Local family historian looks at the fascinating 1939 Register, which still provides a fascinating snapshot of life HAVING declared war on Germany on September 3 1939, the British Government announced that on September 29 there would be a National Registration Day. The Register collected key details of every civilian in the country, issuing identity cards on the spot. Everybody had to be able to present their card if an official requested to see it (children’s cards were looked after by parents), or bring them to a police station within 48 hours. This enabled the Government to keep track of who everyone was, and was also seen as protection against enemy agents. The Register was also used for the issue of Ration Books.