Henry Court Harold Carpenter

1939 Register

On the outbreak of the Second World War, September 1939, the 1939 Register was a snapshot of the population of the UK, at the time of the outbreak.  The register was undertaken on the 29^th September, the information that was provided would produce identity cards and also rationing books, which were produced January 1940.

The information was also used administer conscription and the direction of labour; also, it was to monitor and control the movement of population caused by military mobilisation and mass evacuation.

The registers only contain the population of England and Wales, which at the time numbered around 40 million people.  Not recorded was the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

On the NHS creation during the 1948, information from the 1939 Register was used to create the NHS Central Register.  These records remained with the NHS until 1991.

The 1939 Register was released online November 2015.  Records of those individuals that are alive today, will remain closed for 100 years from date of birth or until proof of their death.

This is the last information that be researched by family historians until 2051, as the 1931 Census was destroyed during the Blitz during the Second World War and 1941 Census wasn’t carried out.

Brynfield Hotel, Langland

So, with this information, we can look at the Register for Brynfield Hotel, Langland. One of the visitors is 64-year-old, Sir Harold Carpenter.  His occupation is Professor of Metallurgy, Royal School of Mines.

Early reference to Brynfield Hotel, is a postcard dated 1905, having been built during early part of the 20^th century, the hotel, was a substantial 2-storey built set on a hill.  Today the hotel is a nursing home.

So, who was Sir Harold?  Let’s start at the beginning.

Henry Court Harold Carpenter
Credit National Portrait Gallery, London
1928

Henry Court Harold Carpenter was born 6^th February 1875, Bristol, son of William Lant Carpenter and Annie Grace Viret.  His ancestors included physician William Benjamin Carpenter and metallurgist Henry Cort.   Following his father’s death, Henry now aged 13 was taken under the care of his uncle. Henry studied at Eastbourne College, and studying chemistry and Merton College, Oxford, graduating 1896.  Following this he studied at organic chemistry at Leipzig, resulting in a Ph.D.

1902, Henry joined the National Physical Laboratory, where he worked on chemical and metallurgical problems. Later he worked on stell alloys.  1906, Henry was the head of metallurgy at Victoria University, Manchester. 1914, he joined the Royal School of Mines at Imperial College, as Professor of Metallurgy.  1935-1937, Henry was the President of Iron and Steel Institute and the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy.

Henry was member of many committees, including the Advisory Council of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research

Henry Court Harold Carpenter
grave
Oystermouth Cemetery

At the outbreak of the Second World War, 1939, Henry’s department was evacuated to Swansea.  September 1940, whilst out walking alone on the 13^th, by Alcha stream Clyne Vallery, Henry suffered a heart attack, and died.  His body was discovered the next day.  He was buried at Oystermouth Cemetery.

1905, Henry married Ethel Mary Lomas, at St. John church, Baguley, Manchester. 1929, Henry was knighted in 1929 Birthday Honours.

Henry Court Harold Carpenter and Ethel Mary Lomas
Marriage Certificate
St. John church, Baguley, Manchester
1905