I spent the day with a 1940s Re-enactor!

[@MemoryAmethyst]

Wear the same three dresses every day for a year and see how glamorous one feels. It was not a time for beauty. Work 12 hour days six days a week plus volunteering. It’s not pretty. This was an excellent episode and reality check for reenactment.

[@joanmatchett8100]

My mother worked in munitions, definitely not a glamorous job. I've always felt it contributed to hear death at a fairly young age.

[@christinaridder1451]

My parents grew up in the Black Country during WWII. My mom's father served in WWI. When he installed their Anderson shelter, he buried it deeper and surrounded it with concrete. He never went in during an air raid because he had a fear of being buried alive after four years of trench warfare. When the war ended, he closed the entrance, with the contents still in, and covered it over with dirt. So, on Sedgley Road in Tipton is a fully stocked Anderson shelter still to this day.

[@rm5127]

That was educational but also looked like fun!

[@nowvoyaging8881]

Amazing video! I’m saving this to show to my kids (I homeschool them), thank you so much for what you’re doing!

[@amyfromflorida4518]

Great video! Years ago, I belonged to a re-enactment group for the American Civil War. It was such an education for both me and the public who came to the events. It’s an emotional experience as well, during some of the battles, they were so realistic, people would softly cry and get a bit whoozy. It’s important to remember and educate about even the dark parts of history. Thank you both for the great video.

[@ThomasJones-d6h]

Loved this should do more

[@rosebroady6618]

Wow, that was an amazing insightful video. Yes we do remember only the glamorous and fun parts of the 1940s, but it really wasn't. I personally like the 1940s not because of the perseved fun, but because families learnt how to live without and with today's economic climate these skills are very much needed. This is our chance to learn from history and not make the same mistakes

[@joanmatchett8100]

Good to see behind the scenes, so to speak. Well done 👍

[@kimsmith5663]

What a fantastic episode, thoroughly enjoyed the discussions.

[@odinsbreath2267]

Brilliant really enjoyed this video.

[@ritabush3324]

Thank you for this Hannah. Very interesting. Love all you posts ❤

[@Shultz-x1m]

Very well done with discussing the reality of the time and romanticizing it. It all helps to keep the knowledge alive but as you and the others pointed out its a tough balance to get it right. Thanks for all your lovely down to earth videos. Your kitchen videos, which i love, certainly dont over glamorize cooking in 1940.😂

[@joannaerhardt7294]

We had Japanese internment camps here in the States and it was hardly ever spoken about at schools. Most people didn't know about this very shameful part of our history. I love the 40s and I agree with you that it is important to remember all of the history of the 40s and of WWII, the good and the bad. Great episode!!❤❤

[@Mistydazzle]

When I was an adolescent, Scholastic Books had "Farewell to Manzanar", published 1973, on their school fair purchase list. Award-winning book about the author and her family being forced into such a internment camp, because of their Japanese heritage. I bought & read it. I learned, early on, about this mistrust & cruel reaction - something that still rears its ugly head in other forms, usually, in subsequent times. I was lucky to have my American History teacher, in high school, as a WW II veteran. I was fascinated by the slide show he presented, going back to the places in France where he had been stationed. Living History, right there!

[@joannaerhardt7294]

@Mistydazzle omg how lucky were you to have first hand accounts from a Veteran! I still remember going to the Holocaust Museum and having a Veteran as our tour guide. His stories of the war had a profound impact on me. Most of these Vets are gone now, and we are losing such vital first hand accounts from history.

[@lanitasteinert4415]

Throughly enjoyed this video. Herein America they don't do things like this and, my hubby and I are Hugh WW2 fans ,we have a very large ww2 library ,love the clothes ,music, decor. Thank you again for this video . Thanks to the Lads

[@BellyBurly87]

This was so interesting and props to you girl that's dedication being there all day in the rain for us.

[@mouseymouse.scw1977]

Excellent video. It's so nice to see a group try to stay as authentic and truthful as possible!

[@uzeela]

Thank you so enlightening!...I grew up here in the US and really only heard about life during WW2 from the America perspective..

[@juliec3819]

I used to participate in American Civil War living history, unfortunately the hobby has died down in many areas because of threats of violence because the Confederacy (South) was represented. I was (and still am) greatly fascinated by the everyday life of those on the homefront in the 1860's, researched social movements. Unfortunately because of threats of violence, and political polarization, events that used to happen on a regular basis have gone away. Thanks to your channel and videos I have since gone down the rabbit hole to learn about the 1940's. While I am learning as much as I can, I will go to living history events to support them, but because of work/life balance requirements I am not able to participate - even though I want to!

[@CarrieSpencer-i4k]

Amazing video. Love this channel ❤

[@livvymcglone8046]

I enjoyed this but have to say that I think all the people who attend these events are important. It doesn't matter to me if you are their camping out or there for the day, everyone has a different role to play and side to show. I don't agree that some are better than others or more important. I have young children and they adore going to these events, and because they are fun, friendly and visually interesting and interactive I can teach them about the war and the sacrifices made by those men and women far more effectively. And I can also do it in a respectful way that I see as age appropriate for my children x

[@littlehomeinthevalley]

I belonged to an All American Girls Professional Baseball (AAGPB) reenactment league in the Midwest a few years ago and still have my Peaches uniform. We played the Kenosha Comets up in Wisconsin one summer and an original Kenosha Comets player came and watched. Our teams picture with her is something I'll always treasure. We also played at the WWII reenactment days in Northern Illinois. Gosh, those were good times.

