My history hero: Dame Vera Lynn chooses Helen Forrest (1917–99)

What kind of person was Forrest?

I never met her or saw her concert – and I’m not sure she ever sang in Britain. But I know she was Jewish, adopted a stage name to make it in show business, and started out singing as a child in New York. Music was always central to her life, and that’s why she carried on singing until forced to retire from the business due to ill health. Sad to say, she seems to have been unlucky in love though.

What made Forrest a hero?

First and foremost, the fact that she was a wonderful singer with a rich, warm voice. She sang nice songs with heartfelt lyrics that struck a chord with people in the USA, as my songs did with people this side of the pond. What’s more, I could understand every word she sang, despite her being American. Being able to understand the lyrics of a song has always been important to me.

Another thing I liked about her was the fact that she was a straightforward singer. She didn’t employ any tricks, and didn’t fiddle about with the tune like some singers who used to write their own melodies into a song.

As it happens, there came a time when I had to stop listening to her because although I liked her enormously, I didn’t want to pick up her way of singing. I was beginning to get a name for myself, receiving letters from people saying “You sing so differently.” But I knew that if I listened to her too much, I might just start to sound a bit American.

What was her finest hour?

Singing with trumpeter Harry James’s band, when her jazzy pop ballads caught the spirit of wartime America. Together they notched up a string of hits with songs like ‘I Don’t Want to Walk Without You’, ‘He’s 1-A in the Army and He’s 1-A in My Heart’, and of course ‘I Had the Craziest Dream’, perhaps her finest moment.

Is there anything you don’t particularly admire about Forrest?

Not really. Yes, she was unlucky in love. And she didn’t hit if off with Benny Goodman [an American band leader]. But I’ve never heard anything bad said about her. Indeed, I’ve always regarded her as something of a kindred spirit.

Can you see any parallels between her life and your own?

There are some, I suppose. She sang the same kind of songs I sang. What’s more, our songs struck a chord with our fellow countrymen and women when our countries were up against the wall. Lastly, I suppose, the fact that our respective countrymen took us to their hearts at their greatest hour of need!

If you could meet Forrest what would you ask her?

I suppose I would ask her why she chose to sing the songs she sang. Nowadays a lot of artists write their own songs, but it was different back then – and I think the songs a singer chose to sing said a lot about the person.

Dame Vera Lynn shot to fame during the Second World War with classic songs ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’, winning fame as ‘The Forces’ Sweetheart’. She was talking to York Membury

This article was first published in the September 2012 issue of BBC History Magazine