Forces sweetheart
Forces Sweetheart(orForces' Sweetheart) is an accolade given to entertainers, actors and singers. Originally the term was used in theUnited Kingdomto note popular showbiz personalities that became a favourite of soldiers in theBritish Armed Forces,though the term is also used in other countries.
The role of being a favourite among armed forces personnel started duringWorld War I.During this time, novelistLady Angela Forbeswas considered a "Forces Sweetheart" as a catering organiser for theBritish armyfrom November 1914.[1]The British Soldiers' Buffets, nicknamed "Angelinas", met every train of wounded as it arrived and were often open 24 hours a day, and food never ran out.[2][3]
Following Forbes, in the United States actress and singerElsie Janiswas called The Sweetheart of theAmerican Expeditionary Forces.
Examples
[edit]British forces' sweethearts
[edit]DuringWorld War II,the term "forces' sweetheart" was most commonly associated with singerVera Lynn,(whose singing ( "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover"and"We'll Meet Again"brought great happiness to many in Britain); others includedGracie FieldsandAnne Shelton.[1]
Present-day sweethearts for the British serving forces includeNell McAndrew,Katherine Jenkins,Kirsten OrsbornandCheryl Cole,and Sarah Dennis was named as The Veterans Sweetheart in 2014.[1][4] In 2011 London drag queen Richard Rhodes became the first man to be awarded the title.[5]
United States
[edit]Frances Langford,an actress and singer, was billed as the "Singing Sweetheart of the Fighting Fronts" from World War II to theKorean Warand theVietnam War.
Commonwealth countries
[edit]Lorrae Desmond,who was at that time best known a singer and recording artist, performed along fellow vocalistsLittle Patti,Normie Rowe,Dinah Leeand numerous others as the "forces's sweetheart in Australia"when troops were stationed in Vietnam.Desmond herself toured Vietnam, the Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore, Kenya and Somalia.[6]
Literature
[edit]- Joanna Lumley.Forces Sweethearts.
- Eric Taylor.Forces Sweethearts: Service romances in World War II.London: HaleISBN0709041969
- Chantelle Fiddy.My Life on the Front.
References
[edit]- ^abc"Sweetheart we love you!".Daily Express.Retrieved 30 December 2012
- ^Lady Angela Selina Bianca St. Clair-Erskine Forbes.Memories and Base Details.New York: G. H. Doran Co., 1922
- ^Lady Cynthia Asquith.Diaries, 1915–1918.London: Hutchinson, 1968
- ^"Cole becomes Forces' sweetheart".Belfast Telegraph. 9 December 2016.
- ^"Meet Cookie Monstar, forces sweetheart... and drag artist".Evening Standard.10 January 2011.Retrieved4 November2017.
- ^"Vale:Lorrae Desmond".