Help with 1921 Census Please?

[toby_ax]

Hi, I am in contact with a relative who messaged me on ancestry, we are trying to discover more about an ancestor, specifically if he was in the army.

The reason this is in the handwriting recognition section is because, I am hoping someone can shed some light on the later markings written on the census.

I assume some may be for identification purposes possibly, but I am not sure entirely of the others.

For example:
Why is there a red 'x' next to his place of work Ravenfield?
What is the meaning of the green markings '577/6', '530' and '800/2'
The meaning of the green 5 in the corner? Identification purposes or something else?

If they are all for identification and record-keeping purposes it would be somewhat disheartening, I'm hoping their presence has a purpose.

Edgar Hewitt Blackburn's (b1885) occupation changed from Coal Hewer/Miner in 1911 to 'platelayer' in 1921, I'm wondering if this could be war related, or just a general occupation change.
If he went to war and did something related to railways, an occupation change may make sense. He would have only been 27/28 at the time of WW1 breaking out, and a lack of military record discoveries is confusing considering his age, but after searching 1921 records, and finding a sudden occupation change in comparison with the rest of his adult life, could suggest a possibility he did go to war. I am not too sure when coal mining began to decline in this area, so the occupation change may be a result of that.

He was a Coal Miner/Hewer in 1911 and before, and I'm wondering if this occupation was one they didn't send to war, considering the countries reliance on heating and trains during this particular time. Unfortunately I do not know much about which occupations did and didn't go to war.

Many Thanks, Toby Alex.

[mckha489]

WW1 ended in 1918.
So if he survived that, why wouldn’t he be at home in 1921?

Have you searched the medal indexes to see if anyone of his name received WW1 medals?

The green figures are codes for the occupation & industry
Not sure about the red X

[toby_ax]

Oh gosh Mckha, I've got my bearings all mixed up with the years lol its been a long day! Let me update that.

Have you searched the medal indexes to see if anyone of his name received WW1 medals?

Unfortunately I wouldn't have the slightest idea of where to look. Military records are something I have only studied in person, peoples army records, and have never searched online. I'll do some investigating thank you.

[mckha489]

I see in 1911 he was a coal miner (hewer). I am not 100% sure, but that might have been a protected occupation? 

[Jebber]

Lack of Military Record, if he did serve, may simply be because they didn’t survive. Between 60% and 70% of WW1 records were lost in a fire in WW2.

[AlanBoyd]

Is this Edgar Hewitt Blackburn junior?

Shipley Times & Express November 25th 1942, page 4

SERVING WITH THE FORCES
...
Driver Edgar Hewitt Blackburn, husband of Mrs Blackburn, Albert Terrace, Saltaire, who has two little boys, has served with the Yorks. and Lancs. and is now overseas. He is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Woof, 14 Edward Street, Saltaire. Before enlisting he was employed as a weaver in Yeadon

There is a small photo, I can post it if you wish.

Evidence that it is EHB jnr:

29 May 1931: South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times

MR E H BLACKBURN – The death occurred on Friday, after a short illness, of Mr Edgar Hewitt Blackburn, aged 45, of 174, Harrow Street, Moorthorpe. He came to this district three years ago from Baildon, near Bradford, and leaves a widow, one son, and seven daughters. [funeral details omitted]

marriage Q3 1934 North Bierley, West Riding
Lily Blackburn – Thomas Woof

1939 register, Shipley
Thomas and Lily Woof with three children named Blackburn plus two Woof (one of these redacted).

[Tickettyboo]

The notations in green writing were made after the census was taken and were part of the statistical analysis.
e.g.
Occupation codes
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/1921-census---occupation-codes

Employment (industry codes)
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/1921-census---employment-industry-codes

Boo

[ShaunJ]

He was a Coal Miner/Hewer in 1911 and before, and I'm wondering if this occupation was one they didn't send to war, considering the countries reliance on heating and trains during this particular time.

Coal miners were indeed exempt from conscription in WW1 as a reserved occupation.

[AlanBoyd]

The Wikipedia page on reserved occupations https://tinyurl.com/yv3k9xv7 has this:

Reserved occupations in the UK in World War I
Some of the reserved occupations included clergymen, farmers, doctors, teachers and certain industrial workers such as coal miners, dock workers and train drivers and iron and steel workers. Workers were not immediately exempt, for example a blacksmith would not be conscripted after the age of 25, not 18. Likewise, an unmarried mining or textiles worker would become exempt at the age of 30. Married men had a lower age before they became exempt. By 1915, 1.5 million men were in reserved occupations and by November 1918 this reached 2.5 million men.

I hadn't realised that age and marital status were factors. The WP page cites this item which goes into some more depth as well as documenting a case study:

https://tinyurl.com/3xc67fbp