Exploring the Impact of WWI in the 1921 Census

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ANCESTRY^® BLOG

Ancestry Team

08 January 2025

The 1921 census of England and Wales is a vital collection for family historians, offering a unique insight into our ancestors' lives in the years immediately after WWI. The impact of the war on our ancestors and society as a whole is emphasised in the census returns, diligently completed by our family members on 19 June 1921. The effects of WWI are striking: from war widows and wounded pensioners recorded in the neat columns of the census documents, the like of which has never been seen before, to children named after well-known battles. Below, we’ve shared some examples discovered while exploring the 1921 census.

Ancestry Tip: The 1911 and 1921 censuses show the actual forms completed by our ancestors. Before 1911, the census forms were completed by our ancestors but written up by officials in the books we see today.

War widows

By 1920, it was estimated that 240,000 war widows were living in Britain. Many had children and families to support, compounded by the loss of a loved one during the war. War widows and orphans, such as Nellie Beeton of Leyton, East London, were entitled to a government-funded pension. Nellie’s husband Charles was killed in action in Gallipoli in 1915, leaving her to raise her three young children, the impact of the war extending far beyond the battlefield. Similarly, Martha Bransfield of Newcastle was left widowed after her husband William died in the Middle East in 1917 while serving with the Royal Engineers. She, too, had three young children to care for. According to the census, Martha was involved in 'Training for War Widows', specifically, dressmaking. The Ministry of Pensions established an initiative, later taken over by the Ministry of Labour, where the widows and dependents of deceased men received training in particular vocations. We encountered a selection of women involved in dressmaking under this scheme.

Wounded soldiers

Figures suggest that around 2.3 million personnel were wounded during the war (including those wounded twice). Many would suffer mental and physical injuries that would impact them for the rest of their lives. Scores of entries in the 1921 census highlight the war's devastating impact on many former personnel. 22-year-old William Henry Aldridge, for example, was recorded in his father's household in Wolverhampton. His occupation was given as 'Discharged and wounded. Soldier out of work. Of no occupation. (Pension)'. Charles Abbott, a 31-year-old native of Wiltshire, was living in his mother's household at the time of the census. The occupation section of his entry reads: 'Disabled during war.'

Emily Kathleen Allison of Louth, Lincolnshire, was recorded in her parents' household. The 26-year-old's entry in the census provides a brief snapshot into her wartime service. Despite being a professional pianist by trade, a note next to her occupation states: 'Driving car during war for army. 'Disabled since Armistice Day. Back firing broke wrist.' Isaac Twigg of Rotherham was the head of his large household at 36 years old. A general labourer, he was said to be: 'Soldier wounded. Attending hospital for wounds received in war.'

Named after the battles

Many of the battles and locations synonymous with the British war effort during WWI were etched into national consciousness. Some people even named their children after these places, perhaps as a memorial to a fallen father or brother or as recognition of a family member's service. This is evident in the 1921 Census entries for Ypres Maud Alls, Ypres being the site of many fierce battles in Belgium, and Somme Albert Rumble, born in 1916, when the Somme Offensive was launched. Somme’s father, Ernest, served on the Western Front during the war.

Army of occupation

After the end of WWI, the Allies occupied parts of Western Germany known as the Rhineland, namely to guarantee Germany respected the terms of the Armistice and to protect from any further attacks. It was also to ensure Germany paid its reparations, as agreed at the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. The Allies finally left Germany in 1930. When Annie Gullon completed her census form in June 1921, she recorded that her son Tommy was 'in Germany with army of occupation'. It was not compulsory to record absent family members, only those present on census night, which may be why Tommy's name and that of his brother Robert, also in the army, are crossed out. These are, nevertheless, useful clues for family historians.

