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Vera Lynn shredding her fan mail for the war effort
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Vera Lynn shredding her fan mail for the war effort
Vera Lynn, actress and radio star, Sweetheart of the Forces letting a shredding machine eat up her fan mail to aid munition-making in 1942. Date: 1942
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 14250803
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this poignant image from 1942, Vera Lynn, the beloved English actress and radio star, known as the "Sweetheart of the Forces," is seen feeding her copious fan mail into a shredding machine. Amidst the chaos and hardships of World War II, Vera, with a determined expression on her face, made a significant contribution to the war effort by recycling her mountainous pile of fan letters into much-needed paper for munition production. During the war, Vera Lynn's morale-boosting performances and recordings brought comfort and hope to British troops and civilians alike. Her popularity was such that she received an overwhelming amount of fan mail, which would usually pile up in her London flat. In order to help the war effort, she decided to recycle her correspondence, symbolizing the spirit of making sacrifices for the greater good. This powerful photograph encapsulates the resilience, selflessness, and unity that defined the British people during World War II. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by individuals, like Vera Lynn, who went above and beyond to support the war effort and keep morale high during challenging times.
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