It falls well short of WW2. Not even in the same league- or even in the league. I think most Londoners would have taken this against the blitz.
It comes second, or possibly third as the major event of the last century. I think the turmoil after Franco's underhand activities prevented Cliff Richard winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1968 may just pip it.
Yeah, I'd say the two world wars were just a tad bigger than this. Also, the fact the shelves are still stocked with all the food we could possibly need means this is rather more manageable for most than other periods in history.