The Chalet School Goes To It (hardback)
The Chalet School at War (paperback)
Synopsis
It is the Easter term, and the "foundation stones" of the Chalet School staff are discussing the wartime situation in the Channel Islands. A German aeroplane has crash-landed in the Islands, and Madge Russell and Miss Annersley feel that the School must evacuate to the mainland for the safety of the children. They would like to join the Lucy and Ozanne families near Armiford in the west of England if they can find a suitable building.
Coincidentally, they receive a visit from the Reverend Ernest Howell, an old schoolfellow of Jack Maynard's brother, who has come to offer them the use of his huge old house in Howell Village (just outside Armiford), conditional upon their taking his young half-sister Guenever (Gwensi) as a pupil. He is joining up as a naval chaplain, and has no-one to take care of her.
The Russell, Bettany and Maynard children are all sent over to England in short order, and the School will follow in due course. After Miss Wilson, Frieda von Ahlen, Jo and the triplets encounter a German U-boat on their Channel crossing, the School authorities hurry matters and arrange to move into Plas Howell for the summer term.
Gwensi Howell is by no means pleased at having the Chalet School in her home, but an encounter with first Jo and the triplets, then Robin Humphries, reconciles her to the situation and she begins to make friends among the girls. There are various new pupils from the surrounding towns and villages, and on the staff are several old friends and ex-pupils. The School as a whole determines to Dig For Victory, and so gardening makes its first appearance on the curriculum.
Part-way through the term Colonel Black, commanding officer of the troops in the area, comes to investigate reports of torchlight in the grounds after blackout, and disappointed of finding the culprit among the pupils, posts soldiers outside the house to keep watch.
Hard on these excitements comes an air-raid, during which a German 'plane drops a canister containing a message from the brother of two old girls. A split develops between Betty and Elizabeth, the school's two Bad Girls, and the latter makes great efforts to reform.
The School settles down again after the upheavals. Then, near the end of the term, there is a telegram for one of the Old Girls on the staff, to say that her fiancé is coming in two days, and she is to be married when he arrives. Jo organises an intensive sewing-party to make a dress for the bride, and the story concludes with a wedding attended by the whole school.
contributed by Angela Woodgates, England __ working from a hardback edition
As the link suggests, it gives more of the story - without, of course
giving everything away!