I never got to study the Second World War at school, if I’d stayed in Surrey for my O’levels I’d have studied it then, and when I arrived in Oxfordshire, it was in the syllabus for the year before you took your options. So that all meant that I had a fairly patchy knowledge of the events really. I’ve learned a lot more as an adult and with family serving in different capacities during both World Wars, my son is already quite well genned up. But I’m always looking for new resources to broaden his knowledge. 7th March will see the publication of IWM The Story of the Second World War for Children and we’ve been enjoying a sneak preview of this paperback book.
The 64 page book is packed pull of photographs and artwork and provides a great tool to assist with school projects on this subject. It’s aimed at children aged 8 years and over.
The Story of the Second World War for Children really does give children a clear idea of the impact of war on those who had to live through it, whether at home or on the front lines.
Giving a clear time line, readers learn about advances in warfare and technology, as well as learning about the different leaders involved in the conflict. Maps throughout the book show where battles were fought. My son has a collection of World War Two model aircraft so he’s enjoyed learning more about the German Stuka and Messerschmitt planes as well as our Hurricane and Spitfire.
We have some really large age gaps in our family, and one of my son’s uncles is old enough to have been evacuated from London during the blitz. My son has learned a lot about the life of evacuee children and the damage bombs inflicted across the country. My own grandfather was a ARP during the war so it was great for my son to learn more about his role on the Home Front.
As well as covering the Battle of Britain, the fall of France and the operations between Germany and Russia, we’ve learned more about the Battle of the Atlantic too. My son’s a particular fan of the cutaway diagrams of the various machines used during the war, including this U-boat.
My great-uncle died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in the Philippines. It’s important to me that my son knows about the sacrifice that so many made for our freedom and about the realities of war. He’s watched a programme about Anne Frank recently and the book talks about her and the Holocaust.
As well as talking about the resistance fighters and secret agents The Story of the Second World War for Children also looks at the different new technologies used during the war. These also include medical advances which are still saving lives today.
The book really does give children a good all round knowledge of the events of this war on a global scale and we’ve both been really impressed with the content.
The bit size chunks of information will hold children’s’ attention and it’s a really good educational aid in my opinion.
The Story of the Second World War for Children will be available to purchase from Carlton Books from 7th March and is available to pre-order now. You might also be interested to know that Carlton Books also sell the IWM The Story of the First World War for Children too.
disclosure: we were sent the item mentioned in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve teamed up with Carlton Books to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a copy of IWM The Story of the Second World War for Children worth £9.99. Complete the Gleam form below for your chance to win. Good luck!
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Once a winner is randomly picked, I will check if the winner has done what was requested and I will contact them, if they do not reply within one week, the prize will be allocated to another person. The winner’s details will be sent to Carlton Books in order that they can arrange delivery. Please allow 28 days for delivery.
The giveaway will close on 21st March 2019 at midnight.
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IWM The Story of the Second World War for Children worth £9.99
Yes, my husbands grandfather did.
My late dear dad served in the war, and we always loved his war stories, which I now pass on to my little grandchildren.
yes, several. My Father and cousin did, my cousin ending up injured 🙁
yes a few
not that i know of?
My grandfather and Uncle served in the second world war, both died
None, that I know of.
Yes, my father did. He never spoke about it and it is a regret that, as a child, I was not sufficiently mature to ask him about his experiences.
no, but one of my family member was awarded the Victoria cross in the Zulu war ( my claim to fame )
wow that’s amazing!
My Grandfather
No but my fiancé is super interested in history & the wars
A few great grandparents I think
Yes a few did
My father was born during world war 2 and was evacuated from London
While not serving as such, my Grandfather was a naval chef during the war
i don’t know much about my family, i’m sure someone would have though x
Did any members of your family serve in World War Two?
yes, my father was in the RAF
My grandfather and grandfather in law both did
no i dont think so x
Not that I know of x
my grandfather served four years over in Burma, got PTSD, it was hell from what i know of his life before he died x
No
My grandad did. I don’t know about his brothers but some of them probably did, he had 9 of them.
No ! Irish ancestory so they our FAMILY were not involved
Yes I had 4 uncles serving in the 2nd world war . My father was on home guard. One of my uncle’s was on a photograph which my brother has of Mussolini when they hung him . Not a very nice photo but a bit of history. I have a ration book which belonged to my mother and my brother has some old gas masks. Stories were passed on to us . They were a very brave and tough lot to get through it .
None that I know of, but my grandparents were evacuated
Yes my Grandad was in the Navy!
Unfortunately my grandfather passed away he did
Yes my grand dad on my dads side served in world war 2 xx
My daughter loves reading about the 2nd World War.
I’m really not sure!
