The Bletchley Park code breaker Charlotte “Betty” Webb has died at the age of 101, the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association (WRACA) has confirmed.
Arriving at Bletchley from the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) aged just 18, Webb spent four years during the second world war at the code-breaking centre working in various roles.
Webb, from Wythall in Worcestershire, intercepted German police messages, which revealed the beginning of the Holocaust, and paraphrased decoded Japanese messages for the Pentagon in the US.
Confirming her death, the WRACA said on Facebook: “Betty inspired women in the army for decades and we will continue to take pride in her service during WWII and beyond, and as a champion of female veterans.
Speaking to the Guardian in 2018, Webb admitted she was unaware of the significance behind the complex codes she was breaking.
“The messages were in groups of five letters or figures in morse code – nothing was clear at all. Some dates appeared. It was total gibberish, but you had to register everything, so senior people could call on a date or message at any time. We knew very little of what was going on. We really were in the dark.”
Webb was appointed MBE in 2015 and Knight of the Légion d’honneur in 2021, a prestigious order of merit awarded for both military and civil service in France.
She was president of the WRACA Birmingham branch.
In a statement, Bletchley Park said her contributions to the estate’s work during the second world war and to ensuring its legacy, would never be forgotten.
They said: “Betty was not only a member of the incredible team at Bletchley Park during world war two, but she also dedicated much of her life to raising the profile of Bletchley Park in more recent years.
“Her tireless efforts in bringing the history of Bletchley Park to a wider audience, through sharing the stories of those who worked here, helped ensure that the vital role of Bletchley Park during world war two and its impact on the conflict was recognised.
“Betty’s passion for preserving the history and legacy of Bletchley Park has undoubtedly inspired many people to engage with the story and visit the site. Betty’s impact at Bletchley Park will be remembered for many years to come.”
Tess Dunlop, historian and broadcaster, said she was with Webb on her final day. Posting on X, Dunlop said: “Betty was the very best. I was lucky enough to hold her hand yesterday as she gently glided to another place. She is one of the most remarkable woman I have ever known.”
A German speaker, Webb’s job was taking decoded messages and reordering the unencrypted wording to be sent to allied commanders, so that if intercepted by the enemy, they would not discover their transmissions were being deciphered.
She was 18 and studying at domestic science college near Shrewsbury in Shropshire when she and several others on her course decided to serve.
She completed her basic training in Wrexham at the Royal Welch Fusiliers’ barracks before being taken to London for an interview and then immediately to Bletchley Park.
Webb never told anyone about her work and it remained a secret until 1975. She was never able to tell her parents as they had already died.
From then, she gave talks to schools and other organisations and wrote a book about her experiences.
Source: theguardian.com
