I hope I'm OK to join the group (being a Lady not a Gentleman!) but I saw this topic while researching ENSA for my Vera Lynn tribute act and had something to add. There was another reason for ENSA civilians to be allowed to wear uniform and had nominal officers rank whilst working. In the event of an enemy advance and an evacuation, civilians had last place on military transport so there was a chance that ENSA performers without military rank might be left behind. With officer status they could demand a place. I have a small collection of ENSA memorabilia and it' a pity there's no museum to donate it to. One of the items is a letter to an amateur musician in Ireland hoping he would join ENSA - it illustrates how hard it was for Basil Dean to find the (3000+ if I remember right) performers he needed from amongst the small group of people who had not been called up for the military or for war work. I'm striving for accuracy in my uniform (I have a better ENSA hat now than in the photo - Vera Lynn left, me right - the original ENSA hat was unique to them - the rest of the uniform was not - although I believe the buttons were unusual being basket-weave leather - but that's something I haven't been able to confirm yet).
