Meeting Report – “Beyond the 1939 Register” with Richard Holt
Date: Thursday 16th October 2025
Reporter: Steve Miller
Our October meeting welcomed Richard Holt, who gave a fascinating and detailed presentation on the 1939 Register and the wider system of national registration that followed it.
Chair Lynda Balmforth introduced Richard, noting how most family historians are familiar with the 1939 Register but often uncertain about what came next. Richard’s talk filled that gap perfectly, tracing how the Register evolved into the NHS Central Register, forming the backbone of modern health and demographic records.
At the outset, Richard outlined six clear learning objectives for the evening:
-
To understand the 1939 Register within its wider context.
-
To distinguish between the National Register and the NHS Central Register, and how the two relate.
-
To identify what information lies within the redacted columns of the register and how to access it.
-
To recognise the meaning of codes and ciphers found in the records.
-
To explore the alphabetical index cards created for changes of address and name.
-
To appreciate the continuing importance and legacy of the National Register in shaping later record systems.
Richard explained that the Register, taken on 29 September 1939, recorded the civilian population of England and Wales at the outbreak of the Second World War. Compiled at Smedley Hydro in Southport—still home to the General Register Office—the information was used to issue identity cards, ration books, and assist with conscription.
He then described how the Register continued to be updated long after the war, becoming the NHS Central Register in 1952 and remaining in use until 1991, when it was replaced by computerised systems such as CRIS and today’s Personal Demographic Service (PDS).
Using photographs and documents from his own collection, Richard illustrated how household schedules, medical cards, and even ration books carried registration numbers linking individuals across decades. Particularly intriguing were the redacted “right-hand columns” of the 1939 Register, which include post-war updates such as address and name changes, and even coded death entries still held by NHS England.
Richard also revealed the existence of alphabetical index cards compiled to record changes of address and name. These once filled entire rooms of filing cabinets at Southport and now survive on microfilm.
The talk concluded by showing how these national registration systems underpin many of the official records we use today. For genealogists, understanding these links can help trace ancestors’ movements and uncover hidden details beyond the standard online data.
The evening ended with questions from members, who clearly appreciated Richard’s expert knowledge and enthusiasm. It was an enlightening session that shed new light on an often-overlooked chapter in family history research.