When is a census not a census? With war looming, a comprehensive survey of the British population was carried out 29 September 1939. If there had been no war or if it had ended quickly, the regular census would have been taken in 1941. Instead the 1939 Register is the record that survives, and it apparently looks a lot like a census. Taken over a single weekend, the Register contains crucial information on 40 million British residents. Read more about it at: blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/1939-register-census-census/. The 1939 Register is not available online yet. Findmypast - in cooperation with the UK's National Archives - plans to publish the Register online in 2015. You can sign up to hear about this important release here: www.findmypast.co.uk/1939register. Thanks to Audrey for bringing this to our attention.