Who was Vera Lynn?
Vera Lynn was a singer and entertainer who found fame during World War II, when she recorded a series of uplifting and patriotic songs that helped to maintain morale for Britons at home and soldiers on the frontline.
Her most famous songs include 'We'll Meet Again' and '(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover'.
When was Vera Lynn born?
Vera Lynn was born in East Ham on 20 March 1917.
What was Vera Lynn's real name?
Vera Lynn was born Vera Margaret Welch.
When did Vera Lynn first become famous?
Aged 16, Vera Lynn was the lead singer for several bands. She first appeared on the radio in 1935 which helped her popularity grow. When she volunteered for war work at the outbreak of World War II, she was told the best thing she could do was to keep on being an entertainer.
Why was Vera Lynn called the 'Forces Sweetheart'?
Early on in World War II, a newspaper ran a poll to find out the favourite musical performers of British servicemen. Vera Lynn topped the list, earning herself the nickname of the ‘Forces' Sweetheart’. Her nickname recognised the role she played in maintaining morale among serving troops, and the affection that both the armed forces and Britons at home felt for her and her recordings and performances.
What did Vera Lynn do in the war?
As World War II progressed, Lynn began presenting a weekly 30-minute radio programme, Sincerely Yours, featuring messages to British troops serving abroad. She also toured Egypt, India and Burma with the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA), giving outdoor concerts for British troops. Notably, she sang at Shamshernagar airfield in Bengal, to entertain the troops before the Battle of Kohima in March 1944. She also entertained British guerrilla units in Japanese-occupied Burma, for which she later received the Burma Star.
What were Vera Lynn's biggest hits?
Vera Lynn's best-known songs include '(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover', 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square' and 'There'll Always Be an England'.
When did Vera Lynn die?
Vera Lynn died on 18 June 2020, aged 103. Ahead of her funeral, the White Cliffs of Dover had images of Lynn projected onto them, and 'We'll Meet Again' was broadcast out across the English Channel.
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Main image: Vera Lynn in 1942/Credit: Getty