It has been a good thread and maybe a little less angry now hopefully. I still think, compared to current generations, we didn't have to really apply ourselves too much to get the basics of a conventional suburban life. The deprivations we talk of were shared by most so we didn't notice nor care. Wouldn't swap it for quids.
Apart from Vietnam vets who had a different experience, we never faced the scourge of large scale conflicts. We've had it good.