Forces Sweetheart - Vera Lynn

It was since 2023 when I got hold of an British Indian Military Air Letter Card from WW2 period talking about Vera Lynn, I have been searching for stamps issued on her. I was surprised to learn there was no stamps issued on her until recently by United Kingdom. Before I show the MALC, let's talk about Vera Lynn.

Vera Lynn's Wartime Career

Quoting from Wikipedia, Lynn's wartime contribution began when she would sing to people who were using London's tube station platforms as air raid shelters. During the Phoney War, the Daily Express asked British servicemen to name their favorite musical performers: Vera Lynn came out on top and as a result became known as "the Forces' Sweetheart".

Lynn is best known for the popular song "We’ll Meet Again” which was first recorded in 1939. The nostalgic lyrics ("We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day") were very popular during the war and made the song one of its emblematic hits.

Her continuing popularity was ensured by the success of her weekly 30-minute radio program Sincerely Yours, which began airing at 9:30 p.m. on 9 November 1941, with messages to British troops serving abroad. She also visited hospitals to interview new mothers and send personal messages to their husbands overseas. However, in the aftermath of the fall of Singapore in February 1942 the program was taken off air after the broadcast on 22 March 1942 for 18 months out of fear that the sentimental nature of her songs would undermine the "virile" nature of British soldiers. Instead, "more traditionally martial classical music" was promoted. Lynn returned with a regular show called "It's Time for Vera Lynn" on the BBC's Forces program on 31 October 1943.

Fig1: Issued on April 4 1995 by Great Britain, booklet pane for 50th Anniversary of End of Second World War. 

While Fig1 does show Great Britain acknowledged her contribution by putting her on back side of booklet pane but it was still not a dedicated stamp that I was looking for. At that time, I just satisfied myself by buying above item while waiting for a proper stamp on her. Finally, Great Britain came out with "Valour and Victory" stamps on May 1, 2025 which also featured Vera Lynn.

Fig2: Issued on May 1 2025 by Great Britain, part of Valour and Victory stamps series 

Above (Fig2) commemorative collectible honors ‘Forces’ Sweetheart’ Dame Vera Lynn’s tireless commitment to British troops and advocacy for military veterans. The Miniature Sheet features four First Class landscape stamps presented alongside a beautiful photograph of Dame Vera taken in October 2009. The stamps capture Dame Vera at various moments in her wartime career, from ENSA performances (details below) and troop visits to her appearance on BBC wartime radio. 

Defining Moment

In the latter half of the war years, she joined the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA), the organization set up to provide entertainment for the forces and toured Egypt, India and Burma for five months, giving outdoor concerts for Allied (British/Commonwealth which also included Indian) troops. In March 1944, she went to Shamshernagar airfield in then Bengal to entertain the troops before the Battle of Kohima. 

After spending a week near Calcutta, Lynn went to the North-East battlefronts, visited hospitals and autographed a large number of rupee-notes, scraps of paper and photographs of soldiers. She spent over nine weeks in India and performed over 100 shows. The weeks she spent with troops in this relatively forgotten theatre of war remained with her for the rest of her life and she became the most ardent advocate for the remembrance and care of veterans of the 14th Army who fought in Burma. 

Fig3: Issued on May 1 2025 by Great Britain, part of Valour and Victory stamps series

I like above version (Fig3) of it as well which is from the booklet. It shows British and Indian troops of the Fourteenth Army advancing on a town in Burma, March 1945. In 1985, she received the Burma Star for entertaining British guerrilla units in Japanese-occupied Burma showing exceptional courage and her contribution to boosting morale of allied soldiers.

Now here comes the real reason of writing this post. I wonder when she was such a Forces Sweetheart then why would someone not see her when she was visiting them! But, this is what I discovered when I got hold of below MALC. 

Fig4: British India Military Air Letter Card sent from India to Great Britain containing RAFPOST 5 postmark of 2 June 1944 and RAF censor R17/23 handstamp. It was sent by LAC JP Randall of 28 Squadron RAF on 31st May 1944 (dated inside).

28 Squadron Royal Air Force (RAF) was located between 29 October 1943-17 June 1944 at Imphal. It was a Tactical reconnaissance squadron, equipped with the Hawker Hurricane aircrafts. The letter was sent at the heart of Battle of Imphal (8 March – 3 July 1944) and Battle of Kohima (4 April – 22 June 1944).

The letter (Fig4) states: "Vera Lynn was here a few days ago but I certainly did not trouble to go and see her and there were only a small number who did, I am glad to say".

Frankly speaking I didn't know about Vera Lynn until I stumbled upon above letter and was amused by the letter content. The lines mentioned above caught my eyes and this is when I googled only to find out about Vera Lynn! 

