There was an English Old Time dance called Society Foxtrot that was apparently danced in 1945, see this article.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/10/a4191310.shtml
Many of the dances mentioned are still danced today and the steps have been published in various books. So far I have not found one which lists Society Foxtrot, but there is a CD by Harry Davidson which includes the music originally used for the dance.
http://www.maestrorecords.com/music-cds/sequence-amp-old-time/sequence/savoy/harry-davidson-his-orchestra-those-were-the-days-5
Of course this may have no relation to the dance your friends are thinking of.