Her family said in a statement: “The family are deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers at the age of 103.
“Dame Vera Lynn, who lived in Ditchling, East Sussex, passed away earlier today, 18 June 2020, surrounded by her close family.”
Also known as the Queen’s favourite singer, she’s most remembered for her songs We’ll Meet Again, The White Cliffs of Dover, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and There’ll Always Be an England.
Vera began performing at the age of seven in the local working men’s clubs, and she was 11 when she adopted her maternal grandmother Margaret Lynn’s maiden name as her stage name.
She said of her early performances: “I used to go from place to place by tram. A shilling would take you all around London and the suburbs.
“I didn’t love it at first. I was a bit shy and nervous. I gradually got used to it.”
Her first solo record was released in 1936, Up The Wooden Hill to Bedfordshire while her best known song is the 1939 recording of We’ll Meet Again.
Soon after, she began earning her nickname during the Second World War, when she toured Egypt, India and Burma as part of ENSA, performing concerts for the troops and raising morale among the allies.
She contributed amazingly to the morale of both the soldiers and their wives back home, through her 1941 radio programme, Sincerely Yours, which sent messages to the troops and also played their favourite songs, and also by visiting new mothers and sent their personal messages to their husbands overseas.
Post-war, she appeared on radio and television while she had a UK Number one single, My Son, My Son.
In 1941 Vera married musician Harry Lewis – a clarinetist and saxophonist – whom she had met two years earlier. Together they had one daughter, Virginia, and were married for 57 years until Harry’s death in 1998.
After the war, the young couple moved to Finchley in north London, until the early 1960s, when they moved to Ditchling, Sussex, where Vera stayed.
In 2009, at age 92, she became the oldest living artist to top the UK Albums Chart with We’ll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn.
Nearly topping that, in 2017 she released the album Vera Lynn 100, which reached number 3, making her the oldest recording artist in the world and first centenarian performer to have an album in the charts.
Vera admitted she never learnt to read music – but instead studied the scores of her own songs.
She once said: “Oh, I just look at the dots. When the dots go up, I go up. When the dots go down, I go down.”
Away from the entertainment industry she dedicated much of her time to charity work, mostly connected with ex-servicemen, disabled children and breast cancer, and was named the Brit who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th century, in 2000.
Vera was the subject of This Is Your Life twice, in October 1959 and January 1979.
Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1969 New Year Honours “for services to the Royal Air Forces Association and other charities”, she was then advanced to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1975.
For her services to the war effort, she was also awarded the British War Medal 1939-1945 and the Burma Star.
Tributes have been pouring in for the much-loved singer.
Actor Anthony Andrews commented: “My father (Stanley Andrews, an arranger and conductor for the BBC) adored the purity of her voice and we still have the tear stained music copy, as he wrote her arrangements he could hear her wonderful soaring tone.
“Personally, I will never forget the unannounced arrival of her Majesty the Queen at the celebration of Vera’s 100th Birthday at the London Palladium; a perfect and fitting tribute.
“It was the greatest joy and a privilege to have known her.”
Songwriter Sir Tim Rice said: “Dame Vera Lynn was one of the greatest ever British popular singers, not just because of her immaculate voice, warm, sincere, instantly recognisable and musically flawless.
“She will be remembered just as affectionately for her vital work in the Second World War and for her own Charitable Foundations in the 75 years since. A link with more certain times has been irrevocably broken.”
Theatre director Roger Redfarn also paid tribute.
He said: “Dame Vera has been a dear friend since the early 1970’s and for many years a neighbour in the village of Ditchling. The world knows of her great voice that through the good and bad times has thrilled millions.
“My own father firmly believed that the Second World War was won by Sir Winston Churchill and Vera Lynn.
“As a friend she was the warmest and kindest of people, I never saw her angry or say a bad word of anyone, people would stop her in the street and she always found time for them.
“She cared particularly about our armed forces, ‘her boys’ as she called them.
“Her work for charity, especially young people with cerebral palsy was tireless and inspiring. There will never be anyone like her again.”
Harry Potter star Miriam Morgoyles added: “Dame Vera never lost her reality. The voice like a bell was a gift, which she shared so generously and bravely.
“But the magic was that her personality was genuine, open, warm. Meeting her was one of the high points of my life.
“She looked at you & SAW you. And connected. There is no one in our lives, except The Queen, who had the power to connect a nation. For that, she will be remembered & always with love.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to Vera, saying her “charm and magical voice entranced and uplifted our country in some of our darkest hours.