The intent of this post was not to demerit Vera Lynn even though the officer didn't find her visit encouraging enough to go see her. When you search on her you may find articles which states she alone didn't win the war for Great Britain so some may feel embarrassed on why so many stamps have been issued on her by Royal Mail but then you will also find quotes from the history where it was said that "Churchill didn't beat the Nazis. Vera sang them to death." 

This is why I like postal letters. Sometimes, a single letter arises so much curiosity that you end up learning various facts of the history. After learning about her, I was desperate to get hold of a stamp in her honor but was frustrated unable to find one. I was holding writing a post waiting for this moment. I am really happy now that we have not one but four stamps issued in her name!

Lastly, while I focus on India and Indian contribution in world wars, I have to acknowledge the fact that while she mostly entertained and increased morale of British troops, she was committed to Fourteenth Army which consisted of the British as well Indian troops. So, in some manner she deserves to be covered as part of Indian connection. Hope some English speaking Indian Soldiers/Officers would have also felt the same way their British counterparts would have while listening to her songs and live performances during the war!     

Indian Military Air Letter Card (MALC) - WWII

This is continuation of my old post Taj Mahal Military Air Letter Card. I had shown the airletter which was printed in S.S.P. Ltd. or Sree Saraswaty Press at Calcutta, India. The variety was known with coding S.S.P. Ltd. - G1623 - 15-9-44 - 3 lacs. Shown below is mint example of that type.

Today, I will be showing one more variety of same type.

Shown above is front side of what is called ICG 44, Sub-Type 1. Coded THE CALCUTTA PHOTOTYPE COMPANY as per catalogue "Indian Military Air Letter Cards 1942-47" by late O.R.J. Lee. The one I have is mint sample.

WW2 India (CBI) Greetings Card

Today's post is on a greeting card sent by a US soldier from India to Erie, Pennsylvania, US. The card was sent on 8th Dec, 1943 wishing the recipient for Christmas and New Year. The card passed through US Censor as the envelope bears marking for that.

Shown below is front side of the greeting card where it depicts an Eagle with large CBI patch with text in Hindi and English around it. It also mentions INDIA on top of Eagle.

The text reads:

Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Victorious 1944

The card shows a poem on left side while a ship sailing through high Sea on right side inside of card.

The poem reads:

Though I task beneath a blazing sun,
With sterner duty still to be done,
My thoughts at this festive time will stray,
Back to my dear ones far away,
And I send this wish with its age-old ring,
That Christmas to us all may bring,
LOVE, REMEMBRANCE, JOY and PEACE.

Right side text reads:

Greetings and best wishes from over the SEAS

It is hard to say but perhaps the soldier was posted in US Navy in India during WW2.

Indian Military Air Letter Card (MALC) - WWII

Today's post is another in series on Indian Military Air Letter Cards (MALC). The air letter shown below is of type "Christmas Greetings Issues", category ICG. Below MALC was issued for Christmas 1944 and postage free. It is said that vast majority of MALC printed in 1944 were postage free. The year saw the formation of SEAC which added its own Greetings forms to the various issues of ICG - 1943.

Shown above is front side of what is called ICG 44, Sub-Type 15 as per catalogue "Indian Military Air Letter Cards 1942-47" by late O.R.J. Lee. The one I have is used sample. It is not coded but organized by the RAF Postal Services and RAF Welfare as stated on the back of the form.

On the front, the heading XMAS AIR LETTER is in one straight line of print 4 mm high and 57 mm long. This is at the top left. At the top right is a box 43x24 mm within which is printed in five lines -

R.A.F. POSTAL SERVICES
AIR COMMAND
SOUTH EAST ASIA
POSTAGE FREE
XMAS 1944

At the bottom there is a single line admonition 96 mm long.

IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED THIS CARD WILL BE SENT BY ORDINARY MAIL.

Down below on the back side appears - THESE CARDS ARE FOR THE USE OF H.M. FORCES ONLY. and there is provision for Sender's details and the language written in.

Besides it is also mentioned that: Air Letters may be forwarded to U.K. (including British Liberation Army), Eire, South Africa, East Africa, (North Rhodesia, South Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanganiyika), Canada, U.S.A., Newfoundland, West Indies, all countries in South America, all forces in Mediterranean Zone, Australia and New Zealand.

The inside covering full area is a multi-coloured cartoon headed -

* They say there's a troopship just leaving Bombay*

Heavily laden with Christmas Greetings *
* and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year. *

The designers signature is difficult to decipher but may be Connery.

The used sample above was sent from RAF station in Ceylon to Yorkshire, England. The letter carries date of 14th Nov 1944 and bears mark of RAF Sensor 455.

