Hi! My grandmother, Lilian Mary Hindry, passed away many years ago. In the 70's she told my mother that she had received a letter releasing her from the Official Secrets Act and could now say what she did in the war. According to my mum's memory (she only spoke about it once then never mentioned it again) she had completed a crossword puzzle competition when she was a Wren and had been taken to a new posting, which she loved as she no longer had to do "square bashing". She said she was working on snippets of code but that was all she said (or that my mother could remember). Her record has her at Stanmore III but then says "drafted to Station X" where she was doing "Special duties X" and being paid the higher special rate. I would love to know what that actually means!! I've contacted the wrens who directed me to naval search to obtain her full records, but they said that they were unlikely to be able to tell me much more as record keeping wasn't top priority at that time! I've also contacted the records at Bletchley who think she may have been a bombe operator at Stanmore but again no one knows. They have added her to the roll of honour which is fantastic. Can anyone shed any more light on what she may actually have done/where she was?! I can upload photos of the service record we have if that would be of any use?
Hi Buckle Uploading the service records would be a good idea as it is often better and easier to read the actual records rather than someone's interpretation of them. There was I seem recall another similar thread a year or so ago, have you tried a search of this site?? TD
Doing a quick search heres one link - http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/22727-leading-wren-margery-ellaine-palmer/?hl=%2Bstanmore+%2Biii#entry348848 http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/bpt/outstations/Stanmore.htm TD
Station X was the code name for Bletchley Park. There were several out stations, one at Eastcote and another at Stanmore.
Thank you! I can't upload a photo for some reason so I will type the record below! The record reads - establishment/rating/category/cause of discharge (I've not bothered with dates unless you think they are important?) HMS Pembroke III/Wren/Special duties X/drafted to Station X HMS Pembroke III Stanmore/wren/writer/higher spec rate HMS Pembroke III/wren/Special Duties (PV) HMS Pembroke III/leading wren/special duties (PV) She then went on to be posted in Portsmouth and Deal with the Royal marines when the war ended. From what I have found Pembroke III was a fictitious ship and was the name for a Bletchley outpost. Pembroke V was Bletchley and PV was an abbreviation for the wrens working there. So was she at Stanmore or Bletchley? And what was as doing!! So frustrating not being able to find out!
When you go to the reply box, in the bottom right hand corner you can select 'More Reply Options' (next to the option 'Post') this then provides the chance to 'Choose Files' from anywhere TD
This is what Bletchley have on your grandmother http://rollofhonour.bletchleypark.org.uk/search/?surname=Hindry&rank=&keyword=&gender=&location=
* There were also nearby interceptor Stations; see attched link: http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/40747-receiver-intercept-at-rothamsted-harpenden/?hl=rothamsted NB. I believe there is a moratorium on posting attachments until the shift to the new site software has been achieved! Best, Steve.
The best book I've read on Bletchley Park is this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Codebreakers-Inside-Story-Bletchley-Park/dp/0192801325/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470387180&sr=8-1&keywords=codebreakers+hinsley It covers much more than the Bombe and Enigma, but you should see what sort of work you grandmother did as a Bombe operator.
Thank you everyone! I had contacted Bletchley last year with her record and they thought she was a bombe operator but couldn't be sure as there are simply no records! Weirdly her record shows her being posted to Pembroke III Stanmore, but the rest are Pembroke III with no mention of Stanmore. Also those later postings to Pembroke III she is doing special duties PV which is a reference to Pembroke V, or Bletchley according to a couple of articles I have read by othe wrens. I have found some articles by the BBC and asked if I could contact the wrens that commented but apparently they don't hold any contact details. I've contacted the wrens and they've directed me to navy search who say they are unlikely to have much info either. I'm going around in circles!
I only have a couple of books on the subject. Station X by Michael Smith and "Ultra Goes to War" by Ronald Lewin. There is a chapter in the BBC book "The Secret War" by Brian Johnson regarding Enigma and the code breaking at Station X. Good luck with your research. Regards Tom
