National Health Service Central Register (NHSCR)

1939 National Identity Register and How to Order an Official Extract

At the outbreak of war in 1939 a register was compiled by the Registrar General of everybody living in the UK for the purpose of issuing identity cards, ration books and call-up papers.

The 1939 Register had been kept secret due to the 1939 Act which prohibited publication of the information. An application was received in December 2009 under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the restriction was reviewed by the Registrar General, with advice from the Scottish Government’s Freedom of Information Unit.

Details of people who are contained within the 1939 Register who have since died are now being made available. Please be aware that due to the fact that this register is more modern than the Scottish census, which is closed for a 100 year period, it is only possible to provide limited information on the named individual; namely their address in 1939, marital status, age and occupation.

How to Order an Official Extract

Obtain an official extract of an entry from the 1939 National Identity Register by applying in writing using our downloadable Form NR1 (165 KB pdf).

Please note that an extract of an entry from the register can only be issued if the person has since died and appropriate evidence can be provided. We will send your extract within 15 working days following receipt of your order.

More information on this service together with details of available payment methods and our charges are given in our explanatory Leaflet NR (140 KB pdf).

Please note that the layout of formal extracts from the 1939 National Identity Register is covered by Crown Copyright and cannot therefore be reproduced without specific permission from the National Records of Scotland. Should you wish to reproduce the extract in any format including on the Web, in films and in print then please write to the address below, seeking permission.

National Records of Scotland
Extract Services
New Register House
3 West Register Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3YT

[email protected]