National Registration Act 1939 Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
National Registration Act 1939
Dates
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make provision for the establishment of a National Register, for the issue of identity cards, and for purposes connected with the matter aforesaid.
Citation	2 & 3 Geo. 6 c. 91
Royal assent	5 September 1939
Expired	22 May 1952
Status: Expired

The National Registration Act 1939 was a special law passed in the United Kingdom. It was created quickly as an emergency plan when World War II began.

This law set up a "National Register" to keep track of everyone living in the UK and the Isle of Man. It also meant that everyone had to get an identity card, often called an ID card. People had to show their ID card if a police officer or other authorized person asked for it. The law was passed on September 5, 1939, and people started registering and getting their ID cards on September 29.

Why Were ID Cards Needed?
What Information Was on Your ID Card?
- Different Colours of ID Cards
- Special Class Codes on Cards
When Did the Act End?
Why the Register Is Still Important Today
How to See the Information Today
See also

Why Were ID Cards Needed?

Front cover of an identity card issued to an adult in 1943

The government had three main reasons for introducing these ID cards:

Keeping Track of People: When the war started, many people moved around. Some joined the army, others were evacuated from cities. The government needed to know where everyone was to manage workers and plan for the war effort.
Preparing for Rationing: The government knew that food and other goods would soon be in short supply. Rationing, which meant people could only buy a limited amount of things, started in January 1940. ID cards helped manage this system.
Getting Up-to-Date Information: The last time the government counted everyone (called a census) was in 1931. They didn't have good information on how many people lived where. The National Register was like an instant census, giving them important numbers for planning.

The register was also used to help with the rationing system.

What Information Was on Your ID Card?

Every person, no matter their age, had to carry an ID card. These cards included important details about them:

Your full name
Whether you were male or female
Your date of birth (which showed your age)
Your job or what you did for work
Your home address
Whether you were married or single
If you were part of the military reserves or civil defense groups

Unlike a regular census, the register didn't record where you were born. Also, it was a "living document," meaning it was updated. For example, if a woman got married, her maiden name (her family name before marriage) would be changed to her married name on the register.

In England and Wales, about 65,000 people helped collect this information. On September 29, 1939, families filled out forms. A few days later, helpers visited each home, checked the forms, and gave out ID cards. About 45 million ID cards were given out at this time.

Different Colours of ID Cards

At first, all ID cards were a plain brown or buff (light yellow-brown) colour.

Buff Cards: These were the first cards given to adults.
Manila Cards: Children under 16 received these brown cards. Their parents were supposed to keep them safe.
Green Cards: In 1943, a new green ID card was issued for adults. Government officials also had green cards, sometimes with a photo.
Blue Cards: People in the armed forces or those who had been moved from their homes temporarily received blue ID cards.

These cards were very important, especially if families got separated or their homes were bombed. They helped identify people who were injured or killed. The cards also had sections to record changes of address, which was useful as many people moved during the war.

Special Class Codes on Cards

Some ID cards had special letters called "Class Codes." These codes helped with administration and voting:

A: This code was for people aged 21 or older.
B: This code was for young people aged between 16 and 21. It also had three numbers. The first two numbers showed the year they were born, and the third showed which three-month period of the year they were born in. For example, "B.252" meant the person was born in the second quarter of 1925. This helped officials know when they would turn 21.
C: This code was on yellow cards given to workers from Ireland who were allowed to enter Great Britain under certain conditions.
N: This meant the card was re-issued because the person's name had changed.
V: This was on yellow cards for people over 16 who had just arrived in the UK and usually lived outside the country.

Children under 16 received temporary buff cards, but these did not have a class code.

When Did the Act End?

People no longer needed to carry their ID cards from February 21, 1952. The National Registration Act officially ended on May 22, 1952. Even after the ID card system stopped, the National Registration number continued to be used for things like the National Health Service (NHS) and voter registration.

Why the Register Is Still Important Today

The 1939 Register is very helpful for people who study their family history (called genealogists) because:

The records from the 1921 census (the official count of people) were kept private for 100 years and only became available in 2022.
The records for England and Wales from the 1931 census were completely destroyed in a fire in 1942.
No census was taken in 1941 because of the war.
The 1939 Register records the exact date of birth for everyone listed.

Because the 1931 and 1941 censuses are missing, the 1939 Register is the most complete record of the population in England and Wales between 1921 and 1951. This makes it a valuable source for historians and family researchers.

Unlike regular censuses, the 1939 Register was meant to be updated during the war. It was later used to help create the National Health Service. It even includes people born after 1939 and changes in names, like when single women got married after 1939.

How to See the Information Today

England and Wales

The original register books for England and Wales are now kept by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (NHS Digital). Since 2010, you can ask the NHS to search the register for a fee. They will give you information about people who are no longer living.

In 2015, The National Archives worked with websites like Findmypast and Ancestry.com. They scanned and digitized the original 1939 registers, including updates made by the NHS until 1991. You can now view these digital images online if you have a subscription, or for free at the archive's reading rooms in Kew.

However, this project does not include records for people who were first registered after September 29, 1939. These records are in separate books and are not yet available to the public.

Scotland

In Scotland, the registration process was handled by the General Register Office for Scotland. The register was used for the NHS Central Register from 1948. The original books are now held by the National Records of Scotland (NRS). Since 2009, you can apply to the NRS for information about people from the 1939 register who are no longer living. However, the information you get is limited to the person's address, age, job, and marital status at the time.