Reading Branch meeting 30th May 2019
Speaker: Mark Bowman
Mark explored the origins of the register and its uses in a highly entertaining and informative talk. On Sunday 3rd September 1939 war was declared, which received Royal Assent on the 5th September. 65000 enumerators were assembled for Registration Day, Friday 29th September to Monday 2nd October, with a population of 41 million people to register. The Enumerators issued Identity Cards. After WW2 this Register was used to set up the National Health Service and the Act was finally repealed as late as 1952. Identity cards were used for rationing during WW2 thus giving incentive to keep records up to date. The N.H.S. Register was kept up to date until 1991.
