Info on GCHQ/ Bletchly park
Discussion
Couldn't think of where best to put this but happy for mods to move.
I'm looking to find some info on my mother in law who worked at GCHQ/ Bletchly park in the 50s. we have no info on her role, position or even department and sadly she passed without ever telling us ( secrets act I'm guessing?)
Does anyone know of a website or source of info where we could find out her role there back then, we would love to know. Thanks all
I'm looking to find some info on my mother in law who worked at GCHQ/ Bletchly park in the 50s. we have no info on her role, position or even department and sadly she passed without ever telling us ( secrets act I'm guessing?)
Does anyone know of a website or source of info where we could find out her role there back then, we would love to know. Thanks all
Its definately worth talking to BP.
Have you any idea at all what she did ?, Its funny though, but after 70 years the in-grained secrecy remains strong.
My mother was a WREN looked after the Bombes at BP outstations at Stanmore and Eastcote.
Her grade was P5, though no-one outside the organisation knew what that meant.
I've only recently discovered that the "P" stood for Pembroke, as in HMS Pembroke, a euphemistic name for the codebreaking organisation.
Have you any idea at all what she did ?, Its funny though, but after 70 years the in-grained secrecy remains strong.
My mother was a WREN looked after the Bombes at BP outstations at Stanmore and Eastcote.
Her grade was P5, though no-one outside the organisation knew what that meant.
I've only recently discovered that the "P" stood for Pembroke, as in HMS Pembroke, a euphemistic name for the codebreaking organisation.
Edited by woodypup59 on Friday 3rd January 14:17
woodypup59 said:
I've only recently discovered that the "P" stood for Pembroke, as in HMS Pembroke, a euphemistic name for the codebreaking organisation.
HMS Pembroke was the RN's barracks at Chatham: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Naval_Barracks...Edited by woodypup59 on Friday 3rd January 14:17
GCHQ moved out of BP in '46 to Eastcote, London before relocating to Cheltenham:
https://www.gchq.gov.uk/news/gchq-reveals-secret-s...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-47819...
woodypup59 said:
Its definately worth talking to BP.
Have you any idea at all what she did ?, Its funny though, but after 70 years the in-grained secrecy remains strong.
My mother was a WREN looked after the Bombes at BP outstations at Stanmore and Eastcote.
Her grade was P5, though no-one outside the organisation knew what that meant.
I've only recently discovered that the "P" stood for Pembroke, as in HMS Pembroke, a euphemistic name for the codebreaking organisation.
,Have you any idea at all what she did ?, Its funny though, but after 70 years the in-grained secrecy remains strong.
My mother was a WREN looked after the Bombes at BP outstations at Stanmore and Eastcote.
Her grade was P5, though no-one outside the organisation knew what that meant.
I've only recently discovered that the "P" stood for Pembroke, as in HMS Pembroke, a euphemistic name for the codebreaking organisation.
Edited by woodypup59 on Friday 3rd January 14:17
Part of the uncovered collection. Had a near miss from a V1.
Can you find her in the group photo.
https://bletchleypark.org.uk/news/collections-unco...
Sevo said:
My wife’s grandfather worked there we think. She’s just sent a cheque to the RAF for a copy of his service records, hoping to get his name added to a remembrance book there.
Can get more info from her if it’d help?
Just a long shot, but the OP's wife might be related to your wife?Can get more info from her if it’d help?
Do you have any other info that she worked at BP during the 50's or only her word for it? I only ask as i was under the impression that work at Bletchley stop in the 40s after WWII!
I am slightly biased though, as a family were are no stranger to grandparents making claims to a life they cannot prove, leaving us believing that it was all possibly made up.
I am slightly biased though, as a family were are no stranger to grandparents making claims to a life they cannot prove, leaving us believing that it was all possibly made up.
When my Grandma died in 1995 we donated some furniture to Bletchley Park (She lived in Newton Longville so not far away).
My Dad's assumption/knowledge that his Father was Merchant Navy during the war then took a job with Marconi. Anyway during one of our trips to Bletchley Park we met a lady there that had known my Grandad. It turns out he had been MI5/6 (I can't remember which) and had been based not far away at Whaddon.
Apparently he used to go to work on a Monday and not come home on occasions for 2 years - the only warning they would get is that 24hrs prior to his arrival their cat would sit on the window cill overlooking the drive and not move until he came in through the door.
When we visited BP a few years ago they did have a ledger of all the people that had been based there during the war - it's well worth a day out
My Dad's assumption/knowledge that his Father was Merchant Navy during the war then took a job with Marconi. Anyway during one of our trips to Bletchley Park we met a lady there that had known my Grandad. It turns out he had been MI5/6 (I can't remember which) and had been based not far away at Whaddon.
Apparently he used to go to work on a Monday and not come home on occasions for 2 years - the only warning they would get is that 24hrs prior to his arrival their cat would sit on the window cill overlooking the drive and not move until he came in through the door.
When we visited BP a few years ago they did have a ledger of all the people that had been based there during the war - it's well worth a day out
I have emailed Bletchly and amazingly already had a reply. It would seem they only have records up to 1945 and we believe my mother in law started in the early 50's so the GCHQ link and moves to London and then Cheltenham would seem the next lead to follow. I've no doubt she was a clerk or something equally as mundane but it exciting non the less. she taught kids with learning difficulties, autism etc in her later life and we often joke that she may have seen looking for gifted kids with code breaking capabilities
V8FGO said:
Part of the uncovered collection. Had a near miss from a V1.
Can you find her in the group photo.
https://bletchleypark.org.uk/news/collections-unco...
Possssibly middle of the front row of Wrens, but really the photo is not high enough resolution, though the original at BP will be worth a look.Can you find her in the group photo.
https://bletchleypark.org.uk/news/collections-unco...
Typical rubbish on the website: "Please be aware that to enhance visitor safety, we may be carrying out bag searches on entry." How exactly does a bag check "enhance" my safety?
My Dad trained for his (then) Diplomatic Wireless Service job at BP in the mid 60s, having I'm sure been grateful to the code breakers for potentially saving his life in the early 40s when he was on Russian convoy duty in the Royal Navy...funny how life goes in circles.
My Dad trained for his (then) Diplomatic Wireless Service job at BP in the mid 60s, having I'm sure been grateful to the code breakers for potentially saving his life in the early 40s when he was on Russian convoy duty in the Royal Navy...funny how life goes in circles.
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