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October 1941 — I was 18 and had left a quiet life in Herefordshire to serve in the ATS. My orders were to go to an address in London for interview — but you do not tell anyone. Interview over, I was given a travel warrant from Euston to Bletchley where I was met and eventually taken to a room occupied by an army captain with a gun and volumes of the Official Secrets Act, which had to be read, understood and signed. . From that moment, everything that I heard, read or saw must be kept SECRET. From that moment no one (even my parents) would know where I was. That secret was to be kept for the duration of the war and for 30 years beyond. Breaching the Official Secrets Act could have dire punishments. Many men and women from the Navy, Army, Airforce And Civil Servants — probably some 12,000 or more honoured their commitment, kept SECRETS and thus protected our country from being invaded.

The main duties at the Government Codes and Cypher School were:

Registering enemy (German, Italian, Japanese) Morse Code radio messages which had been picked up by our signal stations in Great Britain and throughout our colonies, then breaking the code ready for translation and transcription, then assessing the import of the messages and finally passing on appropriate intelligence to our Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill and Commanders in the various battle fields.

May 1945 — another SECRET! My posting to the Pentagon in Washington DC, USA, but after silence during my 10 day embarkation leave at home I was flown to America on a Sunderland flying boat (a 30 hour trip!). I was allowed to write to my parents - with an address.

1975 — The veil of secrecy was lifted — secrets will out in the end!

This story was submitted to the People’s War Site by Anastasia Travers a volunteer with WM CSV Actiondesk on behalf of Charlotte Webb and has been added to the site with her permission. Charlotte Webb fully understands the site’s Terms And Conditions

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