One voice sounded particularly clear through the years of WWII and became a symbol of the wartime era and an inspiration for the Allied troops worldwide. It belonged to ‘The Forces’ Sweetheart’; Dame Vera Lynn (1917-2020)
In the summer of 2019 Kolby was commissioned by the London Mint Office to portray the iconic singer. The painting was to commemorate Lynn’s unique and historic contribution in WWII in the year celebrating the 75th year jubilee for the peace in 1945.
The portrait was carried out by Kolby in collaboration with Lynn herself and her family. He visited the then 101-year-old singer in her home in Ditchling close to Brighton, and made a sketch for the portrait.
The portrait was unveiled by Lynn's daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones and Chelsea Pensioneer and Britain's Got Talent winner Colin Thackery at the Royal Albert Hall on 13 January 2020. The location was natural, as Lynn had performed at the venue 52 times from 1937 to 2006, many at the Royal British Legion's iconic concert 'Festival of Remembrance'.
After the unveiling, the portrait was to be sent on a UK tour, and was then to be gifted to a worthy institution. But the Covid pandemic cancelled all plans, and in September 2024 the gifting of the portrait could finally take place.
The choice fell on the Royal British Legion. Not only was Lynn closely linked to the organisation by her many appearances at their 'Festival of Remembrance' concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, but she also served as a Patron of theirs for several years.
The long story of cooperation between Lynn and the RBL made the choice natural, and the esteemed veteran organisation and Lynn's legacy share many values.
In a ceremony in Birmingham on 13 September 2024, the portrait was presented to Director General Mark Atkinson. Attending was more than 100 guests, representing RBL's local Chairs. Susan Fleet, former PA to Lynn and a longtime friend, told the audience about Lynn's life, and led the singing of 'We'll Meet Again' at the end of the ceremony.
Kolby's portrait will be on permanent exhibition on the commemorative wall 'Legion Street' at the RBL's Headquarters Haig House in London. The last portrait of Dame Vera Lynn has found its perfect final home.
The Dame Vera Lynn story:
As WWII broke out in 1939 Vera Lynn was a 22-year old highly popular recording artist in theUK. During the darkest days of the Second World War in 1941 she started the radio program Sincerely Yours on theBBC where she sent messages to the British troops worldwide and sang. She ended all shows with We’ll meet again - and the song’s legend was sparked.
The program was to great inspiration and comfort not only to the troops but also to the war-torn public in all Allied countries listening to the BBC. Another legendary song that evokes WWII is The White Cliffs of Dover which Lynn first performed in 1941, and that soon became an iconic symbol on the hope of a free Europe again.
During the war years Lynn joined The Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) which provided the troops with entertainment worldwide. She toured Egypt, India and Burma giving outdoor concerts for tens of thousands of military personnel.
Her tour in Burma before The Battle of Kohima in 1944 lasted for more than three months and she all the way ran the risk of being captured by Japanese troops as she drove through the jungle. The leader of the tour, Captain Bernard Holden noted her 'courage and her contribution to morale.'
Lynn’s astonishing voice and sincere personality soon gave her a unique position amongst the men in the military camps from all over the Allied world, and she has like no other artist become synonymous with WWII and the true voice of that era. In 2000 Lynn was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th century.
She continued a highly successful post war career with various shows and numerous tours and concerts. As late as in 2009 she reached No. 1 on the British charts with her album We'll Meet Again: The Very Best ofVera Lynn. She became the oldest recording artist in the world when she reached No. 3 on the charts with Vera Lynn 100 in 2017.
