Shirley Green

A group of us, in a cold, uncomfortable covered lorry, arrived in total darkness at a “secret” location! Introduced to our new Wren Officers and told we were at Eastcote- (in Lime Grove – building originally a local school, i believe) where what we would be doing was TOP SCECRET, helping to decipher German messages, on the BOMBE.
After being shown our very basic quarters – bunk beds, cold stone floors, limited storage space and a fairly long walk to the “ablutions” (as they were called!) we were given a good supper and hot drinks in a large comfortable dining area. The food was always good and we looked forward to the breaks, a chat at night time the sound of crickets chirping outside! Can’t think how we slept that first night- boy! The bunks were hard.
After our very exacting training on the working on the Bombe, we settled down to our 8 hour shifts, experiencing swollen ankles through long hours of standing, concentration “tiredness” and trying to get used to the continues noise of rotating drums!
The upside was the knowledge that our job was so worthwhile to the war effort. The elation we felt when it was announced from the office next door that we’d “cracked” it was unbelievable.
However was it kept secret for so many years? Sadly, my parents never knew what i did.