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Hi all, 

Keith, really interesting to learn your connection, you don't by any chance know Jean, do you? She helped give me much information for my demos round the back of the Bombe and was a help to the team of rebuild engineers too. If its Jean, then you know a gem! 

We live near and joined BP after retiring, as potential guides. Once learning the route, the Bombe was only run once a week and they wanted to get more operators, we joined the team to learn, demonstrated another day each week and then hubs became trainer. We now have volunteers running it each day, but Tuesday's are engineering days when they work on anything that needs fixing, plus research to learn even more. Its both a demonstrating machine, code breaking ( against GCHQ who take their Enigma to science fairs) and a research tool to learn more of how things were done in WW2. Hope that helps? Oh, and the Bombe is downstairs in B block....

Glad you are still ok Christine.....

love and hugs to you all xxx

I'm trying to remember her name now but it could have been Jean. She was introduced to me by a neighbour and she came along to give us a talk in the village hall but it was about 8 years ago. She originally came from Folkestone and applied to join the Wrens around 1941 when she was old enough. She then did her basic training but was pulled out for special duties as a Fanny. She was interviewed with a bunch of other Wrens and joined BP because "she could think round corners." I'm not sure which hut she was in or whether she actually worked on the Bombe. Weren't there several at the time? She also knew of Alan Turing but don't think she worked directly with him or had anything to do with Colosuss. I seem to remember she was in one of the filter rooms feeding material to the code breakers themselves. 

Whatever Joan or my person did, if she was different, was vital but the frustrating bit was that sometimes the commanders on the ground ignored Ultra signals. Example - the invasion of Crete.

Personally, Rosemary and I lead a few battle tours of Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France on August 15th 1944. We got to know many veterans both British and U.S. as well as being invited to lunch with original members of the French Resistance. That was an honour as one of them sang the Chanson de Partisan unaccompanied. Spine chilling, I have many other personal stories including Dunkirk and Market Garden.

Well done for doing the volunteer work you are both doing. It's important for future generations to understand.

For us, the beauty of history is that it is relitlvely 'safe ground' compared to the uncerttainties of both the present and the future for the reasons we all know about.

Sorry to waffle on. 

Keith

Hi Keith, I know exactly what you mean about waffling on! But that's one of the joys about having a group like this one, we can! 

Unfortunately it doesn't sound too much about our Jean, who worked at BP for only a couple of years, ( she was 5 foot tall and needed a 2inch plank to work on the Bombe!) and was then taken to Colombo to work on Japanese codes. Yes, they were very bright young women, I've been incredibly fortunate to meet a few.....one who still comes to take tours occasionally is Ruth, who mostly worked at one of the out stations, Eastcote. One of the fun stories she told was of 3 years watching Bombe drums go round, then post war, got married and opened a Laundrette so continued to watch drums go round! That always gets her groups laughing! 

there were over 200 Bombes in service, only 6 at BP though, the rest in 5 different out stations, all made by the genius of a design engineer whose name always gets missed out, Harold Keen, from the concepts of Alan Turing. Harold's name never appears anywhere so I make it a part of my history chat each demo. 

I think another field commander who refused to take orders generated by civilians was Montgomery, so the Africa campaign took a little longer than it might have done! 

Hugs xxx

Yes, I heard that about Montgomery as well. I think it was because 'he always knew best'.

More waffle about a guy called Ted Raines who lived in Lyminge up the road from here. The following is an extract written by his daughter and published by the Historical Society about Ted's additional job to being a fireman.

We dont know a huge amount about the Y stations, except maybe Scarborough, where our last challenge came from. It was the first, set up to monitor radio traffic at the very start of WW1. It's always great to meet any Y station veterans, though unfortunately there are fewer all the time now. We are looking forward to the annual BP Veterans Day, timed for the nearest Sunday to the start of WW2, this year it's 6th September. 

Hugs xxx

Christine,

I do know how you feel about too many posts. I stopped a couple of months ago as it started having a negative effect rather than positive and I was selfishly only talking about me, not others as you do. I was feeling too 'surrounded' if you know what I mean. 

However, the work and words for others that you have given in comfort is nothing short of marvellous and many are very  grateful but I'm sure we also all understand you need a break. We will all be pleased though that you are not planning to leave altogether.

Look after yourself with all your new friends.

Keith xx

Good evening all

My dear,lovely Christine,how are you doing today,so pleased you've not got that nasty bug that's going round your house

Moomy & Keith,what a fascinating chat you've been having,it made interesting reading when i got home,i love reading about & listening to other peoples tales,we used to try & educate the step but you know what boys are like & no matter how hard we tried to make him stop & read stuff unless it was the cake menu he whizzed past it all & i was left trailing behind

What have you been up to today Lynda,hope you've been resting & not wielding a paintbrush

Jakki,are you home yet

Jasmin & Gillian,how are you doing today

The next kitten goes tomorrow evening,she was going today but they need a new catflap so they can lock it,Nicki's more worried about Polly fetching Ruby (she has been named today) back than her getting out,at the minute the kittens are taking it in turns to stand on the doorstep & look at pud

Got to make a floral thing for my hair this week,doing a cake & wand stall at a medieval do next sunday

Love & hugs to all

xx 

Evening all.

nope, guilty of paintbrush wielding again. Lounge nearly finished, just some touching up to do tomorrow. Then it's on to the hall.

yes, I would think there is a risk Polly will try and bring her back. Or of course she may decide to move in too! poor Pud, Little kittens teasing him.

Doing Ok thanks, had some friends round today it was fun.

I too have enjoyed _reading about the surveilance some ystems during WW2 and 1? If I understood correctly

I must go and look up bombe. 

The kittens will do well in their new home I am sure. 

Just been discussing boys with both some friends and the teenage daughter of a friend who has a twin brother. Cakes are high on thagenda rather than jobs or careers it would seem. 

Tut tut Lynda,you really must rest more,when do you go away,it must be soon,i don't think Polly will move in as she will still have 2 babies here,it's quite funny watching them really,they seem to take it in turns to get up & torment him,he crouches down & flattens his ears & from behind he looks like a fat Yoda

Pleased you're doing ok Gillian & have had a nice time with friends,we're very lucky with the step as he got a weekend job that led to a full time job & a good career but you hear so many tales of youngsters that don't seem interested in getting work or when they do get a job wantthe wages but don't want to do any work for it

xx