“Her voice will live on to lift the hearts of generations to come”.
His fiancée Carrie Symonds tweeted that Dame Vera’s death was “very sad”, adding: “Will be playing her music here today. RIP.”
Good Morning Britain’s Piers Morgan tweeted: “Oh no…. what terribly sad news. Dame Vera Lynn has died, aged 103.
“A magnificent woman who rallied our country when we most needed it. The Forces sweetheart. The Nation’s sweetheart. RIP.”
Sir Cliff Richard paid tribute to Dame Vera, saying: “Dame Vera Lynn was truly an icon. She was held in such high esteem and my best, and favourite, memory was sharing a performance with her in front of Buckingham Palace for the VE Day celebrations in 1995.
“We walked to the stage through a crowd of survivors of that war, and they were reaching out to touch and get a smile from Vera.
“I heard the words … ‘God bless you’ … ‘Thank you’ … ‘We love you’ for their very own Forces’ Sweetheart! A great singer, a patriotic woman and a genuine icon.
“I am happy to use the words called out on the wonderful day. Vera, thank you, God bless you, and I loved you too.
“Rest in a very deserved peace.”
Sir Ed Davey, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, tweeted: “Vera Lynn was a national symbol in the 1940s and again in 2020, a totally unique legacy.
“She has given millions of people and several generations strength to see through traumatic times. My thoughts today are with her friends and family.”
Singer Katherine Jenkins said: “I simply cannot find the words to explain just how much I adored this wonderful lady.
“Her voice brought comfort to millions in their darkest hours, her songs filled the nation’s hearts with hope, and her emotive performances, whether home or abroad, then or now, helped to get us through.
“It was she who chose the sentiments of her songs – she knew instinctively what people needed to hear, how to rally the morale and her spirit and strength created the soundtrack of a generation.
“There will never be another Dame Vera Lynn. Forces’ Sweetheart and our sweetheart. An icon. A legend. An inspiration. My mentor and my friend. I will miss you greatly and I know we’ll meet again some sunny day.”
Pilar Cloud, executive manager of the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity, said: “We have been extremely honoured to have had Dame Vera Lynn as our president and she was always a very passionate and wonderful ambassador for this charity.
“Moreover, she has always been hands on, enjoying participating in sessions, singing songs with the children and setting the tone with real determination to ensure that ‘her families’ were never forgotten.
“She is very fondly regarded by all of the staff and families, and will be greatly missed by so many people.”
The Royal British Legion paid tribute to Dame Vera in a statement posted on Twitter.
“We are incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Dame Vera Lynn, an unforgettable British icon, symbol of hope to the Armed Forces community past and present, and much loved longstanding Legion supporter.
“Our thoughts are with her loved ones.”
Singer Alfie said: “Rest in peace Dame Vera Lynn.
“Truly a national treasure, and this is such sad news to hear, especially at this time when her iconic song and spirit touched the nation.
“It was a real pleasure to sing with her – an honour I will treasure forever.”
A message posted on NHS fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore’s official Twitter account said: “A real shame, I really thought Vera Lynn would live longer she’s been speaking so well on TV recently. She had a huge impact on me in Burma and remained important to me throughout my life. My thoughts are with Dame Vera Lynn’s family at this sad time.”
Charity SSAFA tweeted: “We are greatly saddened to hear of the death of Dame Vera Lynn, who was a longstanding supporter of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
“Her work with the forces community spanned a lifetime and she will always be remembered as the original Forces’ Sweetheart.
“She was gladdened to hear the country come together for VE Day 75, only last month.
“Dame Vera could vividly remember the support SSAFA offered to the men returning home for the Second World War and has publicly supported the vital role SSAFA plays in the lives of serving personnel, veterans, and their families today.”
The tweet added: “Her enthusiasm and dedication will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.”
The BBC will air a tribute programme to Dame Vera Lynn tonight.
In a statement on Twitter, the corporation’s outgoing director-general, Tony Hall, said: “What sad news. Not only was she dear to many, she was a symbol of hope during the war and is a part of our national story.
“She appeared on the BBC many times and had her own variety show in the 1960s and early 70s.
“She demonstrated how music and entertainment can bring joy in the most challenging times. Something that will resonate with many people today.
“The BBC will be showing a special tribute programme tonight.”