Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park
"...a beauty of a history of some of the codebreaking girls who helped save us during the Second World War." — Books Monthly

“What would it be like to keep a secret for fifty years? Never telling your parents, your children, or even your husband?”

Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park tells the true story of Daisy Lawrence. Following extensive research, the author uses snippets of information, unpublished photographs and her own recollections to describe scenes from her mother’s poor, but happy, upbringing in London, and the disruptions caused by the outbreak of the Second World War to a young woman in the prime of her life.

The author asks why, and how, Daisy was chosen to work at the Government war station, as well as the clandestine operation she experienced with others, deep in the British countryside, during a time when the effects of the war were felt by everyone. In addition, the author examines her mother's personal emotions and relationships as she searches for her young fiancée, who was missing in action overseas. The three years at Bletchley Park were Daisy's university, but having closed the door in 1945 on her hidden role of national importance — dealing with Germany, Italy and Japan — this significant period in her life was camouflaged for decades in the filing cabinet of her mind. Now her story comes alive with descriptions, original letters, documents, newspaper cuttings and unique photographs, together with a rare and powerful account of what happened to her after the war.
1137594093
Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park
"...a beauty of a history of some of the codebreaking girls who helped save us during the Second World War." — Books Monthly

“What would it be like to keep a secret for fifty years? Never telling your parents, your children, or even your husband?”

Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park tells the true story of Daisy Lawrence. Following extensive research, the author uses snippets of information, unpublished photographs and her own recollections to describe scenes from her mother’s poor, but happy, upbringing in London, and the disruptions caused by the outbreak of the Second World War to a young woman in the prime of her life.

The author asks why, and how, Daisy was chosen to work at the Government war station, as well as the clandestine operation she experienced with others, deep in the British countryside, during a time when the effects of the war were felt by everyone. In addition, the author examines her mother's personal emotions and relationships as she searches for her young fiancée, who was missing in action overseas. The three years at Bletchley Park were Daisy's university, but having closed the door in 1945 on her hidden role of national importance — dealing with Germany, Italy and Japan — this significant period in her life was camouflaged for decades in the filing cabinet of her mind. Now her story comes alive with descriptions, original letters, documents, newspaper cuttings and unique photographs, together with a rare and powerful account of what happened to her after the war.
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Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park

Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park

Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park

Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park

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Overview

"...a beauty of a history of some of the codebreaking girls who helped save us during the Second World War." — Books Monthly

“What would it be like to keep a secret for fifty years? Never telling your parents, your children, or even your husband?”

Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park tells the true story of Daisy Lawrence. Following extensive research, the author uses snippets of information, unpublished photographs and her own recollections to describe scenes from her mother’s poor, but happy, upbringing in London, and the disruptions caused by the outbreak of the Second World War to a young woman in the prime of her life.

The author asks why, and how, Daisy was chosen to work at the Government war station, as well as the clandestine operation she experienced with others, deep in the British countryside, during a time when the effects of the war were felt by everyone. In addition, the author examines her mother's personal emotions and relationships as she searches for her young fiancée, who was missing in action overseas. The three years at Bletchley Park were Daisy's university, but having closed the door in 1945 on her hidden role of national importance — dealing with Germany, Italy and Japan — this significant period in her life was camouflaged for decades in the filing cabinet of her mind. Now her story comes alive with descriptions, original letters, documents, newspaper cuttings and unique photographs, together with a rare and powerful account of what happened to her after the war.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781526797100
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Publication date: 03/08/2023
Pages: 352
Sales rank: 1,062,160
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x (d)

About the Author

Jan Slimming is a publishing professional with a former career in London’s educational and international publishing industry before moving to America with her husband and young family. This is her first book. As Director of three companies, she has also chaired committees and fund-raising initiatives in aid of children’s education, before delving into historical research. Jan was six when she first heard of Bletchley Park, but it was decades later that she was compelled to research and write about this little-known part of her mother’s life. Jan is a member of the Atlanta Writers Club (Established 1914), and an active member of her community both in local events and WWII matters, with her twin sister, with whom she also writes. Jan has first-class qualifications from the Royal Society of Arts in English, Business and Publishing from Wimbledon College and the University of the Arts London (formerly London College of Printing and Graphic Arts). She lives in Atlanta with her husband and growing family.

Sir John Dermot Turing is a British solicitor and author. Turing is the nephew of cryptologist Alan Turing and became a trustee of Bletchley Park in 2012 where his uncle famously worked during World War II as well as also being a trustee of the Turing Trust. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland in 2020 for highlighting the role of Poles in breaking the Enigma code.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Prologue viii

Introduction x

Part I Early Days

Chapter 1 Tooting SW17 2

Chapter 2 War 18

Chapter 3 'Manoeuvres' 33

Chapter 4 Bon Voyage 38

Chapter 5 Wartime Volunteer? 42

Chapter 6 A Letter and a Telegram 44

Chapter 7 Chosen 53

Chapter 8 Departing 60

Part II War Secrets

Chapter 9 Arriving at Bletchley 64

Chapter 10 New Surroundings and a Friendly Face 68

Chapter 11 Room 40 74

Chapter 12 Enigma and the Polish Bomba 80

Chapter 13 Bletchley Park, the Prime Minister and a Letter 88

Chapter 14 Living in Digs 97

Chapter 15 The Workings of Bletchley Park 103

Chapter 16 Working and Waiting 126

Chapter 17 Intelligence Triumphs 132

Chapter 18 Rationing and Writing 140

Chapter 19 From SW17 to PO Box 111 146

Chapter 20 Block E, Typex Communications 151

Chapter 21 Culture or Intellect? 154

Chapter 22 Wrens 159

Chapter 23 The Listeners 163

Chapter 24 Speaking of Japanese 174

Chapter 25 Hut 7 and Top Secret Ultra 180

Chapter 26 Lonely Girl 191

Chapter 27 Fun and Games 197

Chapter 28 Lead up to D-Day 206

Chapter 29 Letters from Home 209

Chapter 30 Winter of 1944 218

Chapter 31 War's End 223

Chapter 32 'We Also Served' 231

Chapter 33 Rain of Ruin, Rain of Tears 234

Part III Secret Burden

Chapter 34 After the War 244

Chapter 35 Memory 249

Chapter 36 Bletchley Park 253

Chapter 37 Hospital 257

Chapter 38 Mental Health 265

Chapter 39 Believe 270

Chapter 40 Recovery 275

Chapter 41 The Seventies 279

Chapter 42 Reunion and the Sales Time 288

Chapter 43 Still No Recognition 294

Chapter 44 Conclusion 298

Epilogue 307

Acknowledgements 312

List of Names 314

Abbreviations 318

Endnotes 321

Index 335

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