THE part this woman and thousands like her played in the Second World War was being recognised by the Queen today.

Now 81 and a widow, former Royal Artillery gunner Edna Storr, from Selby, was looking forward to meeting Her Majesty at a private audience in Whitehall.

The Royal introduction came today when the Queen unveiled a memorial to the women of the Second World War.

Edna, of Cedar Crescent, whose wartime nickname was Smudge, has battled for seven years to secure the national monument. She was only 17 when she signed up with the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1941 as an ack-ack girl.

She said: "It really is a great honour to meet the Queen and I'm really looking forward to it. My son, Philip, will be with me, so we can both enjoy the day."

The £1 million bronze memorial, which is situated near the Cenotaph, finally became a reality in April after a long battle by York and Selby-based campaigners, supported by an Evening Press campaign and petition.

The monument is in recognition of the crucial contribution made by 640,000 women in the armed forces and seven million in the Land Army, munitions factories, fire brigades and other wartime occupations.

Edna, a trustee of the Memorial to Women of the Second World War, was being joined at the private audience with the Queen by fellow trustees Major David Robertson and accountant Bill Moralee, both from Imphal Barracks in York.

Also there will be the project's patron and former Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd. Forces sweetheart Vera Lynn will be among the vice-patrons, as will Selby MP John Grogan and York MP Hugh Bayley.

Also at the unveiling will be ack-ack girl and former trustee Mildred Veal, 83, of York.

To mark the unveiling, four military helicopters flown by all-female crews were flying past the memorial.

Meanwhile, City of York Council and York and District Council of Ex-service Associations will be taking part in a service at York Minster tomorrow to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the war.

Lord Crathorne, the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, and Lady Crathorne will join civic dignitaries and representatives from York's twin cities and a representative of each of the three services will attend.

During the service, which starts at 2pm, the Lancashire Artillery Volunteer Band will play and then lead the parade through the city centre at 3.15pm.

The parade will start in Dean's Gardens and travel through Duncombe Place, Blake Street, Davygate and Parliament Street, and dismiss in High Ousegate. The salute will be taken by Lord Crathorne in St Helen's Square.

Updated: 10:10 Saturday, July 09, 2005