Swanley History Group – September Meeting
The long hot days of summer may be behind us but Delia Taylor, our speaker at our September meeting, certainly dispelled any sense of gloom with her lively presentation about The Story of ENSA (The Entertainments National Service Association). Some of us were even enticed into singing along to the well-loved songs and all of us appreciated the accompanying multitude of slides, film clips and music which brought the story to life.
The opening scene was dramatic and chilling – the official broadcast made on 3 September 1939 by PM Neville Chamberlain that Britain was at war with Germany. Then we viewed scenes after attacks by German U-boats with great loss of life. Millions of leaflets were dropped by Germany, ranking up tension to the extent that The Home Office decided to shut down all cinemas, dance halls and other places of entertainment in an effort to stop the spread of gossip and alarm. This proved unsuccessful and ENSA was formed to entertain the public and troops with the aim of raising morale. Basil Dean, film maker, producer and director of Ealing Studios was chosen to lead this service. He asked for a well-known actor and comedian to join him. This was Leslie Henson - the grandfather of probably our most famous farmer – Adam Henson of BBC’s Countryfile.
From their office in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane they put advertisements in newspapers inviting performers of every genre to apply. Although talent scouts auditioned all applicants, as well as several stars of the future, many truly awful acts managed to gain places in the troupes of entertainers sent out to entertain civilians and forces in a variety of venues – theatres, village halls, factories, underground stations where people were sheltering from falling bombs, fields and Communal Feeding Centres. Churchill encouraged them to ‘sing whilst guns are blazing’. If being sent overseas, performers were provided with uniforms as if they were caught by the enemy wearing ‘civvies’ they were likely to be treated as spies rather than prisoners of war. Many a costume was created from old curtains which were not rationed.
Radio was also a great way to bring cheer – shows such as ‘Worker’s Playtime’ and ‘Music While You Work’ were favourites. Delia told us that four notes from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony was suggested as a way of alerting others to the presence of a spy and that the ‘V’ sign was originally also used for this purpose.
Film clips showed now famous performers in action such as George Formby, Tommy Cooper (who pinched a fez from a waiter when performing in Egypt), Eric Sykes, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Tommy Trinder and of course Anne Shelton, Gracie Fields and Vera Lynn. Dancers from Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company performed for the troops and ‘propaganda’ films such as ‘In Which We Serve’ and ‘Millions Like Us’ set in an aircraft factory were released. Serving soldiers who performed for their comrades included Charlie Chester, Frankie Howard, Tony Hancock and
Dick Emery. When the Americans joined WW2, after the bombing of Pearl Harbour, The American United Service Organisation was formed which included stars such as The Andrews Sisters,
Bob Hope, Glen Miller and Marilyn Monroe.
ENSA was disbanded after VE Day but as members of The Combined Services Entertainment (CSE), Jim Davidson, Katherine Jenkins, Al Murray, James Blunt and others, have performed during recent conflicts such as The Falklands and Afghanistan.
The meeting closed with our members singing a chorus of ‘We’ll Meet Again’.
Christina Tyler
The long hot days of summer may be behind us but Delia Taylor, our speaker at our September meeting, certainly dispelled any sense of gloom with her lively presentation about The Story of ENSA (The Entertainments National Service Association). Some of us were even enticed into singing along to the well-loved songs and all of us appreciated the accompanying multitude of slides, film clips and music which brought the story to life.
The opening scene was dramatic and chilling – the official broadcast made on 3 September 1939 by PM Neville Chamberlain that Britain was at war with Germany. Then we viewed scenes after attacks by German U-boats with great loss of life. Millions of leaflets were dropped by Germany, ranking up tension to the extent that The Home Office decided to shut down all cinemas, dance halls and other places of entertainment in an effort to stop the spread of gossip and alarm. This proved unsuccessful and ENSA was formed to entertain the public and troops with the aim of raising morale. Basil Dean, film maker, producer and director of Ealing Studios was chosen to lead this service. He asked for a well-known actor and comedian to join him. This was Leslie Henson - the grandfather of probably our most famous farmer – Adam Henson of BBC’s Countryfile.
From their office in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane they put advertisements in newspapers inviting performers of every genre to apply. Although talent scouts auditioned all applicants, as well as several stars of the future, many truly awful acts managed to gain places in the troupes of entertainers sent out to entertain civilians and forces in a variety of venues – theatres, village halls, factories, underground stations where people were sheltering from falling bombs, fields and Communal Feeding Centres. Churchill encouraged them to ‘sing whilst guns are blazing’. If being sent overseas, performers were provided with uniforms as if they were caught by the enemy wearing ‘civvies’ they were likely to be treated as spies rather than prisoners of war. Many a costume was created from old curtains which were not rationed.
Radio was also a great way to bring cheer – shows such as ‘Worker’s Playtime’ and ‘Music While You Work’ were favourites. Delia told us that four notes from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony was suggested as a way of alerting others to the presence of a spy and that the ‘V’ sign was originally also used for this purpose.
Film clips showed now famous performers in action such as George Formby, Tommy Cooper (who pinched a fez from a waiter when performing in Egypt), Eric Sykes, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Tommy Trinder and of course Anne Shelton, Gracie Fields and Vera Lynn. Dancers from Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company performed for the troops and ‘propaganda’ films such as ‘In Which We Serve’ and ‘Millions Like Us’ set in an aircraft factory were released. Serving soldiers who performed for their comrades included Charlie Chester, Frankie Howard, Tony Hancock and
Dick Emery. When the Americans joined WW2, after the bombing of Pearl Harbour, The American United Service Organisation was formed which included stars such as The Andrews Sisters,
Bob Hope, Glen Miller and Marilyn Monroe.
ENSA was disbanded after VE Day but as members of The Combined Services Entertainment (CSE), Jim Davidson, Katherine Jenkins, Al Murray, James Blunt and others, have performed during recent conflicts such as The Falklands and Afghanistan.
The meeting closed with our members singing a chorus of ‘We’ll Meet Again’.
Christina Tyler