The Happy Years is apparently the third in a series, though I didn't realize that. It's a slice-of-life book about a few families through the years. Can't remember if the war is mentioned (it was first published in 1916) -- probably not, more of a sunny prewar story, though there's a death or two. It's not terrifically subtle, though more so than the Maida books. Say a cross between the Maida books and L.M. Montgomery.

It's the sort of book I remember a lot of little snippets from (e.g., something about a black and silver outfit, with silver slippers -- "I'm so glad you didn't get black" -- having cut steel buckles -- "I'm crazy about cut steel"), but not that much about what actually happens.