Machine Gunners essay
The Machine Gunners is a story about a group of children living in a small English country town called Garmouth during World War II. As the story unfolds we learn about each of the children and the life they are leading during war time. As we learn more about each of the children it becomes apparent that the atrocities of the war have forced the main characters to grow up too quickly.
Chas McGill, the narrator, has to face many difficulties in the town where he lives. This has the effect of making him grow up. One of the main events in the book is when Chas finds the machine gun in a German plane that has been shot down. He takes the machine gun and hides it. However, the authorities in the town are looking for it. Chas’s father questions him about the whereabouts of the gun. Chas’s dad makes him swear on the bible that he doesn’t know anything about it. Chas lies to his dad and in so doing makes choices which put his friends and the ownership of the gun ahead of being honest with his dad. The lie and the secret he his keeping means he is separate from his family for the first time in his life. It also means that he has to face the consequences of his actions by himself. That is they have to sink or swim together.
Audrey grows up when she makes the decision to leave her family to be with her friends. The citizens of Garmouth know that when the church bells ring it means the German’s are invading. Audrey’s father and mother hear the bells and decide to leave Garmouth, however Audrey doesn’t want to go and runs away from her father’s car. She decides that it is more important to support her friends in Garmouth in fighting the Germans than to leave and so goes to the bunker to be with her friends. It is a big decision at her age to choose her friends over being with her family, especially as she knows that she may never see them again.
Nicky grows up when his mother dies and he realises he is all alone and that he has no family...