A Bletchley Park codebreaker, who showed “dedication and exceptional work” during the Second World War, has died at the age of 101.
Betty Webb died on Monday, the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association said. She was one of the last surviving codebreakers from Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire.
Ms Webb, whose first name was Charlotte but preferred to be known as Betty, worked at Bletchley Park as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) from 1941 to 1945.
She indexed German messages and paraphrased Japanese signals and was eventually sent to Washington DC in May 1945 to assist with the Pacific War effort.
She was made an MBE in 2015 for services to remembering and promoting the work of Bletchley Park. She was also awarded France’s highest distinction, the Legion d’Honneur, in 2021.
She started volunteering for the ATS in 1941 after deciding she decided she “ought to be serving our country rather than just making sausage rolls”, according to an interview she gave as part of the Bletchley Park oral history project in February 2012.
Mrs Webb never told anyone about her work, including her parents, who died not knowing her secret.
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But after 1975, she was able to give talks to schools and other organisations and wrote a book about her experiences.
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In a tribute, the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association wrote: “We lost a proud ATS and WRAC veteran, Bletchley codebreaker, Knight of the Legion d’Honneur, WRAC Association member, and president of our Birmingham branch.
“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.”
In a statement, Bletchley Park said her contributions to the estate’s work during the Second World War and to ensuring its legacy, will “never be forgotten”.
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Iain Standen, chief executive of Bletchley Park Trust, added: “She will be remembered, not only for her work at Bletchley Park during World War Two, but also for her efforts to ensure that the story of what she and her colleagues achieved is not forgotten.
“Our thoughts are with her family, friends and all those who were touched by her warmth, dedication and exceptional work.”
