Westall won the annual Carnegie Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's outstanding children's book by a British subject,[2] and Machine Gunners was named one of the top ten Medal-winning works for the 70th anniversary celebration in 2007, selected by a panel to compose the ballot for a public election of the all-time favourite.

[3] Set during the Second World War the story follows six children living in the fictional town of Garmouth which regularly suffers bombing raids by the German Luftwaffe.

When Chas McGill finds a crashed German Heinkel He 111 bomber he removes a fully operational machine gun and over 2000 rounds of ammunition.

With the help of his friends, Cem, Clogger, Carrot Juice, Audrey and Nicky they set up their own den called "Fortress Caporetto", named after a World War I battle in which Chas's grandfather fought.

The children, on hearing troops speak in a foreign language, open fire on them with the gun, believing they are a German invasion force.

[5] The play was directed by Adam Penford[6] and starred Chris Coxon, David Kirkbride, Claire Sundin, Scott Turnbull, Matthew Brown and Michael Imerson.