Ditchling (United Kingdom) (AFP)

Military personnel, veterans and historic fighter planes were mobilized Friday for the funeral of Vera Lynn, legendary British singer nicknamed "the fiancée of the armed forces", who died on June 18 at 103.

Hundreds of people gathered in the small village of Ditchling, in the south of England, to say goodbye to the one who, since the Second World War, has raised the morale of the troops with her laughing and patriotic ballads in many areas of conflict, sometimes at the risk of his life.

The funeral convoy, opened by soldiers, was greeted with applause, crossing an honor line made up of flags and veterans. He headed for the Brighton crematorium.

To accompany in her last trip "Dame Vera Lynn", as she was called in the United Kingdom since her ennobling, two Spitfires, fighter planes dating from the Second World War, also flew over this small village where she lived for 60 years .

"She would have been touched if so many people wanted to honor her," said daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones.

Shortly before her death, during the confinement due to the pandemic of new coronavirus, Queen Elisabeth II had borrowed from her the title of her famous song of the Second World War, "We'll meet again", during a speech intended to instill hope in the British.

The population had been invited to sing "We'll meet again" to mark the 75th anniversary of the capitulation of Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945. On this occasion, the album "Vera Lynn 100" was found at the 30th place on the British charts.

Veteran Tom Moore, who became famous during confinement for collecting a record sum of nearly 33 million pounds (38 million euros) for the British health service from his 100th birthday, also wanted to surrender tribute to the singer.

"She was always so nice, she was adorable, said" Captain Tom "on the British channel ITV.

The veteran remembered how he and his comrades at the time were "very very happy to see" in full Burma this "charming young English girl", who came "to give them confidence" during one of his visits to the front.

© 2020 AFP