Dame Vera Lynn, the Forces’ Sweetheart whose songs helped raise morale during World War Two, has passed away at the age of 103.
The singer’s family confirmed she died today in the morning surrounded by her close relatives.
“The family are deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers at the age of 103,” an announcement said.
Dame Vera was famous for performing for the soldiers and troops during World War Two in countries including India and Burma.
She was born in East Ham, Essex on March 20th, 1917. Her husband Harry Lewis was a saxophonist. They got married in 1941. Harry died in 1998. The couple together had one child.
The songs most associated with her are “We’ll Meet Again”, “The White Cliffs of Dover”, “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” and “There’ll Always Be an England”.
Dame Vera Lynn with her daughter in late 1940s
She remained popular after the war, appearing on radio and television in the UK and the US 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 number 3 hit, making her the first centenarian performer to have a Top 10 album in the charts.
Lynn devoted her time in 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.
