WORRALS CARRIES ON
First Published in October 1942 - 143 pages
Although this was in fact the third
Worrals book published (in time), it contains the second Worrals story.
This is because the story in Worrals
Carries On first appeared
as a serialisation in the Girl's
Own Paper between
October 1941 and September 1942. The second Worrals book published in September
1942, Worrals Flies Again, contained a story that had been
serialised in Girl's Own
Paper between October
1942 and February 1943 and from the content, it is clear that it was written
after Worrals Carries On.
Worrals and Frecks are counting
their squadron's aeroplanes home after a mission and one is missing. A Belgian
pilot called Joudrier flew the missing plane and he eventually returns to the
aerodrome very late. Worrals examines his plane and finds a geranium leaf stuck
to it, a type only found in the South of France. Joudrier's story is that he
had a spot of engine trouble and had to stop at Shoreham. Worrals checks out
his story. He did stop at Shoreham but only for a very short time and certainly
not as long as he said he did. Worrals also checks his petrol and finds its has
a yellowish tint, like German fuel, and not the bluish tint of British fuel.
Suspicious, Worrals and Frecks follow Joudrier's car to London and follow him
to the Green Parrot Dance Hall. An air raid forces them inside where they see
Joudrier with another man - and he sees them. Both men are then followed to an
abandoned warehouse of the Bonanzo Ice Cream Company. Here Joudrier speaks
Italian and the girls witness a murder. After running away, they are captured
by Major Gray of the British Intelligence Service. Released, they return to
their aerodrome, only to come across Joudrier again. The following day, our
heroines have to take an old Reliant aircraft to the Aircraft Park and use the
opportunity to follow Joudrier when he goes flying in his aircraft. The weather
is appalling and the wind strong. Before they know it, the girls have engine
trouble and are forced to land - to their astonishment, they find themselves in
France! By wandering away from their plane in the mist, they are soon lost and
have to go to an Estaminet, or local Cafe, to ask for directions. Here the
barmaid and a mysterious French peasant, known as "Captain Charles"
helps them. They are taken to the local Church Crypt where the padre, Father
Giraldus is hiding a dozen or so British soldiers, mainly ones who have escaped
from Dunkirk. One of them is a fitter for Merlin engines and Worrals enlists his
help to fix their aircraft. The Padre shows them the way back to the aircraft
and the fitter, Tim, mends the engine. Just in time, Worrals, Frecks and Tim
escape from the Germans. Chased by Messerschmitts, Worrals is saved on reaching
the English coast by Bill. Returning to brief her C.O., Squadron Leader
McNavish, Worrals finds Major Gray with him. Worrals insists on keeping a
promise she made to the soldiers in the Church Crypt and persuades her
superiors to let her go back to France. Parachuting out of a plane flown by
Bill, Worrals and Frecks have to arrange to fly everybody to safety. Worrals
sneaks into the Estaminet and tries to attract the attention of Captain
Charles. With the help of the barmaid she gets a message to Captain Charles
before nearly being caught by the Germans. They have Stormtroopers everywhere.
Returning to the Church and meeting up again with the Padre, Worrals and Frecks
have to hide when the Germans call. It is soon clear that everybody will have
to escape, including Captain Charles and the barmaid, whose name is Suzette.
Worrals comes up with a plan that will get them all out and capture Joudrier as
well. Worrals steals a lorry to load everybody aboard. In a desperate race
against time, Worrals takes everybody to meet Bill who has flown over in a
Havelock to pick them all up.
Worrals Carries On
Subtitle - none
Publication Details - published by Lutterworth Press