Historical Ephemera Newsletter Archive

Here you can find all editions of my Historical Ephemera newsletter. While they are arranged by date, you can also search or use tags to find editions you may have missed or want to re-read.

classical music

+2

Oct 11, 2026

•

3 min read

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Music and the Soul of a Nation

His work and music during the Second World War

Matthew Eaton

censorship

+1

Sep 20, 2026

•

4 min read

Jack Knives and Stolen Parcels: What Britain’s Censorship Reports Reveal

The Insights They Provide to Historians of the Second World War

Matthew Eaton

virginia vernon

+2

Aug 29, 2026

•

3 min read

From Arras to Rangoon

Battling to Bring (ENSA) Entertainment to the British Troops

Matthew Eaton

ensa

Aug 12, 2026

•

6 min read

Madam V: Virginia Vernon’s War

And ENSA’s Final Curtain Call: 80 Years Ago

Matthew Eaton

D-Day

+1

Jul 24, 2026

•

5 min read

The ENSAtainment Has Landed

Or Carry on Camping (in Bayeux)

Matthew Eaton

RAF

Jul 12, 2026

•

3 min read

Bentley Priory Museum: Dowding System Day 2026

Per ardua ad astra

Matthew Eaton

military welfare history

+2

Jun 28, 2026

•

2 min read

2026 Mid-Year Update

A reflection on an incredible historical community

Matthew Eaton

entertainment

+2

Jun 13, 2026

•

2 min read

Drury Lane: Theatre Royal During the War

The Show Must Go On!

Matthew Eaton

service entertainment

+6

May 30, 2026

•

4 min read

Entertainment Lands in Normandy D+6!

Stars in Battledress provide a moment to forget

Matthew Eaton

entertainment

+3

May 16, 2026

•

3 min read

Calm Before the Storm: Laughter in the D-Day Marshalling Areas

Maintaining morale before the big day

Matthew Eaton

ww2

+8

Apr 30, 2026

•

6 min read

Nightingales and Nitroglycerine: The Secret War of Eric Maschwitz

How the writer of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" spent the summer of 1940 touring with a suitcase full of time-bombs and Molotov cocktails.

Matthew Eaton

service entertainment

+7

Apr 19, 2026

•

4 min read

Entertaining the Forgotten Army

The West End Meets the Jungle

Matthew Eaton

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Tags

royal navy

italian campaign

beer

burma

Indian Army

Churchill

second world war

army welfare service

morale

virginia vernon

british army

entertainment

History Books

ensa

Amateur Dramatics

Army Welfare

SEAC

Mediterranean

remembrance day

drury lane

canada

drag queens

dunkirk

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Historical stories found down rabbit holes whilst researching the lesser-explored parts of the Second World War.

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