Forces sweetheart
Forces Sweetheart is an accolade in the United Kingdom given to those who have become a favourite of serving men in the British Armed Forces, however the term is used also in other countries.Origins
The role of being a favourite among the armed forces started in World War I. During this time, Lady Angela Forbes was considered a Forces Sweetheart as a catering organiser for the British army from November 1914. The British Soldiers' Buffets, commonly known as Angelinas, met every train of wounded as it arrived and were often open 24 hours a day, and food never ran out. Following her, Elsie Janis was called The Sweetheart of the American Expeditionary Forces.
Sweethearts during World War II included Vera Lynn, (whose singing ; Gracie Fields; and Anne Shelton.
Present-day sweethearts for the British forces include Nell McAndrew, Katherine Jenkins, Kirsten Orsborn, Cheryl Cole.
In 2011 London drag queen Richard Rhodes became the first man to be awarded the title.
, whose husband served as assistant secretary of the United States Air Force under president Harry Truman, was "Singing Sweetheart of the Fighting Fronts" from World War II to the Korean War and the Vietnam War.Commonwealth countries
, along with Little Patti was the forces's sweetheart in Australia when troops were stationed in Vietnam.Literature
- Joanna Lumley. Forces Sweethearts.
- Eric Taylor. Forces Sweethearts: Service romances in World War II. London: Hale
- Chantelle Fiddy. My Life on the Front.
