Dame Vera Lynn, 1917 - 2020

18 June 2020

We are very sad to report that Dame Vera Lynn CH. DBE. LLD. MMus, who lived in Ditchling, East Sussex, passed away on 18 June surrounded by her close family, at the age of 103.

Dame Vera was a British singer, songwriter and entertainer whose musical recordings and performances were largely popular during the Second World War. She was widely known as "the Forces' Sweetheart" and gave outdoor concerts for the troops in Egypt, India, and Burma.  Perhaps her most well known tune was "We'll meet again", recently sung by Katherine Jenkins for the VE Day 75th Anniversary.

In 2016 Dame Vera was recognised for her services to entertainment and charity - including her role as a SSAFA Ambassador - after being made a Member of the Order of Companions of Honour in the Queen’s 90th birthday honours.  

We are greatly saddened to hear of the death of Dame Vera Lynn, who was a long-standing supporter of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. Her work with the Forces community spanned a lifetime and she will always be remembered as the original ‘Forces Sweetheart’. She was gladdened to hear the country come together for VE Day 75, only last month.

We were always impressed by her dedication to this charity. Dame Vera could vividly remember the support SSAFA offered to the men returning home from the Second World War and has publicly supported the vital role SSAFA plays in the lives of serving personnel, veterans and their families today.

Dame Vera has played a phenomenal role in promoting the work SSAFA does within the Armed Forces community, for this we thank her. Her enthusiasm and dedication will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.

- Sir Andrew Gregory, Controller, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity