London's gang warfare in Little Soldier, Once Upon A Wartime will take visitors on a journey through conflicts from the First World War to the present day. Pull up a chair in Hepzibah's kitchen as the evacuees would have done in Carrie's War, discover the schoolboys’ secret fortress from The Machine Gunners and wander around the cellar school, hidden under the destroyed streets of Warsaw in The Silver Sword. By immersing visitors in the stories, Once Upon A Wartime aims to illuminate the experience of war through a child’s eyes.

The exhibition explores the themes of loyalty, separation, excitement, survival and identity throughout the books then goes behind the scenes of each lead story, explaining the authors’ inspiration through interesting and sometimes unseen items including manuscripts, early sketches, interviews and photographs. Once Upon A Wartime also offers all-important historical context through expert interpretation and genuine examples of relevant objects including evacuee labels and letters, aircraft recognition cards and a tail fin from a German incendiary bomb.

In addition, there will be a children’s war literature festival at Imperial War Museum London during August 2011 where kids and grown-ups can really get under the covers of their favourite books during a series of author-led lectures, discussions and workshops.

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Reviews

A group of teenage boys (and one tomboy girl) in Tyneside during World War II find a crashed Heinkel bomber in a wood. They capture its pilot, make him show them how to fire its machine gun, then set up their own dugout and help to win the war. This richly humorous, rather violent adventure story won the Carnegie Medal in 1975. (11 yrs +) (Kirkus UK)

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About The Author

Robert Westall was born in Northumberland and went to school in Tynemouth. He studied fine art at Durham University and after he graduated he worked as an art teacher.  He loved teaching and worked in Birmingham, Yorkshire and Cheshire as a head of department.

He has had around 40 books published and they vary from ghost stories to fantasy epics. Robert Westall died in 1993.

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