Why would a family not be on the 1939 census if known to be alive?

[thebottos]

Hi I am looking for relatives that were known to be living in the Durham area, The Lumsden family, consisting of husband, wife and daughter Jean. We know where they were in 1911 but by 1939 there is no trace of them. We know they were still alive and not known to have moved abroad. Can anyone help with how we might trace them. Ralph Lumsden was a coal miner but could have been called up to the army?

[StanleysChesterton]

Hi I am looking for relatives that were known to be living in the Durham area, The Lumsden family, consisting of husband, wife and daughter Jean. We know where they were in 1911 but by 1939 there is no trace of them. We know they were still alive and not known to have moved abroad. Can anyone help with how we might trace them. Ralph Lumsden was a coal miner but could have been called up to the army?

Like all record sources, it could be that their record has been mistranscribed, or even that they were away that week/month for a variety of reasons, so they aren't where you expect.

I have a few "missing" that I know must be in there.

[rosie99]

Have you tried searching by first name & birth date.     

Are any of them still alive. If Ralph was in the Army at the time the register was compiled he would not be on it.

[BumbleB]

If it is Ralph, born 1884, then he would be too old to be called up!!!

[Sc00p]

If it is Ralph, born 1884, then he would be too old to be called up!!!

Being born c1884 would not make him too old to be called up.  He may have been exempted though if he worked 'underground'.

[BumbleB]

He'd be 55 in 1939!! 

[groom]

If it is Ralph, born 1884, then he would be too old to be called up!!!

Being born c1884 would not make him too old to be called up.  He may have been exempted though if he worked 'underground'.

Far too old, by 1942 conscription had gone up to men aged 51, he'd be 58 by then.

[BumbleB]

If I've got the right Ralph Lumsden, then he was an underground worker, even in 1939 - Colliery Horseman below ground.

[ScouseBoy]

If it is Ralph, born 1884, then he would be too old to be called up!!!

Being born c1884 would not make him too old to be called up.  He may have been exempted though if he worked 'underground'.

Far too old, by 1942 conscription had gone up to men aged 51, he'd be 58 by then.

  Maybe too old  to be called up for Active Service in the Army.  But  not too old for the Merchant Navy.  Not old  to be directed to specific work if he had specific skills.