Hi Roland There is a small correction -- When Vera Lynn performed she was sponsored and transported around by ENSA -- NAAFI took over later. My memory needs a prod. Cheers
Aloysius On Fri, Jun 19, 2020 at 10:56 PM Roland Francis <[email protected]> wrote: > It is always pleasant to encounter good memories and nostalgia for some > colonial times - whether British raj or Portuguese saudade. > > Goanetter Aloysius D’Souza sends me the following email: > > “Yes Vera Lynn was the sweet-heart of every man (and woman) in the Army, > Navy and Air Forces of the British and the colonial forces and also of all > of us waiting for news of our men and women at the front-lines in Europe, > Africa, Burma and Malaysia -- her songs and also her appearances at the > various war fronts kept the men going in spite of the difficulties. In the > films of some of her concerts you can actually see grown men with tears in > their eyes while joining her in her songs. > > There is an entire group of videos of Vera Lynn and her tour of the front > lines during WW II. > > I attended a concert at the NAAFI* Hall (which was the cinema hall of St > Xavier's Calcutta requisitioned by the British Government) where she > performed specifically for the various armed forces located in and around > Calcutta. Mum had managed to get us a special pass. > > I am sure she was singly responsible for raising the morale of our > fighting forces. > > Long live her memory in her songs.” > > Roland. > Toronto. > >