[@dr.chrismort8448]

Excellent video and well done to all concerned

[@normaz899]

This is utterly fab. love this video so much! how educational and immersive💗

[@kickingmustang]

Keiron has never made me a cup of tea!!! 😢

[@Boats_N_Hoez]

Here in the USA we camp and it’s some of the best times. Have you ever camped? I ask out of curiosity about what British people do, if that’s the right term for yall❤ love your channel, would love to see much more of this and yes go camping next time!!🎉

[@TrixiesTrialsTribulations]

This was brilliant Thankyou x

[@abigailandmoongarden]

I do not disagree at all with the points made in the video and I think they’re very worthwhile. I do think some people have a gift to preserve history and provide accurate portrayals and there is an entire other group of people trying to preserve themselves by adopting a vintage aspect to their lifestyle because they don’t feel the modern world is enough and I appreciate both. ❤

[@ConstanceMarkiewicz]

He is right about the promenaders. Most 40s events don't look anything like the 40s in the UK

[@JoyceWood-xu2qj]

Loved this video I love the 40s too x

[@kathleenorr9237]

Great video Hannah, very informative ❤

[@ThomasJones-d6h]

This would be my dream weekend

[@stevenaquino690]

Which country do you live in? Depending on the answer, there are plenty of reenacting units looking for recruits

[@owendavies5697]

Nice to see the famous mr toung on screen, your famous now pal!

[@stevecaunt9987]

I have been attending 1940's events for the last 12 years or so. Always been interested in world war two ever since i was a young boy. Since i took up photography, i love taking photographs of the vehicles, the fashion, the re-enactors in their uniforms portraying various regiments be it British, Polish, German etc, but my favourites are the Americans.

[@Mistydazzle]

Well done, Hannah, and the rest! Hannah, did your grandparents or great-g's go through WW II? Have you been able to find out how your family lived through it all? My Dad, siblings and their parents lived in rural England during that war (Granddad was a WW I vet). They were farming, so I hope that helped with food. It was black-out windows, a candle to read by, bicycles to ride everywhere, my grandma going without sugar so as to save the ration for the rest of the family. In fact, I sometimes think about how horrible it must have been for people of my grandparents' generation to have gone through both WWI & II. I have always counted my blessings, there.

[@raneemilliman7130]

This was a very interesting video, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I read a lot of fiction from the 40's, war related, but despite being fiction, they are all based on certain individuals who were, in fact, key players in the success of the war. I get so immersed into these books, that it affects my day to day in little ways, which I think is good actually. I find myself so grateful to all of these people, these strangers, and what they sacrificed for freedom and how hard it was, not just for the soldiers, but the families at home, doing their best to survive and stay positive. I live in the US and the house we live in was built in 1941. I love my old house but it's hard for me to imagine someone having the money to be able to build this house, while things were going to hell in Europe. I am very grateful.

[@therewillbecatswithgwenhwyfar]

I was laughing when Hannah asked if they got paid but knowing that events like this cost money. LOL

[@Freaky0Nina]

There are things that would really deeply disturb me if they were done in my country. Re-enacting the 40s .... don't wanna do that here for sure.

[@Alloneword-cp2xw]

Where are you? Germany?

[@brionyrussell4358]

So interesting.

[@drleahwatson8880]

Thank you for those insights, it is a failing of our historical memory that things like the "Blitz Spirit" wasn't the lived experience is so very good to bring back to our understanding.

[@yasmingeorge5173]

This event was about a 10 minute drive from where I live... And I didn't know about it 😣

[@nadiagoddard227]

Neither did I and I live in Notts as well.

[@dittedatte8046]

Now that we are in the WW2 Era: Have you ever tried #VictoryRolls in your Hair? ❤

[@JBProductionsxx]

These events should be for everyone and I feel like him bashing people for doing things different to him or only going for the day is a bit unfair. People should be able to enjoy these kinds of events no later what. I don’t like the elitist attitude to be honest. But I do like the fact they try to keep the history alive and educate people.

[@ThomasJones-d6h]

Did ladys paint nail's in 1940s

[@jagodabanaszczyk6589]

Yes they did! Nurses did it sometimes to bring the morales up of the soldiers in hospitals!

[@Mistydazzle]

My mother was in her 20's in the 1940's, and she always had long, red nails. You can see it in the movies/films made during that time period. Movies, filmed at the time, are a great way to get everything correct - from fashion, hairstyles, items in the home or office, decor, food/drink, language usage, cars (or horses), mass transit. The next best thing is vintage magazines, with great articles and adverts. 40 plus years ago (so only about 30 years after the war - that's like the 1990's to us, now!), at an "antique" fair, I bought a fantastic little colorful magazine which has photos taken in Paris as WW II was ending, all the military personnel there. I still love that magazine! It is a great example of researching the look of a time period.

[@ConstanceMarkiewicz]

Not many on the British home front.

[@sabrina9333]

The Covid example is spot on

[@janejdough2230]

Toot a loo

[@helenablanks255]

People forget that during covid we were rationed too it was just in a different ways. No more then 1 item per family, what if its a family of 10 , 1 tin of beans ain't covering it 😂

[@dittedatte8046]

That was a few Months, and we could order many things online. The War and rationings were more than 5 or 6 years. You can't compare that...😮

[@BellyBurly87]

Excellent point