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 December 1943 and from the content, it is clear that it was written after Worrals Carries On.
The original 1942 FIRST edition dust
jacket – showing the original book price of 4/6. This book is 24 mm thick. Note the correct writing on the rear cover
headed “Worrals Carries On”
The original 1943 SECOND edition dust
jacket – price clipped but I believe it was the same price as the first. The book, and therefore the jacket, is
“thinner” than the first edition at 16 mm
The 1948 THIRD edition dust jacket –
showing the original book price of 6 shillings – note how the cover
illustration continues onto the spine.
The 1950 FOURTH edition dust jacket –
showing the same price of 6 shillings – note how the spine is now different and
the author is CAPT. W. E. Johns.
This was called a “New Illustrated
Edition” and comes in two versions, one with four colour plates and one
without. The ‘list of illustrations’ is
removed from the latter.
See my
article – Worrals and the Missing Illustrations
The publishers corrected Johns’ name to “Capt. W. E. Johns”
following Johns angry letter to Lutterworths which was one of the reasons he left them.
WORRALS CARRIES ON
CHAPTERS
Click on any chapter for a summary of the events in that chapter or
see the general story summary below
IX – CAPTAIN CHARLES IS WARNED
XI – CHALLENGE TO STORM TROOPERS
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.
Click here to see the story illustrations from the
FIRST EDITION of this book
Click here to see the story illustrations from the 1950 “New Illustrated Edition” of this book
French edition – Un Exploit de Worrals (A Feat of Worrals) – this had 9 internal illustrations
Click here to see the story illustrations from the 1951
French Edition of this book
Frontispiece
Click on
the picture below to see it in more detail
Worrals Carries On
Subtitle - none
Publication Details - published by Lutterworth Press