Sadie Smith is 81 years old and has been performing most of her life. She starred in Bradford's first Gilbert and Sullivan perfomance and the first ever Telegraph and Argus Revue in 1931.

Sadie shares her diary of her most memorable times in her life during World War II.

On October 17th 1944 Sadie wrote:

Sadie Smith today

"A great day for the Trio. We had our first broadcast from London (Bush House) at 11.15am in the 'Radio Polshie' programme. First the Polish news was read then the Trio sang: 'Soldier's Selection', 'Tylko We Lwowie' and 'Tango Marynarskje'. The two days we spent in London will long be remembered."

Comments were sent in from all over the world thanking the girls for their singing on the first broadcast and subsequent programmes including the BBC European Service.

Sadie was in the dancing troupe in the ballet

On November 7th 1944 Sadie wrote: "The choir broadcast first and the Trio second from Leeds BBC Studio. Mother and Dad listened at home and Jozef listened from hospital".

Letters were sent in from as far away as Suez in Egypt. Here are some extracts:

'Sing as often as you can darling girls! Sing, because your song is not only a nice sound for the ears. This sound to our hearts means that we are not alone. We have friends.'
Janek D - Translation of a Polish letter 1945.

The girls became famous.

'The soldiers who despite front line conditions had the opportunity of listening to today's broadcast asked me to thank very much Radio Polskie and the three young ladies from Bradford for the concert of Polish songs so wonderfully sung in Polish. They are sending greeting and request a repeat of the programme.'

'Perhaps you don't even realise, dear English Girls, how much your service is a good service. It open wounds but heals them. Takes you by the throat and makes you clench your fists. Let all, and especially those nearest to you love you as much as we have learned to love you.'