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Jean Millward (nee Knight)
BLETCHLEY PARK
When I first went to Bletchley Park in the late winter of 1944 I had no idea what went on there. When I left at the end of the war I didn’t know much more!
I was called up as a 19-year-old and was placed on something called “The Women’s Technical Service Register”. Having been offered various postings which did not appeal, and having been intrigued by what I was told, and what I was not told I accepted that posting.
I was actually employed by the Post Office engineering Department and had the title of “Female Assistant”. I worked with a few other girls and quite a few men who were on maintenance and construction of teleprinters and audio equipment. A friend called Marion and I went into the teleprinter rooms replacing small worn parts and cleaning the machines. Although I was aware of messages going to Whitehall and the Admiralty etc. I had no idea of the decoding that went on. Of course I had signed the Official Secrets Act and knew it was all very hush--hush. On arrival each day I had to report to the guardroom at the gate and show my pass. If the pass had been forgotten they phoned my department who sent someone down to vouch for me.
Bletchley, in those days, was a small town with one main street which, if I remember rightly, led to the old Watling St. and Fenny Stratford. There were a few shops and pubs and two cinemas. One was called The Studio but I have forgotten the name of the other. For most of the time that I was there I stayed with a family called Castle. We kept in touch for a while after the war but lost contact eventually. I was very happy and comfortable there. I remember they had a little boy called John and the parents were May and Jim. The house was in Duncombe St but I don’t suppose it exists now. We had a good street party on V.E. day!
I made quite a few friends amongst the WAAFS and we used to go to dances in the Assembly rooms just outside the Park gates, the Co-op rooms and, I think, some schoolrooms. I also was allowed to as a guest to the Naafi for a time and then they decided to have no more civilians. I remember Paddy, Vickie, Margaret Mosely and a friend with whom I kept in touch for a long time----Mary Driver.
Bletchley Park was a pleasant place to work in. Although it was a collection of huts there was a lake and nice grounds. In spite of the war and it’s privations I enjoyed my time there. I went on a course to London for a month and was there at the beginning of the Doodlebug raids.