I only had/have an abnormally small family and those that were eligible were all reserved occupations, one of whom was instructed that he was too valuable to go and serve, despite wanting to.
my great nan lived right through ww1 and 2 and my great grandad fought in ww2 and battle of river plait in the army. my mum and dad met in the army, i was born and lived on barracks til i was 4, my other grandad was in the navy, my uncle served in afghanistan – easy to see why I wanted to join up from age 6 😀
Yes my lovely grandad did xx
My Grandfather on my Dad’s side, captained a gun battery in London
My Mums dad did. His proudest moment after was being in the guard of honour for Winston Churchill funeral
My dad served in the RAF spending most of his time in India supporting the Burma campaign.
My grandad was an evacuated child
My great grandfather and great uncle both served in the war
My Dad and father in law fought in WW2
Not that we know of- my great grandfather was an ARP Warden though! My grandfather’s were too young to serve during the war, but had to do National Service a few years later…
my great grandfather served din the second world war
My grandfather’s brother.
My great uncle died in WWII
No none of my family
My father did – he was in Italy but didn’t really talk about it much
My Father served and was injured so having to have his leg amputated. I also had uncles serve.
Yes, my great grandad served
My dad was in the navy and his brothers were in the forces too in the 2nd world war , thankfully all came home safely .
My grandad was an air raid warden.
My grandad served in WWII
I think my grandad was in the navy
No, my Grandad worked for Vickers in Barrow making ships and submarines during the war
Yes, my grandfather. Thanks for running this comp.
My Grandad was a nurse in the war – they chose him as he worked in a butchers.
None that I know of
I’ve been doing some research into my family history lately, and found out that my great grandfather served in the navy in WW2, on the HMS Avenger. Sadly it was a casualty of Operation Torch…
My grandad did
Yes, great grandparents who’s names are on our local cenotaph
No as my Grandparents are not from this country x
yeah all my grandparents luckily all came through it
My father in law was a tank driver. He never talked about his experiences to his son ( my husband) but occasionally would tell me something. It was always brief, as though a memory had bubbled up to the service and needed to be released. We could never understand why he told these things to me and not my husband. More than once he was in a tank that was hit. On one occasion he was the only survivor. All his buddies were killed. He was three times a sergeant and three times busted. I think this was due to battle fatigue. Last year we fund raised on behalf of SSAFA the military charity to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and we’ll do it again this year to commemorate the D Day landings of World War Two. I think as a nation and as individuals we should all show our respect and appreciation for the men and women of our armed services.
My grandfather and great grandfather both served
both sets of grandparents
My Grandad did as did my husband’s Grandfather.
Yes my grandfather ❣
My grans father served in the war
Yes.
Rachel Craig
My Grandfather! he has some amazing stories to tell!
I have no knowledge of any family member being in this war
My great grandfather served in WWI and WWII
Not that I know of, they were too young!
Yes I have uncles who were in the army but they all came home.
My grandad.
I’m not sure as I have never really known much about my family. However I was brought up in the forces and met some amazing people.
My Great Great Uncle did, his name was Walter
My maternal grandfather did and apparently he was interviewed about it on Radio 4. Never had chance to listen to it though.
Yes my grandad did, apparently he won the war with Harry Secombe (but I can’t remember the whole story)
My Grandad was in the Navy
My great grandad
Quite a few, but nobody talks about it
Yes my dad and father-in-law were in the RAF
My grandad served in the second world war
My grandad did and he actually lost a leg too
My grandparents served. I remember being shocked to hear my grandma had done her bit in the women’s service.
My grandfather was a quantity surveyor and he told the army that he would work with them but wouldn’t join up! So he spent the war checking bombed buildings to see if they could be repaired. I think this was very brave of him, house could have fallen down on him or there might have been unexploded bombs!
Both my Grandfathers were in the Navy in WWII.
both of my grandads did
Yes.
I don’t think so
I don’t think so
Not that I know of
I don’t think so.
My grandad served in WW2
My grandfather and many of his brothers served. I think one was MIA (another was killed, but I think that was in Korea). I’m from an area where most men served in the military.
No, not to my knowledge (Commenting as Jacqui Rushton)
Our grandad fought in D Day
Yes my grandfather was a serving engineer and my childrens granny an evacuee
my granddad was part of the home guard
yes, grandparents
None of which are still alive. My great grandfather did tho
My grandfather
Yes, my Grandad did do
My marternal grandfather served in the Army
One grandfather was a skipper on a fishing boat, and one a herdsman on a farm, so both continued with their work to feed the country…..a vital part of the war effort. My nan served in the WRAF.
Yes, both of my grandads.
Not that I know of.
None that I’m aware of.
All my grandparents were in the war.
My grandad was in the war, just up from Dunkirk, he was shot at but survived thanks to a glasses case.
No my parents were only children, my grandfather was in the First World War