Vesta Tilley 150th Anniversary commemorative exhibition in 2014
23rd February 2015
An exhibition at The Commandery last year commemorated the birth and life of Vesta Tilley.
Born in Worcester in 1864, Vesta Tilley was an internationally known music hall star who played a major role in the recruitment of soldiers during World War One.
Dressed as characters such as 'Tommy in the Trench’, Vesta performed songs such as "The Army of Today's All Right" and 'Jolly Good Luck to the Girl who Loves a Soldier'.
Together with her husband, Walter de Frece Vesta helped to recruit thousands of men through her patriotic performances and she was given the nickname of 'Britain's best recruiting sergeant'.
Vesta also spent a lot of time raising money for the troops, writing to the men in the trenches and helping to boost morale by sending gifts such as a gramophone to the men fighting on the Western Front