Dame Vera Lynn

[Roscoe]

She had died aged 103.  So sad, but she will serenading all the troops again wherever they are now.

[JessicaH]

A wonderful lady who lived a blemish free life. RIP.

[frankie]

A much loved Lady throughout WW11.  Anyone left now from that time will remember her fondly for the PR she did during the dark days  of war.
I can remember my parents saying she earned respect for the fact she did not jump ship and go abroad and safety like Gracie Fields did.

[olly]

 I thought Gracie went to recuperate in Capri after she suffered a mental breakdown Frankie.
 After which she met and married her husband.
 I know that she paid for all the bus fares of any serviceman/woman to travel within the boundaries of Rochdale, her home town.

[frankie]

You could be right Olly but I do know my mother always said she fled the bombing and Vera Lynn stayed.

[JessicaH]

Frankie, that appears to have been the popular conception then especially as her 2nd husband, Monty Banks who she married in 1940, was an Italian by birth.
Indeed she was very unpopular until sometime after the war when she sang this song  “Take me to your Hearts Again“ and the very forgiving Brits, seeing it as an apology, of sorts,  mellowed towards her.

[frankie]

My Mother didn't!, JessicaH!!

[olly]

 Being an old Rochdalian, like Gracie, I only know what history from Rochdale tells us Frankie.
But you never know, maybe your Mum had it right.

[frankie]

I guess we will never really know, Olly.

[Drax]

Perhaps the Wikipedia entry for Gracie might help you out a little bit?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gracie_Fields#World_War_II

 

[frankie]

Thanks Drax.  That's a very interesting read!  I did not know she had been married 3 times or that she'd had cancer (at a time long before some of today's knowledge of the disease).