I'd say the point of the meme is that our people were a lot tougher back then, and it's true.

I've never met anyone who actually wants to go back to times of war though.  In fact, everyone I know is fundamentally against war, but most realise that it is a necessary evil, especially when taking on forces such as the Nazis who were all fired up on whisky and shortbread sent by Arthur Donaldson.