ENSA was established in 1939. ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association) was set up by Basil Dean and Leslie Henson to provide entertainment for the British military during World War Two. Many famous stars performed for ENSA including Arthur Askey, Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn, George Formby, Tommy Cooper and Joyce Grenfell. In 1945 Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir Ralph Richardson were made honorary lieutenants in the British Army and joined ENSA and embarked on a six-week tour of Europe performing from plays by William Shakespeare.