Dame Vera Lynn.

Just read Badenkates thread
My mention of the Holocaust in the Vera Lynn thread, was in my opinion, very much of the subject in hand. It was part and parcel of the horrible events that took place. I certainly did not wish to upset others, but reading the thread that was, to my mind, making light of a terrible time in history, needed a harsh comment. Had things gone the 'other' way, I wonder if we would be able to be deliciously light hearted. I'm sorry if I appear to be a lone miseryitus- I m really not, quite the opposite in fact, but belonging to the Royal British Legion lve seen footage of some things, that make me weep for people who gave their lives with unimaginable bravery.

A dear elderly friend in the village where l live, told me of her son, ,18/19 years old..
Who flew his plane, with others, to draw off flack, so that our bombers could fly in to destroy the dams - he and many others lost their lives.

That's it - rant over.
But I learned a curious fact a while back, did anyone know that since ww2, there has only been One day when the whole world has been at peace....

I realise this will be a very unpopular opinion but, speaking personally, I feel there is far too much "war nostalgia" on the television.

Practically every week there seems to be an item on the television regarding the first or second world wars.

I am not being disrespectful to those who fought or suffered in the wars but I feel that the casual militarisation which saturates our media does them no justice.

I can quite understand why people who survived the war feel an attachment to Vera Lynn and I can see why it is appropriate to project her picture on the white cliffs of Dover. However, I believe I heard it reported that spitfire jets would also be doing a fly past. It must seem exciting and great fun to children and young people when memories of war are presented in this way. I would have thought that after all the tragic deaths and destroyed families we should be playing down the excitement of war and reflecting on its terrible consequences.

Yes Baden. They were Chislehurst Caves. We also used to take ourselves there when the intense bombing was on, although it was quite a ride on the bus, and I never really understood why we put ourselves to all that trouble (packing up bedding, clothes, etc) when we could have been killed on the bus taking us there. Wehave a perfectly good Anderson in the garden. There was I believe some official requisitioning of properties, but of course there was also 'black market' in everything. Some of the first pre-fabs were built on the bomb site left by the bomb that caused us to move. that is all factories now, when the housing is still so badly needed.

Chislehurst caves. Well worth a visit.

I think what they said on the programme was that those who lost their home took over houses like the one you describe PRINTMISS fairly unofficially. It just came as a bit of a shock that people seemed to be left to their own devices - but I guess it was just overwhelming to try and cope in any structured way. They did mention the caves south of London that people went to live in, which I'd heard of before.

I am not sure if that is correct Baden, although I am happy to be proved wrong about the housing business. We were bombed out, and 'rehabilitated', together with my aunt and her family into a private house, left empty by the owners who had moved to a safer place. My mum and aunt were each given an oven in the kitchen, and the house was big enough for me and my cousin to have a bedroom each, and my aunt & uncle and mum and dad likewise, this was luxury for us, AND we had HOT WATER on tap and a bathroom and an indoor toilet PLUS electricity. Sad memory also, the young women who lived next door with her mum and baby lost her aircraftsman husband whilst we were living there. It was back to normal for us, when once the repair to our home had been done, can't remember how long that took.

History is the past and always worth studying and learning from. Music is much more personal and we should be tolerant of others' likes and dislikes. It would be a boring world if we were all the same.

I just have a vision of future care homes with ex punks screeching to the 'Sex Pistols' or 'Idols of Filth'. Others may be rapping alongside 'Snoop Dogg', 'Eminem' or 'Jay Zee'. At least I won't be there! She's not to my taste but I'd rather have Vera Lynn!!! Happy Birthday Vera.

I expect I've written about this on here before, but it's worth repeating. In 1969 or thereabouts Vera Lynn came to sing in Manchester at our local concert venue (The Golden Garter for those in the area). My grandmother wrote to her and asked if during the concert she would dedicate a song to my grandfather who was an ardent fan. Not only did she do that, but she also called at the house to visit him - it wasn't a PR stunt, there were no newspapers or TV cameras present, it was just a very kind gesture from a very caring lady. My grandad cried.

I can understand her music not being to everyone's taste and that is fair enough but some people find displeasure in everything!

