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| Families on the brink of war | Families on the brink of war |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| A genealogist's challenge under the Freedom of Information Act could unlock records providing a unique snapshot of UK families as World War II broke out. | A genealogist's challenge under the Freedom of Information Act could unlock records providing a unique snapshot of UK families as World War II broke out. |
| These days someone who suddenly decides to research their family history can often make great progress over the course of an hour or two and without having to leave their home. | These days someone who suddenly decides to research their family history can often make great progress over the course of an hour or two and without having to leave their home. |
| A huge amount of information relating to births, marriages and deaths is only a few mouse clicks away, provided by a variety of free and subscription sites. | A huge amount of information relating to births, marriages and deaths is only a few mouse clicks away, provided by a variety of free and subscription sites. |
| Those in the UK who already know their link to grandparents or great-grandparents are particularly well served by published census details that reveal much about how our Victorian ancestors lived and worked. | Those in the UK who already know their link to grandparents or great-grandparents are particularly well served by published census details that reveal much about how our Victorian ancestors lived and worked. |
| The records have been kept so that people can access them Guy Etchells | The records have been kept so that people can access them Guy Etchells |
| But they are the lucky ones. | But they are the lucky ones. |
| In today's society, where many family relationships are fragmented or obscure, those with a yearning to find out more about their forefathers often fall at the first hurdle, frustrated by the lack of accessible information relating to recent decades. | In today's society, where many family relationships are fragmented or obscure, those with a yearning to find out more about their forefathers often fall at the first hurdle, frustrated by the lack of accessible information relating to recent decades. |
| Lost generation | Lost generation |
| The publication of the 1911 census for England and Wales has helped many to establish their links and some of those with unanswered questions are hoping that the release of the 1921 census - currently expected in 2022 - will help them. | The publication of the 1911 census for England and Wales has helped many to establish their links and some of those with unanswered questions are hoping that the release of the 1921 census - currently expected in 2022 - will help them. |
| But that census release is set to be the last for a generation. | But that census release is set to be the last for a generation. |
| The 1931 census was destroyed in a fire and there was no survey taken in 1941 because of the war. It may be more than 40 years until the 1951 details become public. | The 1931 census was destroyed in a fire and there was no survey taken in 1941 because of the war. It may be more than 40 years until the 1951 details become public. |
| "The truth is, it's often far more difficult to find out about recent history than Victorian history and beyond," says family historian Guy Etchells. | "The truth is, it's often far more difficult to find out about recent history than Victorian history and beyond," says family historian Guy Etchells. |
| Mr Etchells is already something of a hero in the genealogy world, being credited as the driving force behind the early release of the 1911 census for England and Wales. | Mr Etchells is already something of a hero in the genealogy world, being credited as the driving force behind the early release of the 1911 census for England and Wales. |
| In 2006 he successfully challenged a decision by The National Archives to block the release of census details - a move that eventually saw the whole census going online earlier this year. | In 2006 he successfully challenged a decision by The National Archives to block the release of census details - a move that eventually saw the whole census going online earlier this year. |
| WHAT THE RECORDS INCLUDE NameSexAgeOccupation or employmentResidenceWhether marriedMilitary auxiliary or reserve forces membership | WHAT THE RECORDS INCLUDE NameSexAgeOccupation or employmentResidenceWhether marriedMilitary auxiliary or reserve forces membership |
| Now a similar appeal to the Information Commissioner under the Freedom of Information Act could unlock details from the 1939 National Registration of the UK - an emergency, census-like survey of the country at the beginning of the war. | Now a similar appeal to the Information Commissioner under the Freedom of Information Act could unlock details from the 1939 National Registration of the UK - an emergency, census-like survey of the country at the beginning of the war. |
| "When authority is wrong, you've got to stand up to it, to improve the situation," says the 60-year-old, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire. | "When authority is wrong, you've got to stand up to it, to improve the situation," says the 60-year-old, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire. |
| "I think it's vital. If I hadn't challenged the 1911 ruling you probably still wouldn't be able to get the 1911 census." | "I think it's vital. If I hadn't challenged the 1911 ruling you probably still wouldn't be able to get the 1911 census." |
| 'Heir hunters' | 'Heir hunters' |
| The commissioner has told the NHS Information Centre - which holds the 1939 details - that it should grant Mr Etchells' request for access to a record, previously withheld on data protection grounds, where the circumstances relate to people now dead - a stipulation Mr Etchells may yet challenge further. | The commissioner has told the NHS Information Centre - which holds the 1939 details - that it should grant Mr Etchells' request for access to a record, previously withheld on data protection grounds, where the circumstances relate to people now dead - a stipulation Mr Etchells may yet challenge further. |
| The news has been greeted with great interest from probate researchers, the so-called "heir hunters", whose job it is to track down living relatives of those who left estates. | The news has been greeted with great interest from probate researchers, the so-called "heir hunters", whose job it is to track down living relatives of those who left estates. |
| "None of the legislation forbids access to the records," says Mr Etchells. | "None of the legislation forbids access to the records," says Mr Etchells. |
| "The records have been kept so that people can access them. They are not archived so that they can be hidden away. | "The records have been kept so that people can access them. They are not archived so that they can be hidden away. |
| "There's no point in charging people thousands of pounds a year to keep them if you are not allowed to access them." | "There's no point in charging people thousands of pounds a year to keep them if you are not allowed to access them." |
| 'Huge potential' | 'Huge potential' |
| The National Registration enumeration, carried out on the night of Friday 29 September 1939, led to the issue of about 46 million identity cards for citizens the following month. | The National Registration enumeration, carried out on the night of Friday 29 September 1939, led to the issue of about 46 million identity cards for citizens the following month. |
| Households were asked to provide information about the names, ages, sex, marital situation and jobs of those living there. | Households were asked to provide information about the names, ages, sex, marital situation and jobs of those living there. |
| During the war, and until 1952, every civilian had to carry their card as proof of identity and address. The registration was also used as the basis for the issue of ration books for food and clothing. | During the war, and until 1952, every civilian had to carry their card as proof of identity and address. The registration was also used as the basis for the issue of ration books for food and clothing. |
| TV genealogist and historian Nick Barratt says the development is "interesting", although he believes it is too early to say whether the challenge will "open the floodgates" to the publication of a 1939 database. | TV genealogist and historian Nick Barratt says the development is "interesting", although he believes it is too early to say whether the challenge will "open the floodgates" to the publication of a 1939 database. |
| He says it could be a boon to people who are perhaps researching house history, as well as genealogists. | He says it could be a boon to people who are perhaps researching house history, as well as genealogists. |
| "The potential is huge, though - you aren't going to find any of this information on the 1931 or 1941 census," he says. | "The potential is huge, though - you aren't going to find any of this information on the 1931 or 1941 census," he says. |
| "There are massive gaps, particularly between 1939 and 1945 when there were no electoral lists." | "There are massive gaps, particularly between 1939 and 1945 when there were no electoral lists." |
| The NHS Information Centre, which can appeal against the ruling, is "considering the implications" of the commissioner's decision. | The NHS Information Centre, which can appeal against the ruling, is "considering the implications" of the commissioner's decision. |
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