Dame Vera Margaret Lynn
CH DBE OStJ
1917–2020
Dame Vera Margaret Lynn (née Welch; 20 March 1917–18 June 2020) was an English singer, songwriter and entertainer whose musical recordings and performances were very popular during the Second World War. She was widely referred to as the “Forces’ Sweetheart” and gave outdoor concerts for the troops in Egypt, India and Burma during the war as part of Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA).
She remained popular after the war, appearing on radio and television in the United Kingdom and the U.S. and recording such hits as “Auf Wiederseh’n, Sweetheart” and her UK number one single “My Son, My Son”. Her last single, “I Love This Land”, was released to mark the end of the Falklands War. In 2009, at the age of 92, she became the oldest living artist to top the UK Albums Chart with the compilation album We’ll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn. In 2014, she released the collection Vera Lynn: National Treasure, and in 2017, she released Vera Lynn 100, a compilation album of hits to commemorate her centennial year—it was a #3 hit, making her the first centenarian performer to have a Top 10 album in the charts.
Lynn devoted much time and energy to charity work connected with ex-servicemen, disabled children and breast cancer. She was held in great affection by veterans of the Second World War and in 2000 was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th century.
Vera Lynn’s album We’ll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn peaked at #1 in the United Kingdom making her the oldest living artist to top the U.K. album charts. The album is some of her recordings made for Decca Records, for whom Lynn recorded between 1936 and 1959. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart on 13 September 2009. The album entered the chart at number 20 on 30 August, and then climbed to number 2 the following week, before reaching the top position.
Albums
Year / Title
1961 / Yours
1961 / As Time Goes By
1962 / Hits Of The Blitz
1964 / Among My Souvenirs
1966 / More Hits Of The Blitz
1970 / Hits Of The 60’s — My Way
1972 / Favourite Sacred Songs
1976 / Christmas With Vera Lynn
1977 / Vera Lynn In Nashville
1981 / 20 Family Favourites
1989 / We’ll Meet Again
2009 / We’ll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn
2010 / Unforgettable
2014 / National Treasure – Ultimate Collection
Movies
Year / Title / Role
1943 / We’ll Meet Again / Peggy Brown
1943 / Rhythm Serenade / Ann Martin
1944 / One Exciting Night / Vera Baker
1962 / Venus fra Vestø / Herself
Vera you were an inspiration to many a generation, even attending The War and Peace Show right up until she passed away.
And for us at Project Redsand may we only wish that you Rest in Peace