Celebrate 50 years of adventure in Carnegie Medal-winner Robert Westall's compelling first novel for children set during World War Two, with a powerful introduction by Michael Morpurgo.

'Fifty Years on this remains the greatest WW2 novel ever penned.' Phil Earle

Chas McGill has the second-best collection of war souvenirs in Garmouth but wants it to be the best. When he stumbles across the wreckage of a downed German bomber, he finds the ultimate trophy – a working machine gun.

Hiding his discovery from the local police, Chas recruits his friends and together they build a fortress for their prize. But war is not a game and soon both friendships and loyalties are tested when the gang's actions have dangerous consequences.

Robert Westall wrote The Machine Gunners for his son, Christopher, based on his own experiences during the Second World War. A modern classic of children's fiction, it went on to win the CILIP Carnegie Medal in 1975 and has been in print ever since.

Prizes

Winner of The CILIP Carnegie Medal 1975 (UK)

Fifty Years on this remains the greatest WW2 novel ever penned. -- Phil Earle

More than a decade after his death, Robert Westall retains his reputation as one of the most powerful writers for children. He was awarded two Carnegie Medals (for The Machine Gunners and The Scarecrows) and used his own childhood experiences of the Second World War in his books.