Enigma codebreakers awarded Codebreakers who helped to crack the German Enigma codes at Bletchley Park, near Milton Keynes, will finally be honoured by the Government. The surviving staff who worked in secret conditions during WW2 will now be eligible for a commemorative badge. Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it would be a "fitting recognition of their loyal service".
How very timely, Adam & I were literally just chatting about the Poles early work on the Engima Codes. Army Radio Sales Co. BBC News | EUROPE | UK gives Enigma machine to Poles
I was a Wren working on Enigma. The government finally recognised the secret work in 2009, 70 years after it began. I received a commemorative badge and a certificate of recognition from the Prime Minister. A few months ago, I received a lapel pin, another certificate and a lifetime pass to Bletchley Park. Although it was satisfying to finally receive recognition, nothing beats the satisfaction of knowing how important the work was and what it achieved. I will never forget, even though I'm seeing the end of my lifetime and know that many of my compatriots passed on before being acknowledged.
I was a Wren working on Enigma. The government finally recognised the secret work in 2009, 70 years after it began. I received a commemorative badge and a certificate of recognition from the Prime Minister. A few months ago, I received a lapel pin, another certificate and a lifetime pass to Bletchley Park. Although it was satisfying to finally receive recognition, nothing beats the satisfaction of knowing how important the work was and what it achieved. I will never forget, even though I'm seeing the end of my lifetime and know that many of my compatriots passed on before being acknowledged. Hello and welcome to the forum. Important work I think is an understatement Regards Tom
Very welcome indeed and absolutely agree with all comments made , a contribution long overdue for official recognition.
One of our local lads got the same badge & certificate for his service as a Royal Signals dispatch rider taking documents from Bletchley Park to London
I was a Wren working on Enigma. The government finally recognised the secret work in 2009, 70 years after it began. I received a commemorative badge and a certificate of recognition from the Prime Minister. A few months ago, I received a lapel pin, another certificate and a lifetime pass to Bletchley Park. Although it was satisfying to finally receive recognition, nothing beats the satisfaction of knowing how important the work was and what it achieved. I will never forget, even though I'm seeing the end of my lifetime and know that many of my compatriots passed on before being acknowledged. I also recently received the commemorative badge and certificate from the PM. However, I must admit my presence at Bletchley Park in 1940 was relatively brief and was as a Royal Signals Despatch Rider, with no involvement in code breaking. I take off my hat to the brains that did the really important work! Nevil
Indeed, I agree with the other posts - it's about time this amazing work was acknowledged and received some kind of official thank you
I saw the badges/medal they were presented with when I (and my gf who is on here) interviewed one of the civilian codebreakers there recently, fantastic little things and fitting, if late!
Will have to ask my Aunt if she has hers. Her name at the time was Jessie Morgan ( now Jones ) and she was a WREN working on the Bombe in hut 11 from 40 to 44. She lives in Blackpool.
My Grandfather has just recently been added to the Bletchly Park Roll of Honour 'Y' list, James Newby Collinge. I have also his war records which are obscure to say the least (unless I cannot get my head around them) if anyone can help with info about what he acually did I would be very grateful. He joined the Intellingence Corp in 1943, prior to this he was in the 7th Wiltshire, and and I know he was attached to the Signals Intelligence unit and in 1945, 21st Army Group. I am quite happy to PM my grandfathers papers if they feel they can enlighten me on what he was involved in. I beleive he was involved in the repatriation of POW in Burma but know nothing more about this. Any help would be wonderful. Call to recognise crucial work of Darwen war heroine (From Lancashire Telegraph)
RIP Betty Hull I write today to pay honour to one of the many young unsung heroes of Bletchley Park. This delightful lady sadly passed away on Saturday the 2nd of July. Betty Hull was married for many years to the late Ted Hull of Bomber Command who was a fellow crew member on the Lancaster of 166 Squadron in which my brother Jack was killed over Nuremberg. Ted was a lovely man and during my research into my brother's death I had the pleasure of meeting both him and Betty and grew to admire and respect them both, consequently my family were truly saddened to learn of her recent passing. Ted had mentioned to me that his wife had worked at Bletchley but what I didn't previously realise was the fact that she kept for 30 years, even from him, the secret of her work on Enigma as this excerpt from one of their daughters letters clearly shows. Mum worked at Bletchley Park, typing in secret stuff onto an enigma machine! The process they were put through after the war and her own determination to keep secret what she had been involved in meant that she had few clear memories of her life there. She was in ‘digs’ in the village, I know. We took her back there years ago and she was delighted to be presented with the freedom of Bletchley Park and of course, later still, the medal that was awarded to those who had worked there. It wasn’t until the 30-year secrecy ban lifted that we knew what Mum did in the war. She and Dad were watching the news and Bletchley Park was mentioned for the first time as being the secret centre for decoding enemy traffic and the enigma machine. Mum just casually said, “That’s where I worked.” You can imagine Dad’s response, “WHAT?!” We were and are very proud of them both and it really helps to hear of the regard you held them in. RIP Betty and thank-you for your wonderful work ! Ron
on 15 July 2011... "The Queen accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will dedicate a Public Memorial at Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, to those who worked at Bletchley Park and its outstations during World War II."
Giving this thread a bump in order to copy this letter which was written by Martin Sugarman and published in this week's Jewish Chronicle. Good News wanted I am trying to find surviving family (nephews/nieces etc) of Isaac Jack Good aka Jack Gudak, who was a famous Jewish colleague of and code-breaker at Bletchley Park with Alan Turing. Jack never married so there are no children to consult. This is for a research article for the Jewish Military Museum of Ajex. Please contact me on martin.sugarman@yahoo.co.uk Martin Sugarman (Ajex Archivist)
I hope someone who knows something gets in touch! My paternal grandfather worked at Bletchley on the translation side of things, but he passed away before I was born.
Does anyone know why the work at Bletchley Park was kept secret for so long? For example, was it because the Government continued to use the technology after the war?
How was Bletchley park recorded on naval and wrens and RAF WAAF service records. Was it station X or was there HMS ......... or RAF ......... Just visited today and there was over 5000 service personnel stationed there as well as 3000 civilians
