Queen Camilla Commends Author for Educating Children About WWII Sacrifices
Queen Camilla has expressed her delight and support for a new children's book that aims to teach younger generations about the sacrifices made during the Second World War. In a heartfelt letter to author Victoria Panton Bacon, the Queen emphasised the critical importance of ensuring that the legacy of that generation is never forgotten.
Preserving History Through Personal Narratives
The book, titled Their Second World War, is specifically designed for readers aged eight to fourteen. It compiles a collection of true, previously untold wartime memories, drawn directly from veterans and their families. These accounts include personal letters, diaries, and firsthand testimonies from wartime Britain, offering a vivid and authentic glimpse into the past.
One of the standout stories features Ivor Foster, a 100-year-old veteran from Plymouth. Mr. Foster served as an air gunner on a Lancaster bomber during a massive RAF operation on March 11, 1945. This mission, part of a series of substantial raids on German cities near the war's end, targeted bomb-making factories and transport links. Reflecting on the experience, Mr. Foster described the overwhelming sight of over a thousand aircraft in the sky simultaneously, with smoke and explosions obscuring the ground below.
A Royal Endorsement for Historical Education
In her correspondence, Queen Camilla highlighted the book's potential to help children comprehend the years that secured freedom for future generations. She wrote, "Many thanks for your kind letter and for the copy of your book, 'Their Second World War', which will, I am sure, do much to help children understand those years that secured our freedom." This sentiment was echoed in an earlier letter from June 2025, where the Queen praised the author's dedication to educating young people about WWII.
The Queen also acknowledged Panton Bacon's previous works, including Six Weeks Of Blenheim Summer, based on her grandfather's diaries from the Battle of France, and Remarkable Journeys Of The Second World War. Camilla commended these efforts as vitally important for sharing diverse wartime experiences.
Author's Commitment to Truthful Storytelling
Victoria Panton Bacon, based in Suffolk, expressed her privilege in collecting these testimonies. She stated, "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." To make the content accessible for younger readers, she carefully edited some accounts without diminishing the gravity of the veterans' experiences.
The book covers a range of topics, including the Holocaust, the Home Guard, the Merchant Navy, D-Day, navigation, evacuation, and Enigma coding. By presenting these stories in an illustrated format, Panton Bacon aims to foster a deeper understanding of history among children, ensuring that the courage and sacrifices of WWII veterans remain a living memory for generations to come.
