Two Welsh women, who live just ten minutes apart and served as code breakers during the Second World War, have been celebrated by the First Minister at the age of 101 for their crucial work.
Kath Morris and Gwenfron Picken only found out recently that they had both worked at the secretive intelligence facility, Bletchley Park. The veterans were part of a team decoding enemy communications, which helped shorten the war and saved many lives. Their work remained classified for decades after the war ended.
Kath from Neath and Gwenfron from Port Talbot got together at a local church to share memories of their time at Bletchley Park with each other and Eluned Morgan. The celebration of their efforts during the war comes ahead of VE day on the 8th of May, which marked the end of World War Two in Europe after Germany’s unconditional surrender.
Kath said:
“I was eighteen when I received a letter to go to the Foreign Office, I was given a typing test and interviewed but I had no idea what it was about. I then received a letter to attend Bletchley Park and I signed the Official Secrets Act. I decoded morse code and passed it to the next person. I was a small cog in a big machine. I didn’t even tell my husband about my job until years later.”
Gwenfron said:
“I was eighteen when I was called for an interview where I was asked what I wanted to do to support the war effort, I said a nurse, but I received a letter saying I needed to go to London for an interview. After that I was told to go to Bletchley Park where my work started. I am very proud of my service, I made friends there and had a promotion during my time at Bletchley Park.”
The First Minister, Eluned Morgan, said:
“It’s an honour to meet these extraordinary women whose work at Bletchley Park was vital to our wartime effort.”
“Their story reminds us of the many unsung heroes who served in silence for decades.”
“Kath and Gwenfron represent the very best of Welsh contribution to the war effort.”
