Dame Vera Lynn, the Forces' Sweetheart, has died aged 103

She died 'surrounded by her close family', her assistant confirmed

Forces' sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn poses for photographs in central London on October 22, 2009. AFP

British wartime singer Vera Lynn in April 1945. Getty Images

Dame Vera Lynn attends a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. in central London on August 20, 2010. AP

Dame Vera Lynn receives applause during a concert in Hyde Park, London, on May 6, 1995, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. Reuters

A Battle of Britain veteran kisses Dame Vera Lynn in front of a Mark IV Supermarine Spitfire replica on August 20, 2010 in London, England. Getty Images

From left: Hayley Westenra and Dame Vera Lynn attend the Poppy Appeal For Afghan Generation launch on October 22, 2009 in London, England. Getty Images

Dame Vera Lynn smiles as she watches Katherine Jenkins sing as she celebrates her 90th birthday at the Imperial War Museum on March 20, 2007 in London. Getty Images

Dame Vera Lynn smiles at former British Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher as she celebrates her 90th birthday at the Imperial War Museum on March 20, 2007 in London. Getty Images

English singer-songwriter and actress Vera Lynn at Utah Beach to commemorate the 40th anniversary of D-Day, in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1984. Getty Images

Vera Lynn pictured on March 9, 1976. Getty Images

English singer, songwriter and actress Vera Lynn with her Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) honour in London, on December 2, 1975. Getty Images

British Prime Minister Harold Wilson talks to singer Vera Lynn, at a Variety Club luncheon at the Savoy Hotel, London, on July 22, 1975. Getty Images

English singer Vera Lynn, circa 1975. Getty Images

Politician Sir John Eden, Minister for Posts and Telecommunications, and singer Vera Lynn hold bags of stamps to be sold at the Stampex Exhibition at Royal Horticultural New Hall, Westminster, on February 26, 1973. Getty Images

English singer Vera Lynn sings to 500 guests at a Variety Club tribute to bandleader Joe Loss at the Savoy Hotel, London, on March 14, 1972. Getty Images

From left: Dickie Henderson, Christopher Lee, Vera Lynn and Sue Lloyd at work on the Michael Sobell youth sports centre in Islington, north London, on March 8, 1971. Getty Images

British singer Vera Lynn rehearses her new radio show on December 31, 1965. Getty Images

British singer Vera Lynn rehearses her new radio show on December 31, 1965. Getty Images

English singer, songwriter and actress, Vera Lynn, in London, 1955. Getty Images

Popular British singer Dame Vera Lynn, in action for the BBC. Getty Images

Dame Vera Lynn in a studio portrait in 1940. Getty Images

British singer Vera Lynn receives a grand welcome as she arrives in Trafalgar Square, London, to sing during the 'Salvage Week' campaign on June 10, 1943. Getty Images

Vera Lynn entertains the Forces at a concert in September 1940. Getty Images

Battle of Britain veterans pose for photos with Dame Vera Lynn outside the Churchill War Rooms, in London, England, Britain, on 20 August 2010. EPA

Dame Vera Lynn, accompanied by choirboys, at Westminster Abbey when she took part in the Evening News Festival of Carols.

English singer Vera Lynn at the piano with her husband, musician Harry Lewis (1915 - 1998), circa 1975. Getty Images

'Forces' Sweetheart' Dame Vera Lynn celebrates her 67th birthday on 'Good Morning Britain' with the show's resident cook, Rustie Lee (centre) and guest, singer Patti Boulaye, in London.

From left to right; Cliff Richard, Dame Vera Lynn and Harry Secombe (1921 - 2001) at a Variety Club luncheon on July 22, 1975. Getty Images

Forces' Sweetheart Vera Lynn serves the first cups of tea to servicemen from a canteen, stationed in Trafalgar Square, in June 1942. Getty Images

Dame Vera Lynn has died at the age of 103.

The singer and actress rose to fame during the Second World War, and was known as the Forces' Sweetheart. Her song We'll Meet Again boosted morale during the war.

The news of Lynn's death has been confirmed in a statement by personal assistant and family friend, Susan Fleet.

"The family are deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers at the age of 103," said Fleet.

"Dame Vera Lynn, who lived in Ditchling, East Sussex, passed away earlier today, June 18, 2020, surrounded by her close family."

Lynn celebrated her 103rd birthday on March 20 and, to mark the occasion, released a new video for We'll Meet Again, with a voiceover that addressed the British public amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are facing a very challenging time at the moment, and I know many people are worried about the future,” she said. “I’m greatly encouraged that despite these struggles, we have seen people joining together.

“Music is so good for the soul, and during these hard times we must all help each other to find moments of joy.”

We'll Meet Again was heavily featured in celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, on May 8, 2020.

Ahead of the VE Day celebrations, Lynn released a statement, remembering one of the most important days in British history.

“It marks the day when freedom returned across Europe, and when peace was restored after the most difficult of times," she said.

“As we commemorate 75 years since Victory in Europe, we must all remember the brave boys and what they sacrificed for us.

“This year, we must commemorate this special anniversary apart,” she added. “I hope that VE Day will remind us all that hope remains even in the most difficult of times and that simple acts of bravery and sacrifice still define our nation as the NHS works so hard to care for us.

“Most of all, I hope today serves as a reminder that however hard things get, we will meet again.”

Looking back at Dame Vera Lynn's life 

Lynn was born Vera Margaret Welch on March 20, 1917, in East Ham, London. She was on stage from a young age, and started performing publicly aged 7. When she was 11, she adopted the stage name Vera Lynn, taking her grandmother's maiden name as her surname.

She is best known for her 1939 song, We'll Meet Again, which she performed in London during the Second World War. Another of her wartime songs is (There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover. During the war, she performed for troops around the world, including in Egypt, Burma and India.

In August 1941 she married fellow musician Harry Lewis, who was also from the East End of London. Lewis died in 1998, aged 83.

The couple had one child, Virginia Penelope Anne Lewis, born in 1946. It has been reported that Lynn and her daughter, now Virginia Lewis-Jones, lived next door to each other in Ditchling, Sussex, in the south of England, until her death.

She received her damehood in 1976. In 2000, she was named as "the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th century".