Do I need to say that I just love this one :-) I really like full page colorful illustration. They have virtually left no space inside so sender had to write their message on the back side. Perhaps the designer was so happy creating this one which depicts soldiers bound home that he just painted full page ;-)

Indian Military Air Letter Card (MALC) - WWII

Today's post is another example of Indian Military Air Letter Cards. This particular example is labeled as ICG (Christmas Greetings Issues) 45, Sub-type 4. This was issued by India Command.

Shown above is front side of what is called ICG 45, Sub-Type 4. Coded G.P.C.-3289/2/A/G947_7-7-45 - 3,50,000 as per catalogue "Indian Military Air Letter Cards 1942-47" by late O.R.J. Lee. The one I have is used sample.

This one was printed by "Government Printer Calcutta" or G.P.C with order number 3289/2/A/G947. The order date was 7-7-1945 and 3,50,000 number of forms were ordered.

The front shows an elephant with a howdah and mahout, passing a temple. At the top is Greetings from India. The form number is I.A.F.F 1083 and on the back has the usual THIS LETTER etc. The bracket on the back is thinner than in the M.I.P. items. The frame is larger at 109-1/2 x 83-3/4 mm. This Xmas form also has only one sealing flap.

The interior has a multi-coloured design with a white space at the bottom right for a written message. At the left is a soldier in jungle uniform with an outstretched left arm, under which can be seen the Taj Mahal (in brown and white).

At the top 'Christmas and New Year Greetings' is shown in big font and at the right, an English winter scene (rather blurred) is depicted having a lantern underneath.

This letter was sent by Sergeant Redmond from India to Great Britain from GROUP TWO PRISONER OF WAR CAMP - 9 m/c. BAIGARH/BHOPAL on 29th November, 1945 as per the postmark on it.

Needless to say, I love ICG designs :-) This makes collecting colorful, creative and more interesting.

Indian Military Air Letter Card - WW2

Today's post is another example of Indian Military Air Letter Cards. This particular example is labeled as ICG (Christmas Greetings Issues) 45, Sub-type 10. This was issued by the R.A.F. Postal Services and Welfare.

The front side as shown above carries a design of an Indian Father Christmas driving a sledge pulled by two Indian Cebu (a type of reindeer). The top heading is DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS in white color on blue background. It also shows BY AIR MAIL tablet.

Over the Cebu is a blank address space. On the back appears in blue print:-

XMAS AIR LETTER

RAFPOST
POSTAGE FREE
SOUTH EAST ASIA

This is followed by instructions on availability to U.K., Eire, B.L.A., U.S.A. and all British Empire countries and forces. At the bottom left is printed UNIT CENSOR/STAMP. The forms were printed in bright colors of dark blue, light greenish blue, red and brown.

The interior has a blue border on the left, top and right which is 19mm wide. There are differences in the shading of the scroll which carries SEASON'S GREETINGS. There exists four different varieties of such example.

I have mint sample as shown above but if someone has used sample in good condition and wiling to offer then please contact me.

Indian Military Air Letter Card (MALC) - WWII

Today's post is second in series on Indian Military Air Letter Cards (MALC). The air letter shown below is of type "Christmas Greetings Issues", category ICG. Below MALC was issued for Christmas 1944 and postage free.

Shown above is front side of what is called ICG 44, Sub-Type 5. Coded THE CALCUTTA PHOTOTYPE COMPANY as per catalogue "Indian Military Air Letter Cards 1942-47" by late O.R.J. Lee. The one I have is mint sample.

The external layout of the form is similar to the previous sub-types of this category but the block shows two monkeys in a tree and is 51-1/2 x 33-1/2 mm. The background is dotted and there is a white panel saying Greetings from India. The form number I.A.F.F. - 1083 appears on the front side below block.

Down below on the back side appears - THESE CARDS ARE FOR THE USE OF H.M. FORCES ONLY. and there is provision for Sender's details and the language written in.

The interior comprises a full double page modernistic design by artist J. B. Prentice. At the top left is GREETINGS set at an angle and at the bottom, in a panel running the whole width of the design is:-

CHRISTMAS and the New Year

At the right, sticking up out of the panel, is a serviceman giving the V sign. On his left is a bunch of bananas and a bunch of grapes. While on his right, there is a fruit vendor. In background, some historical monuments are shown. The colours are slate blue, dark green, mauve, brown and yellow.

I would love to have a used sample in good condition for my reference. Thus, anyone willing to offer please contact me.

Indian Military Air Letter Cards - WWII

It's good to see year starting on hectic note on work front. Unfortunately, that means I will have less time to publish posts. That was the case in January. Even February seems going the same way. So before, I go back to work let me post some interesting item :-)

Today's post is first of its kind in my blog. This is one of the area I have recently started collecting and I am really enjoying it. Though, the items are costlier than stamps, these are worth spending your hard earned money. OK, this is my personal view. I know most of the people say stock market or real estate are worth investing. Well, you know what I mean when I say spending money. I see it as investment in divine happiness :D that it brings to me which no monetary return can ever buy!

