At the recent Zoom meeting of the Hampshire Genealogical Society (HGS) members were delighted to welcome Peter DeDulin, who talked about the 1939 Register.

As the 1931 census was destroyed by fire, it was recording a snapshot of the population, a record of who was in England and Wales on September 29 1939. The form was delivered a week before the deadline. It differs in that it is not covered by the 100-year rule and is available to view on Find my Past and Ancestry.

The information was used to produce identity cards and after January 1940, it was used to issue ration books as well as to administer conscription and the direction of labour.

After the war, the registers were used by the NHS until the 1990s. There are three registers. The civilian one is what we can see but there is an Armed Forces version and one for those born after 29th September or added later for other reasons.

All civilians who were in England and Wales on 29th September, regardless of age and nationality, as were foreign visitors and consular staff. Inmates of institutions such as hospitals and prisons as well as Civilians on Military bases and people who were away from their normal home addresses.

These records are similar to censuses but only for England and Wales. Members of the armed forces and civilians on Military Bases are included but relationships are not shown. The precise dates of birth are shown but not the actual place of birth.

The register was a working document for 60 years and was consistently updated but with many transcription errors. The Find My Past list of the Register can be viewed at the Hampshire Record Office. Members of the Hampshire Genealogical Society are in the Record Office to help with searches on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 10am until 4pm.

For more information about HGS, contact is via  www.hgs-familyhistory.com.

The next meeting of HGS is on March 21 via Zoom when the speaker will be Toni Neobard and her subject is “DNA Family Secrets and Lies”. The meeting will start at 7.30pm. You can get more information from winchester@hgs-online.org.uk