Betty Webb (code breaker)

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Charlotte Elizabeth Webb[1] (later Vine-Stevens; born 1923[2]) worked as a code breaker[3] at Bletchley Park during World War II at the age of 18.[4][5] Starting in 1941 she joined the British Auxiliary Territorial Service.[6] She said, of joining the top-secret mission at Bletchley, "I wanted to do something more for the war effort than bake sausage rolls."[5]

Webb grew up with a German au pair before becoming an exchange student in Germany. Upon arrival at Bletchley she was tasked with cataloging encrypted German radio messages intercepted by the British, contributing to the breaking of the German cipher Enigma.[3][5] During her time at Bletchley she also worked on intercepted Japanese messages.[5] After the war ended in Europe, Webb traveled to Washington D.C. to assist the Americans with the war in the Pacific.[5][7][8]

As of February 2021, Webb lived in Worcestershire, England.[9]

Webb was made a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2015.[10] In 2021, Webb's work at Bletchley Park was recognized by the government of France with the award of the Légion d’Honneur.[11]

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References[]

  1. ^ Bletchley Park Roll of Honour: Charlotte Elizabeth “Betty” Vine-Stevens (Webb)
  2. ^ Keogh, Kat (5 September 2012). "Wythall woman's role as a WWII Enigma codebreaker at Bletchley Park". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Women in IT Awards winners revealed at glitzy ceremony". Information Age. 29 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Michael Portillo hails Bletchley Park's secret heroes". Bletchley Park. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e "'I wanted to do something more for the war effort than bake sausage rolls.'". Magazine. 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  6. ^ "Portrait painting: Betty Webb MBE | National Army Museum". www.nam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  7. ^ "Emotional reunion after 70 years for Bletchley Park veterans". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  8. ^ Wright, John (2021-02-28). "WW2 codebreaker Betty Webb: 'It horrifies me when people talk about money'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  9. ^ WW2 codebreaker Betty Webb: ‘It horrifies me when people talk about money’
  10. ^ Lusher, Adam (January 1, 2018). "94-year-old Bletchley Park veteran: I helped defeat the Nazis in 1941 and I'm ready to fight fascism again now". The Independent. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  11. ^ Harris, Tristan (July 3, 2021). "Wythall's Bletchley Park veteran Betty Webb MBE is officially presented with the Légion d'Honneur by the French government". Bromsgrove Standard. Retrieved July 5, 2021.

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