ENSA WW2 Munitions Concert in WW2 Oct 1940 Military 10x8 Media Photo

CHAU3980 - This is a superb opportunity to secure this original undated but circa 40 years ago origin media photo for this historic Munitions Concert which the press hand frank for publishing has dated 28th October 1940 on reverse - more research is needed as this surely has great history to accompany - bar small or mild places it is mostly great condition (vg+ to ex minus mostly great).

ENSA operated as part of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes. It was superseded by Combined Services Entertainment (CSE) which now operates as part of the Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC).The first big wartime variety concert organised by ENSA was broadcast by the BBC to the Empire and local networks from RAF Hendon in north London on 17 October 1939. Adelaide Hall, The Western Brothers and Mantovani were amongst those entertainers appearing on the bill. A Newsreel of this concert showing Adelaide Hall singing Were Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line accompanied by Mantovani and His Orchestra exists.In order to get concert parties to forward areas, Stars in Battledress was formed. Talent existing in serving members of the army and ATS was transferred and sent to perform in any location, even on the edge of a battlefield. Colonel Basil Brown, together with Major Bill Alexander and Captain George Black (son of the impresario George Black) started up the organisation. As all the members of the concert parties were in the Armed Forces of Britain, there was no restriction of the location of concerts.