Look Back To 1943: What Happened That Year

The tide turned, the Dambusters flew and the country got used to going without.

Here's 1943 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

Popular music in 1943

• 'You'll Never Know' and 'As Time Goes By' were among the year's most-played songs.
• Forces' Favourites carried requests between home and the services.
• Dance bands and swing dominated wherever there was a hall and a floor.

In the news in 1943

• The Dambusters raid was carried out on the night of 16-17 May.
• The Bethnal Green tube shelter disaster in March killed 173 people.
• Pay As You Earn income tax was announced, starting the following year.
• Italy surrendered in September.

On screen in 1943

• The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp was released despite official disapproval.
• Cinema attendance reached record levels.
• Newsreels reported the bombing campaign over Germany.

In sport in 1943

• Wartime cup competitions carried on, with guest players and scratch teams.
• The Grand National remained suspended.
• Services sport was organised on a large scale to keep troops fit.

Everyday life in 1943

• Make do and mend classes taught unpicking, patching and remaking clothes.
• Women's Land Army numbers peaked.
• Queueing became a national habit that outlasted the war by years.

If you were born in 1943

• Anyone born in 1943 was born mid-war, with rationing at its tightest.
• They turned five the year the NHS started.
• Anyone born in 1943 turns 30 in 1973, 40 in 1983, 50 in 1993, 60 in 2003 and 70 in 2013.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

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How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 1946
• Look back to 1945
• Look back to 1944
• Look back to 1942
• Look back to 1941
• Look back to 1940
• The 1940s: the whole decade
• Wartime and 1950s party games
• Traditional British party games
• Pen and paper games
• Card games your nan taught you
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• The 1960s: the whole decade
• The 1950s: the whole decade
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
• Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
• Nostalgia gift shop
• Retro party supplies
• Nostalgia birthday party by decade
• Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
• Guess the year quiz
• Care home reminiscence quiz
• Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
• Milestone birthday cards
• Shop birthday cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

When was the Dambusters raid?

The night of 16-17 May 1943, by 617 Squadron.

What was make do and mend?

A government campaign teaching people to repair and remake clothes and household goods rather than buy new, because of rationing and shortages.

How old is someone born in 1943?

Subtract 1943 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1983, 50 in 1993, 60 in 2003 and 70 in 2013.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.