| British soldiers laughing during an open air Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) concert. The soldiers are equipped with “at action” gas masks, Brodie helmets, and Short magazine Lee-Enfield Mark III rifles. The 1st large ENSA concert was at Royal Air Force (RAF) Hendon on October 17, 1939. Among the entertainers appearing on the bill were jazz singer Adelaide Hall (October 20, 1901 – November 7, 1993), music hall act The Western Brothers and composer Mantovani (November 15, 1905 – March 30, 1980). A newsreel of this concert showing Hall singing “We’re Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line.” These soldiers were featured in the October 21, 1939, issue of Picture Post. They were enjoying the then-new war song: “Run Adolf, run Adolf, run, run, run…” by Bud Flanagan (October 14, 1896 – October 20, 1968) and Chesney Allen (April 5, 1894 – November 13, 1982), a popular music-hall comedy duo. Photo by United Kingdom Royal Army Captain Edward G. Malindine (March 31, 1906 – January 1970) Number 5 Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1996.jpg |
| Image Size | 89.07 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 700 x 500 |
| Photographer | Edward G. Malindine |
| Photographer Title | Number Five Army Film and Photography Unit |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | October 17, 1939 |
| Location | |
| City | London |
| State or Province | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Archive | |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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