Queen Camilla has expressed her 'delight' at a new book designed to educate children about the Second World War, emphasising the crucial importance of ensuring 'the sacrifices of that generation are never forgotten'. In a letter to author Victoria Panton Bacon, the Queen stated that the illustrated work would 'do much to help children understand those years that secured our freedom'.
The book, titled Their Second World War, is aimed at readers aged eight to 14 and compiles a collection of true, previously untold memories from the conflict. These accounts were given directly to Ms Panton Bacon by veterans and their family members, supplemented by their letters and diaries from wartime Britain.
Among the compelling narratives is the story of 100-year-old Ivor Foster, one of the few remaining survivors of a 'thousand-bomber raid' conducted by the RAF over Essen, Germany, 81 years ago. Mr Foster, an air gunner from Plymouth, was aboard a Lancaster bomber – one of 1,079 RAF aircraft in the sky simultaneously on 11 March 1945. Recalling the intense operation, he said: 'I looked over the side of our Lanc and couldn’t see the ground, there were so many planes... The whole operation took five and a half hours.'
Mr Foster’s vivid recollection is one of ten true wartime stories featured in the book. Other chapters delve into significant aspects of the conflict, including the Holocaust, the Home Guard, the Merchant Navy, D-Day, navigation, evacuation, and Enigma coding.
Queen Camilla has consistently championed Ms Panton Bacon’s efforts to preserve wartime histories. Having been sent a copy of the children’s book, the Queen reiterated her support. In an earlier letter, Camilla had already expressed her delight that the author was 'writing a book to educate children about World War II – it really is so important to ensure that the sacrifices of that generation are never forgotten.'
Ms Panton Bacon underscored the significance of her work, telling the Press Association: 'These stories are very important. The truth is the best way to correctly understand a historical event and also, of course, each and every recollection tells the story of so many.' She added that for younger readers, some stories required careful editing, which she attempted 'without, in any way, diminishing the gravity of the different situations each of the veterans were living through.'
