Top: National Registration Identity Card, there were several reasons why
identity cards were introduced apart from the obvious need to prove a persons
identity, the dislocation of the population due to mobilization into the Armed
Forces and evacuation being one.
They were an essential for the authorities
issuing ration books.
Also, the Government needed accurate population figures
and data, the last Census having been taken in 1931.
65,000 enumerators distributed the necessary forms to every household
prior to Registration Day on September 29th 1939.
On that day householders
filled in the forms with the required details, a few days later the enumerators
collected the forms and issued the identity cards. Approximately 46 million
cards were issued, everyone including children were registered and given an
All the cards were brown until 1943 when the colour of adult
cards was changed to blue.
They had to be carried at all times and produced when
necessary, this continued until 1952.
Bottom: This was the identity card of John William Slater, a Yeadon blacksmith.
cards were printed to allow several changes of address as large numbers of the
population were moving from home to home for work, evacuation, displacement
after bombing etc.
Mr Slater moved from 79 to 91 Hawthorn Avenue, his identity
card number KMBX 114 1 would later become his National Health Service number
when the NHS began in 1947/48.