Let's cut the philosophy part and concentrate on item. The item shown below is called Military Air Letter. You can search on Google to find the history behind it such as when did it start. In brief, as name suggests it was air service started for soldiers serving in WWII in various theaters by British government.

Initially, the design of these air letters were common in most of the areas but slowly, the air letters became localized to region it was being sent from. Thus, you can find military air letters of India, Middle-East, Europe, Canada and others. Of course, we will be concentrating on only Indian air letters of WWII. In general, every military air letter is worth collecting given the illustrations it carry.

The best work on Indian Military Air Letter of WWII had been done by late O.R.J. Lee. His work titled "Indian Military Air Letters Card 1942-47" was published by the Forces Postal History Society.
The book covers various aspect from its origination to classification of air letters mentioning various illustrations, variations and unrecorded types. I will just touch lightly on its origin. According to the book, the exact date/origin of Indian Military Air Letter is disputed but it is supposed to be somewhere in September/October 1942 when first time British Government started Indian Military Air Letter service in India for soldiers serving in SEAC region.

Some of the air letters were issued with 3 annas while majority of them carry 4 annas. Later, the Christmas and New Year Greetings Air Letters were introduced which were distributed free to soldiers (of course there was various rationing done such as 1 per week to 2 per month etc).

My interest lies more on these type of illustrated air letters which the book calls "Christmas Greetings Issues", category ICG. For my readers benefit, I am going to quote a complete para on it.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS ISSUES
CATEGORY ICG.

As in the Middle East, troops in India, Ceylon and South East Asia commands had the concession of sending Air Letters to U.K. postage free for Xmas delivery in 1942 to 1945. Each year, specially printed forms were issued but not all of them were postage free and the supply did not always equal the demand. In cases of shortage, the normal issues of Air Letter forms were printed to carry an endorsement. FREE XMAS LETTER CARD, FREE XMAS MAIL or POSTAGE FREE were the usual endorsements used. Sometimes the endorsement was made by the sender in manuscript, sometimes typed on (by the unit?) and occasionally impressed with a rubber stamp. They have been seen in 1942 and 1943 only and the use of normal forms with endorsement is not the subject of a listing in the ICG category.

Let me stop here ;-) and continue on exact item details. The item I am going to show is categorized as ICG 44, Sub-Type 1. Coded S.S.P. Ltd. - G1623 - 15-9-44 - 3 lacs.

Shown above is Sub-type 1, issued in 1944. The air letter shown above was postage free. The same year also saw the formation of SEAC (South East Asia Command) which added its own Greetings forms to the various issues of 1943. [We will cover them in future.]

This was the general issue from for India Command and had an exterior layout as for the normal forms of the period but with the overlay cut out 52x44 mm. at the left to take a block illustrating a tigers head over a map of India and Ceylon. The background of this block is a set of dots at right angles to one another but slanted 78 degree upwards to the right (and 12 degree up to the left). This dotting is cut out behind the tiger's face. At the bottom in script is:- "Greetings from India". On this sub-type, the "from" is in albino over the blue land area of the map.

The air letter mentions I.A.F.F. 1083 below the map. Down below on the back side appears - THESE CARDS ARE FOR THE USE OF H.M. FORCES ONLY. and there is provision for Sender's details and the language written in.

If you look further down you can see the printer order coding. The vast majority of these air letters are identified by a printers code consisting of four main parts:-

1. The initials of the printer,
2. The Forces Order Reference,
3. The date of the order (not the printing date)
4. The quantity ordered.

So, this one mentions S.S.P. Ltd. - G1623 - 15-9-44 - 3 lacs. The printer here is S.S.P. Ltd. or Sree Saraswaty Press at Calcutta, India. G1623 was order reference. The forms were ordered on 15th September 1944 and the quantity of printing was 3 lacs.

Here comes the best part of this air letter: the illustration. The inside of the air letter form, taking up the full double page (sideways) is a picture of the Taj Mahal in green, blue and black, enclosed in a thin orange-yellow circle. It is surrounded by designs of two monkeys at the top left, faces of two Indian men and two Indian women at the top right. The designer appended his name "Dust". Just below the centre is CHRISTMAS GREETINGS in orange-yellow with a white space underneath for a short message.

This being a used air letter, it cost me a good money but given the fact that it is still in good shape without any tear, it was just worth grabbing. Since, I like monkeys and tigers you know these WWII stuff was fatal attraction for me not to mention the Taj Mahal :D Oh man! I just love these vintage art work.