The Brighton Boys in the Radio Service

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22079

Title

The Brighton Boys in the Radio Service

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in World War I France, this adventure follows three Brighton Academy students—Joe, Jerry, and Slim—who enlist in the Signal Corps. After a dangerous mission to establish wireless communications behind enemy lines, they intercept a critical German message. When Slim's comrade is wounded and left behind, the trio must use ingenuity and courage to rescue him from a deadly no-man's-land, showcasing themes of patriotism, brotherhood, and wartime bravery.

Summary up to 500 words

In James R. Driscoll's *The Brighton Boys in the Radio Service*, three patriotic students at Brighton Academy—Joe Harned, Jerry Macklin, and Slim Goodwin—decide to enlist in the U.S. Army Signal Corps after being inspired by a patriotic declaration. Certified by their telegraph instructor, Mr. Burton, the trio joins a detachment bound for France to support the war effort. Upon arrival, they report to Major Jones and are assigned to Lieutenant Mackinson for a critical mission: establishing wireless communications in enemy territory and intercepting German messages. Under the cover of darkness, the group cautiously advances through no-man's-land. Their progress is halted when Slim trips on an enemy wire, inadvertently allowing the team to tap a crucial message revealing the location of the main American assault. Suddenly, heavy machine-gun fire forces them to retreat. The group splits up; Tom Rawle is wounded in the hip, and Slim stays behind to care for him while the others continue the mission to deliver the intelligence. Slim attempts to signal for help using a "whip-poor-will" whistle call but receives no response. Realizing Rawle is losing consciousness from blood loss, Slim makes a desperate decision. He fires a series of pistol shots into the air, creating a rhythmic SOS signal that the other men recognize. Hearing the signal, Lieutenant Mackinson and the others return to rescue Rawle. They successfully carry the wounded soldier back to American lines, where he recovers quickly. The intercepted intelligence allows the Americans to adjust their tactics and defeat the enemy the following day. The narrative highlights the boys' loyalty, quick thinking, and the high stakes of their service.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

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Local file path

data/epubs/pg22079.epub

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Categories

• Adventure
• History