Queen's praise as book captures wartime tales

THE Queen has said she is "delighted" a new book is educating children about the Second World War, adding it was "so important to ensure that the sacrifices of that generation are never forgotten".

- SAPPHIRE HOPE [e-mail]

> Air gunner Ivor Foster's memories are included in the book

(Dave Foster/PA)

Camilla said in a letter to author Victoria Panton Bacon that the illustrated work would "do much to help children understand those years that secured our freedom".

Their Second World War - aimed at eight to 14-year-olds - is a collection of true, and previously untold, Second World War memories, given directly to Ms Panton Bacon by veterans and their family members, as well as their letters and diaries from wartime Britain.

It includes the story of 100-yearold Ivor Foster, one of the few remaining survivors of a "thousandbomber raid" by the RAF over Essen in Germany 81 years ago today.

While the majority of "thousandbomber raids" took place in the summer of 1942, Ms Panton Bacon's book tells the story of the vast attack by RAF Bomber Command on March 11, 1945, which was aimed at destroying German bomb-making factories and transport links.

Mr Foster, from Plymouth, was an air gunner on a Lancaster - one of 1,079 RAF aircraft in the sky simultaneously on March 11.