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The Imperial War Museum (IWM) has acquired the complete Second World War archive of Britain’s most famous wartime entertainer, Dame Vera Lynn.
She was nicknamed ‘The Forces’ Sweetheart’ after winning a 1940 newspaper poll for British servicemen’s favourite musical performer, and Dame Vera’s music, radio show, and in-person performances for troops made her a symbol of hope during WWII, both at home and abroad. Among the collection of items recently acquired by IWM are more than 600 fan letters, many telling stories of love, loss, and reunions, and discussing the impact she had on people’s lives during the war.
Dame Vera did not just receive letters. The archive also features lists of the names and addresses of the wives, girlfriends, and families of the servicemen she visited in hospital in India, collected by the star so that she could write to the men’s loved ones.
Among the other documents are 160 wartime contracts, including Dame Vera’s copy of her contract with the BBC for her radio show Sincerely Yours, which launched in November 1941. The show invited listeners to send in song requests and messages, and became a valued connection between people back home and those serving in the Armed Forces.
Another highlight of the collection is Dame Vera’s 1944 diary, written during her Entertainments National Service Association tour to India and Burma, where she was among the biggest stars to entertain troops, and one of the first to do so in the jungles of Burma, sometimes just a few miles behind the front-line. A pair of khaki shorts that she wore on this tour serve as a reminder of the less glamorous side of wartime entertainment.
These items and many others are currently going through IWM’s rigorous process of accessioning, documentation, and conservation, but a small selection are on display for 12 months at IWM London from 2 April 2026.
Text: Amy Brunskill / Image: © IWM
