The 1939 Register

On HIS Death Registration??? Nobody else would know the names of his parents (who had died back in England). He would just be another Joe Bloggs, or whatever name he had chosen, with unknown parents. I am sure that there must have been many such individuals in Australia at that time. I have searched for his real name and drawn a blank. I have no idea what other name he may have chosen. He is unlikely to have used the name of somebody closely related to him. I probably have more chance of winning the lottery than of guessing his new name.

His daughter, who married just before his departure from England, also posted requests for news about him over 30 years later in Sydney and Adelaide publications (that I have found). Perhaps she put similar requests in other towns/countries that I have not found.

 

Have you tried Sands Directory?

 

I have tried it briefly but it seems to be massive and difficult to find anything specific, even using an automated search. Unless, of course, you know how to take a short cut?

 

Sorry Bryman, it's just hard slog.

 

I have just come across an entry in the 1939 register where the wife's occupation is given (both in the original and in the transcript) as "Underpaid domestic duties". Does this reflect frustration or a wry sense of humour, I wonder?

 

I had assumed it to be a transcription error, but it nevertheless made me smile.

 

If a transcription error,what does the original state?

 

My search method on Findmypast obviously wasn't sophisticated enough - I got over 1000 results when searching the occupation field, and the ones I looked at were not 'underpaid domestic duties', but 'unpaid domestic duties'.

 

While searching for one of my White ancestors in Wiltshire in the 1939 register I came across another unusual entry. William White, born 25.4.1860, had under occupation "Lying dead (Farm Carter)". I suppose his body was still in the house, awaiting removal for burial.

 

William is listed as a death aged 79 in September quarter 1939. What is also amusing is in the 1939 entry he is listed as Married, but head of household Rhoda White listed as Widowed, is in fact his wife, they married in 1886. The occupation entry is in a slightly different colour ink so was added later? I wonder if a ration book was issued for William! Thanks for sharing Susan.

 

In 1939 my distant cousin Alice Hubbard and her future husband William Gornall were living at a Public Assistance Institution (P.A.I.) in Blofield, Norfolk, where they were both employed. Its name has been transcribed correctly (I double checked to make sure) - Lingwood Paw Law Institution.

 

Someone had a sense of humour ...

 

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