大象传媒

Some adored the 鈥楩orces Sweetheart鈥�- Vera Lynn. Others could not bear the sound of her voice.

鈥楥鈥� Company 7th Worcestershire Regiment and the rest of the men of the 4th Brigade were divided in their opinion of her voice. But not after that hot steamy evening in 1944 in the Burmese jungle, when we stood in our hundreds and watched a tall, fair haired girl walk on to a makeshift stage and stand beside an old piano.

It was Vera Lynn. She had travelled all that way with E.N.S.A. to entertain our troops in the Far East. She sang half a dozen songs in a strong clear voice. We could hear every word.

She tried to leave the stage but the men were clapping and cheering. She sang three more songs but still they went on cheering. She started to sing again but whenever she tried to stop, they yelled the name of another tune. She sang until her make-up was running in dark furrows down her cheeks, until her dress was wet with sweat, until her voice had become a croak.

She was the only E.N.S.A. star we ever saw in the jungle. There were a lot of men, that hot and humid evening, who were grateful to Vera Lynn for having remembered them so far from home and the evening of entertainment she had provided.

As one of the lads said鈥︹�淲ith a couple of weeks training, she would make a damn good soldier.鈥�

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.