There will always be some, POGS☹️

Such a shame a thread that had all the best intentions of celebrating the 100th birthday of a decent human being cannot help but attract animosity at the same time.

Vera Lynn was typical of most people during war time, doing their duty with tools they had to hand. In her case it was her voice, her personality and obvious warmth and respect for our troops. Her gift of 'boosting morale' may not be understood by all but it it does have a significant impact and boy did she deliver, sometimes putting herself in danger.

Vera Lynn did not simply rely on the adoration she was given by many who respected her after the war was over. She has earned respect from the likes of The British Legion and has engaged in charity work.

The Dame Vera Lynn Charitable Trust is a charity to support children with cerebral palsy and a worth while cause.

Extract:-

Vera was given an OBE in the 1969 New Year Honours and was advanced to Dame in 1975 for charitable services

Vera has also devoted much of her time to charity work, helping ex-servicemen, disabled children, and breast cancer charities.

The wartime singer founded a cerebral palsy charity named the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity in 2002, which provides support and education for affected families.

She was awarded with the British War Medal 1939-45 and the Burma Star.

She was also given an OBE in the 1969 New Year Honours and was later advanced to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 1975 Queen’s Birthday Honours for charitable services.

In 2000, she was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th century and last year she was made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in Her Majesty’s Birthday Honours list.

www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/2765046/dame-vera-lynn-dover/

I honestly don't understand why such a decent human being provokes such displeasure to be honest.

Trisher, no need to be sorry .
I wasn't around so only know that my father who was himself a child and his family were able to move into their prefab after the war was over .

Sorry but prefabs were put up before the end of the war first built in 1944. I come from one of the most bombed cities and my aunt stood in a queue for fish and watched a prefab being built that my gran later lived in. My mum lived through the bombing. Oh and she doesn't like Vera Lynn. She is 94.

Cherrytree Nice OP, thank you

I remember her first time round though I was small. Good post, Cherrytree

Badenkate yes my fathers house was bombed in the Clydebank Blitz. The family of five had to move In with grandparents.
The ones that weren't so lucky had to go to church or school halls.
After the war the prefabs were put up as an emergency measure to house the homeless.

'That we owe so much to'

When I started the thread it was just to wish a Lady a happy 100th birthday

A lady who has played her part in the history of WW2 .

She is the same generation as our Queen and my mother in law.

In a few years time the generation that we so much to will be gone.

Its not about people now liking or disliking her voice.
Its about what she and her voice did for the moral of our forces and the British civilians alike.

BTW my musical era was the seventies.

What I didn't realise cornergran was that if you were left homeless because your home had been bombed, it was left up to you to find somewhere else to live.

My parents were in London during the second world war. My Dad was in a reserved occupation and active in the Home Guard. I grew up with stories of my Mum returning home from a night shift and checking from a railway bridge whether her home was still there. Of incidents and near misses they were involved in, most told with humour and great stoicism. They loved music, had many records, none of Vera Lynn. I asked why once, I was told it wasn't her voice, she had been part of their experience and appreciated at the time but hearing her brought back horrific memories they would rather not re-contact and had not to shared with me. It would be no different were they alive now. There will be many reasons for individual reactions.

And I preferred 60s music

In fact I don't know what my DP thought about Vera Lynn although my mother was always singing and some songs she sang were hers, amongst many others.
Dad never passed comment

To be fair Jalima you didn't mention anyone - which meant that all of us who said we weren't keen on Vera Lynn would have felt grouped together - and I did say I preferred 60s music .

I still feel that other posters did tend to read much that wasn't intended into anti-Vera postings. I don't think any of us meant to be disrespectful to the people who went through that terrible time. I watched a programme on the 'Yesterday' channel yesterday! and saw awful film footage of the London Blitz in excruciating detail which I'd never seen before. I can't imagine how I would have lived through it without being a shaking wreck.

Next remark for Swanny

She probably got trotted out at every commemoration because the others had all died!

Not you badenkate - did I mention you?

It was more remarks like not remembering the war, give it a rest, we don't want to be reminded of those horrible times which I don't think you said in fact, so I don't know why you think I meant you .

As I also said Gracie Fields was another war-time singer, one mum loved her, one mum couldn't stand her. But it's not her 100th birthday!