Unemployment

The interwar period between the end of WWI and the beginning of WWII saw high levels of unemployment in Britain. Many demobilised soldiers returning home from duty, expecting a 'land fit for heroes', struggled to find work. This is evident in the 1921 census, with the 'Employment' column instructing households to record anyone 'out of work' and their last employer. 22-year-old Harold Frank Patching of Portslade by Sea, Sussex, was recorded by his father as being '(Army) out fo work - discharged from Army Nov 1919.' Similarly, 36-year-old Richard James Bullock of Devonport was described as: 'Discharged from army no occupation since leaving'. Just two examples highlighting the difficulties many returned servicemen faced after they were discharged following the end of WWI.

Unemployment extended to women, too. During the war, around 2 million women replaced men in employment, carrying out vital roles from munitions to the transport industry. Women made huge strides in taking on roles previously only occupied by men. They also made significant contributions to the war effort on the home front (and overseas). However, when the war ended, women were expected to revert to society's expected roles, and returning soldiers took on many of the available jobs women had filled in the war. This is strikingly evident in the 1921 census entry for 27-year-old Maggie Edgar, who was living in her parents' household in Barrow-in-Furness. She was out of work and carrying out 'home duties'. However, according to her father, who completed the form, she was a riveter at the Vickers airship factory during WWI.

Armed forces charities

Of the many charities, organisations, and initiatives that emanated from WWI, you may be familiar with the work of the Royal British Legion (RBL). It was formed on 15 May 1921 as the British Legion, bringing together four existing organisations to support those suffering due to WWI. The RBL continues to support serving personnel, ex-personnel, and their families.

Although the British Legion was only formed 35 days before the taking of the 1921 census, traces of this fledgling organisation are visible in the collection. Richard and Hannah Acornley worked as stewards and stewardesses at the British Legion Club in Lancashire; Richard served with the Welsh Guards during the war. John Edwin Quain, wounded serving with the West Yorkshire Regiment during the war, was the Honorary Secretary of the British Legion's Leicester Branch.

The charity Blind Veteran's UK was established in 1915 to assist service personnel who had lost their sight. It was initially known as the Blinded Soldiers and Sailors Care Committee, and later St. Dunstan's, following a move to Regent's Park in London. St Dunstan's Lodge, or St. Dunstan's Hostel as it is also known, features in the 1921 census, where staff, such as Matron Margaret Power and patients like John Yarwood, were recorded.

Women and the war: references to service

Maud Breeze was 18 when the 1921 census was taken. Her father recorded that Maud was 'Employed as land worker during war'. This was most likely with the Women's Land Army, who supported the agricultural industry during WWI and WWII, taking on roles left by men who had joined the armed forces. They played a vital role in keeping the nation fed. The census document even details the farm in Yorkshire where Maud was employed and the name of the farmer, a gem for family historians.

Jeanie Adams was living alone in Southsea, Hampshire, in 1921. Although she was of independent means and not working when the census was taken, she noted that she 'Did 5 years voluntary work during war in London.' 72-year-old Mary Eastwood had retired from work by 1921. However, she recorded that during the war, she was in charge of a hostel for munitions workers. Hostels were constructed to house women who had left home and travelled from around the country to work in the munitions factories.

Acts of bravery

Tens of thousands of medals for bravery, often known as gallantry awards, were issued to men and women for their courageous acts and devotion to duty during WWI - perhaps this includes one of your ancestors. Some of these awards can be explored in our military collections. James Bloxham of London was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal during WWI. Recipients could use the letters ‘DCM’ after their name. The post-nominal lettering is visible in James's entry in the 1921 census.

Discover your ancestors in the 1921 census and learn about their lives in the immediate aftermath of WWI.

Ancestry Tip: Try searching the 'Keywords' field of the census with words like 'war widow', ‘army pensioner’, or ‘wounded’.

Sources

1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War, War Widows, accessed January 2025.
Blind Veterans UK, Our history, accessed January 2025.
Royal British Legion, 100 years of RBL, accessed January 2025.
Royal British Legion, Our history, accessed January 2025.
The Long, Long Trail, Some British Army statistics of the Great War, accessed January 2025.
UK Parliament, Suffrage in wartime, accessed January 2025.