This is the first book by Kiri Bloom Walden. Entertaining the Troops: 1939–1945 was published in 2019. This was the 94th book I completed in 2022.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! I categorize this book as G. The book looks at the efforts made by the British to entertain their troops during WWII. A few different organizations were created to bring entertainment to the troops. One of the first was the ENSA, Entertainment National Service Association, in 1939. The majority of their programs were variety shows. In 1940 CEMA, the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts was formed. Their events were usually smaller and more culturally oriented. This organization eventually grew into the Arts Council of Great Britain.

For those in the military, there wer other groups. The RAF Gang Shows provided a means for those in the RAF to entertain their brothers in arms. A similar organization, Stars in Battledress, served the Army and ATS. Even for those held in POW camps, the troops often put together programs for their fellow inmates.

Many in the service were exposed for the first time to ballet and Shakespeare. For entertainers, these organizations provided a start to long and successful careers.

I enjoyed the 1+ hour I spent reading this 91-page WWII-era history. The cover art is simple but portrays the goal of the book. I give this book a rating of 3.5 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

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I had known about big stars like Bob Hope entertaining troops US troops through the USO, but I had no idea about similar efforts in the UK like the ENSA during World War II. Walden's account of this piece of overlooked history is entertaining and informative.

'Entertaining the Troops:1939-1945' by Kiri Bloom Walden is a non-fiction book about the British efforts to keep the troops entertained on the front lines and back home.

This book mainly focuses on the efforts of Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) and CEMA as well as Stars in Battledress. ENSA focused mainly on bringing stars to the front, like Vera Lynn, but found famous future stars like Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers along the way. CEMA focused more on fine arts like ballet, plays and classical music. Along with stars, there were amateur efforts in the field as well as in POW camps.

The book is a short, quick read and features lots of great photos from the time. I really enjoyed this look at the effort to keep morale going at home and abroad.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Osprey Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

A well research interesting and informative book for all those who want to know more about the war time entertainers, only problem is that it lacks any sort of enthusiasm its just a catalogue of information with no heart, shame it could have been so good.

A bit of a niche book but a really interesting addition to our understanding of wartime; on the home front across the areas of conflict and within POW camps.
It recounts how the armed services established groups of actors, performers and musicians to entertain the troops. In addition to these organised concert parties it speaks of brave individuals like Vera Lynn who became the forces sweetheart at just 22 in 1939. I was touched by how she could perform to large audiences but also speaks of 1:1 times to soldiers in hospital.
A really fascinating book from its impact raising morale or just allowing troops the means to entertain themselves where “stars” did not get. That said the commitment and travel of these entertainers was as extensive as it was dangerous. It was a telling comment though that in the theatres and clubs in London dangers from bombs and V2 rockets made this a hazardous pastime to perform and attend.
The book also gives a history into the influences on Music, big band sound and jazz as well as the development of Shakespeare, Ballet and access to Opera. Many later TV stars were fashioned in this period in uniform and a good number of personal documentation records the importance of this need for music, common activities of singing or dancing and an escape from separation in POW camps or the fear of war and threat to life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this perspective that previously was informed solely by episodes of “It ain’t Half Hot Mum” and concerts in colditz castle prior to great escapes.
Crammed full of great pictures and concert flyers with a really creative list of places to visit to continue this journey.