Forces Sweetheart
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- Forces' Sweetheart was also a 1953 film.
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Forces Sweetheart (or Forces' Sweetheart) is a title given to some entertainment women mainly in the Royal Air Force, although it was also used in the United States.
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[edit] First World War
The role had its origins in the World War I. Lady Angela Forbes was the Forces Sweetheart at the camp and was extremely voiciferous in her feelings towards the brutal treatment of soldiers there[citation needed], whilst Elsie Janis was called The Sweetheart of the AEF.
[edit] Second World War
Sweethearts during World War II included Vera Lynn (now Dame Vera Lynn), whose singing ("There'll be blue birds over the White Cliffs of Dover" and "We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when") brought great happiness to many in Britain; Gracie Fields; and Anne Shelton.
[edit] Post war
Frances Langford, whose husband was assistant secretary of the United States Air Force under president Harry Truman, was "Singing Sweetheart of the Fighting Fronts" from WWII to Korean War and Vietnam War.
[edit] Present
Present day title holders include Nell McAndrew, Claire Sweeney and Katherine Jenkins.
[edit] Literature
- Joanna Lumley. Forces Sweethearts.
- Eric Taylor. Forces sweethearts: Service romances in World War II.
- Chantelle Fiddy. My Life on the Front.
