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Prince William of Gloucester

Hadley Common, 18 Dec 1941 – Wolverhampton Airport, 28 Aug 1972

8 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 18 Dec 1941

    Born in Hadley Common

  2. 28 Aug 1972

    Dies in Wolverhampton Airport, aged 30

During his lifetime

He lived through 4 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Hadley Common.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1940s · Prince is born in Hadley Common

In the news1948

Creation of the NHS in 1948

In 1948, the National Health Service (NHS) was created to provide healthcare, following the 1942 Beveridge Report.

Getting around

Short branch line train travel times

A local branch line train between Oxenholme and Windermere stopped at three intermediate stations over a 10-mile distance, with the journey taking 25 to 30 minutes.

At the table

Strict Wartime Food Rationing Limits

During wartime rationing, each person was typically limited to one fresh egg per week, 2oz of butter, 4oz of margarine, and 8oz of sugar. Many families supplemented their meals by growing their own vegetables in gardens or allotments through the Dig for Victory campaign.

The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.Around the world · 1939–1945

The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.

Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHoM) Robert F. Sargent · public domain

What people wore

Rationing limited new clothing to yearly allowance

Clothes rationing introduced in 1941 restricted purchases to about one new outfit per year, making it necessary to mend clothes or create new garments from scraps.

Music

Popular wartime dance routines

The Hokey Cokey became a hit song and dance routine in 1942, featuring simple actions that allowed for mass participation by anyone. Other popular wartime dances included the conga, which was easily mastered with a simple one, two, three kick format.

Daily life

Schooling and Classroom Life

Schools often lacked lunches, so children in winter brought a potato marked with their initials to be baked in the school coal-oven. Pupils were taught using rote learning, and in smaller schools, might start by writing in trays of sand before using chalkboards or expensive pencils.