Entertaining the Troops

A bit of a niche book but a really interesting addition to our understanding of wartime; on the home front across the areas of conflict and within POW camps.
It recounts how the armed services established groups of actors, performers and musicians to entertain the troops. In addition to these organised concert parties it speaks of brave individuals like Vera Lynn who became the forces sweetheart at just 22 in 1939. I was touched by how she could perform to large audiences but also speaks of 1:1 times to soldiers in hospital.
A really fascinating book from its impact raising morale or just allowing troops the means to entertain themselves where “stars” did not get. That said the commitment and travel of these entertainers was as extensive as it was dangerous. It was a telling comment though that in the theatres and clubs in London dangers from bombs and V2 rockets made this a hazardous pastime to perform and attend.
The book also gives a history into the influences on Music, big band sound and jazz as well as the development of Shakespeare, Ballet and access to Opera. Many later TV stars were fashioned in this period in uniform and a good number of personal documentation records the importance of this need for music, common activities of singing or dancing and an escape from separation in POW camps or the fear of war and threat to life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this perspective that previously was informed solely by episodes of “It ain’t Half Hot Mum” and concerts in colditz castle prior to great escapes.
Crammed full of great pictures and concert flyers with a really creative list of places to visit to continue this journey.