The National Registration Act 1939 (2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 91) was introduced to Parliament as an emergency measure at the start of the Second World War.
The act provided for the establishment of a constantly-maintained national register of the civilian population of the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man, and for the issuance of identity cards based on data held in the register, and required civilians to present their identity cards on demand to police officers and other authorised persons. Following the passing of the act by Parliament on 5 September 1939, registrations and the issuing of identity cards commenced on 29 September.
Every man, woman and child had to carry an identity (ID) card at all times and the cards would include the following information:
- Name
- Sex
- Date of birth (and thus age)
- Occupation,
- profession, trade or employment.
Unlike the decennial censuses, the 1939 register was designed as a working document for the duration of the war, and it was later used in the foundation of the National Health Service and recorded subsequent changes of name, notably in the case of single women who married after 1939.
In England and Wales, a team of 65,000 enumerators delivered forms ahead of the chosen day. On Friday 29 September 1939, householders were required to record details on the registration forms. On the following Sunday and Monday the enumerators visited every householder, checked the form and then issued a completed identity card for each of the residents.
The record of anyone born less than 100 years ago is closed unless they are known to have died.