FORTIES

1940. The Brits had military disasters in Norway, Belgium and Tobruk. German subs sank British shipping, and the Frogs stopped fighting. The Hun Blitzed London. But, against all odds, the Poms survived. In Oz, the Menzies Government rationed food, clothing, petrol, butter, sugar, smokes and shirt tails. It introduced conscription for able-bodied men, internment for Italian men, and banned pink icing on cakes.

1941. In Europe, Hitler made his biggest mistake in the War when he invaded Russia. Churchill sent Australian troops to the slaughter in Greece and Crete. In the Pacific, America cut off her Japan’s resources by blockades. In Oz, we were shocked when the Japs bombed Pearl Harbour in December. A Pacific War, and a war with South East Asia, started, and Hitler made his second biggest blunder by siding with Japan. Australia was shocked to be under threat.

1942. A Jap invasion was no longer on the cards. But Chifley still went on to ration butter, clothing, and meat. Domestic service was no longer tolerated. He allowed most workers a week’s holiday a year. Blackout covers on all windows could be removed. Zoot suits were now for the wearing, fights in city pubs were popular if they involved USA servicemen. Fears of Japanese invasion had gone by the year’s end..

1943. A Jap invasion was no longer on the cards. But Chifley still went on to ration butter, clothing, and meat. Domestic service was no longer tolerated. He allowed most workers a week’s holiday a year. Blackout covers on all windows could be removed. Zoot suits were now for the wearing, fights in city pubs were popular if they involved USA servicemen. Fears of Japanese invasion had gone by the year’s end, and millions of people were sleeping at night.

1944. Hitler made his biggest mistake in the War when he invaded Russia. Churchill sent Australian troops to the slaughter in Greece and Crete. In the Pacific, America cut off Japan’s resources by blockades in the Pacific and South east Asia. In Oz, we were shocked when the Japs bombed Pearl Harbour in December. The Pacific War started, and Hitler made his second biggest blunder by siding with Japan. Australia was shocked to be under threat.

1945. The Japs and the Germans gave up. In Oz, every Jap was hated for the next twenty years at least. The distinction between Communism and Socialism was not all the clear. The Brits were starving, and our own Bundles for Britain helped a lot. Rubber tyres for cars and bikes will be on sale next year, rationing of silk stockings will be abolished. Could the world get any better?

1946, the War was over, but not rationing. The Brits were starving, war brides were coming here from Britain. TB was on the increase, and a long-term polio epidemic was just starting. War-crimes trials were catching up with villains in Europe and here. So, we found out about Sandakan. Pit whistles reduced some of us to tears, while the Aussie author of We Were the Rats was fined 10 quid.

1947. Labor would not give motorists much petrol until 1950. The Poms were firing rockets over our Aboriginals. Six boys under 17 were gaoled for life, and 10 o’clock closing might stop the six o’clock swill. Indonesia, India and Israel wanted the colonials to go, and cricket was again thriving on on-field hatred of the Poms. Most of our foreign travel was still done by great big overseas liners.

great big overseas liners.