
Hilarious images have revealed one of the lighter-hearted moments of World War Two as British soldiers man anti-aircraft guns in full panto-drag, which the wartime government banned so they did not damage the image of the 'butch' British soldier.

The amusing pictures capture the home defence troops in drag when their Christmas charity performance was interrupted by a coastal alert near Gravesend, Kent forcing them to wear the dresses with compulsory helmets on the field.

Other funny photographs show the men applying makeup to each other, running up steps as their dresses blow in the wind and show off their under garments on stage in 1940.

Banned pictures reveal the Christmas charity performance by home defence troops in Gravesend, Kent which was interrupted by a coastal alert forcing the troops to wear dresses in the field with their compulsory helmets. The six men show off stockings under petticoats and long taffetta dresses complete with bonnets

The set of photographs, taken by John Topham while working in RAF intelligence, was censored by the British Ministry of Information.

Pantomime was popular in the army as a way to relieve stress by letting the soldiers enjoy themselves on their downtime.

British Prisoners of War were even said to cross dress to perform in pantomimes to keep up morale in Nazi camps.

The pantomime productions were a huge success, proving popular with prisoners and guards alike.

Actors rehearsed six hours a day for months to master their roles as being chosen to perform was considered a big responsibility.

The disrupted pantomime in 1940 shows soldiers going about their business manning guns. One is seen to be sporting a bullet belt over the dainty dress swapping his bonnet for a helmet

The set of photographs, taken by John Topham while working in RAF intelligence, were censored by the British Ministry of Information. Wartime government banned them so they did not damage the image of the 'butch' British soldier even though pantomime was a popular activity among soldiers in the war

The troops were in the middle of rehearsal for their festive pantomime as they posed for pictures showing off their legs in black stockings hidden under large dresses but the government did not share their sense of humour

The soldiers braved the winter chill in layers of material and tights while defending an alert in the height of the Blitz

Other wartime cross dressing includes a key British intelligence figure in the Middle East who was once detained in Madrid after being seen 'in a main street dressed, down a brassiere, as a woman.'

MI6 agent Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Clarke had stopped off in the Spanish capital on his way to Egypt where he was to pass on key information.

He gave a number of different explanations for his clothing, telling Spanish police he was a novelist and wished to study the reactions of men to women in the streets.

His story changed when the British consul visited him, telling them he was taking the clothes to a woman in Gibraltar and had put them on as a prank which didn't explain why the clothes were a perfect fit for the spy.

Further wartime dressing includes a key British intelligence figure in the Middle East who was once detained in Madrid after being seen 'in a main street dressed, down a brassiere, as a woman.' MI6 agent Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Clarke had stopped off in the Spanish capital on his way to Egypt where he was to pass on key information

Clarke gave a number of different explanations for his clothing, telling Spanish police he was a novelist and wished to study the reactions of men to women in the streets. His story changed when the British consul visited him, telling them he was taking the clothes to a woman in Gibraltar and had put them on as a prank which didn't explain why the clothes were a perfect fit for the spy

Amazing photos of the am-dram group of Stalag 383, who donned drag for professional stage productions, were auctioned off in March this year.

The group were so serious about their performances that they turned a barn into a sloping auditorium that became known as the 'Ofladium'.

The servicemen wore women's clothing made out of hundreds of handkerchiefs stitched together and bartered their Red Cross parcels with their German guards for materials and props.

To accompany the productions there was the 'Ofladium Theatre Orchestra' that included saxophones, trumpets, tubas and guitars.

One effeminate PoW called Don 'Pinky' Smith was so convincing he became something of a pinup in the camp.

Amazing photos of the am-dram group of Stalag 383, who donned drag for professional stage productions, were auctioned off in March this year. The group were so serious about their performancesthat they turned a barn into a sloping auditorium that became known as the 'Ofladium'.