Bletchley Circle on PBS

[Madelaine Amee]

This series should really appeal to you Boomer and you BK001. The story is basically set around a group of female Code Breakers who worked at Bletchley during WW2. When the war ended the women lost their jobs and were basically told to go home and be good little housewives and this series shows four women who rebelled against that.

It's a great series with something for everyone.

[graciegirl]

This series should really appeal to you Boomer and you BK001. The story is basically set around a group of female Code Breakers who worked at Bletchley during WW2. When the war ended the women lost their jobs and were basically told to go home and be good little housewives and this series shows four women who rebelled against that.

It's a great series with something for everyone.

I tried watching it but the marital tension ruined it for me. I wanted to see them solve crimes. Nobody would have tried to tell any of my female ancestors they couldn't do something. I loved everything about it, the costumes, the brilliance of the women, everything. ...Except the man guilting her for not being a wife mother to his ideals.

Season 2 | Official Trailer | The Bletchley Circle | PBS (https://www.pbs.org/video/bletchley-circle-season-2-preview/)

[BK001]

Well now I am going to have to watch this so that I can weigh-in.

[Carla B]

I saw it over a year ago on Netflix, I think. I was disappointed when they took it away, as I would have watched it again. Thanks for the heads up.

[John_W]

...

[2newyorkers]

I really enjoyed both series.

[marianne237]

This was and still is a great program. The Bletchley women were the heroes of the war, and were not acknowledged. They were not allowed to admit their war time work to anyone, even to their husbands. When the truth came out, they were finally given the praise they deserved.

Marvelous series and another part of history we should know about.

[Boomer]

Thank you, Madelaine Amee,

I had not heard about Bletchley Circle but now I will definitely tune in.

While I am in this thread, in case you have not heard, PBS will begin the new season of Victoria on January 13 on Masterpiece.

--- Uh, oh. As soon as I typed that word 'Masterpiece' those trumpets started playing in my head. :)

[Harleyman]

I found out that my mother worked there during the war. Unfortunately she would not confirm it because she had sworn a 60 year oath of secrecy. She did write some things down for us, like how she trained, how they got to England etc. It was very secret. When they left Halifax they did not know what country they were going to. It was so secret that her service there is not even in her war records. After she has been dead for twenty years the English war department might tell me that she worked there.

[graciegirl]

I found out that my mother worked there during the war. Unfortunately she would not confirm it because she had sworn a 60 year oath of secrecy. She did write some things down for us, like how she trained, how they got to England etc. It was very secret. When they left Halifax they did not know what country they were going to. It was so secret that her service there is not even in her war records. After she has been dead for twenty years the English war department might tell me that she worked there.

I would love to listen to you talk about your mother! She must have been very quick and interesting. She was definitely a hero.
The REAL Bletchley Circle: Fascinating work of female codebreakers of World War II revealed | Daily Mail Online (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2533366/The-REAL-Bletchley-Circle-Fascinating-work-female-codebreakers-World-War-II-revealed.html)

[Harleyman]

It is quite a story, at least the parts that she told us. On the way to England they had to stay in their cabins. They were put in the back of a truck and taken to Bletchley where they stayed in chicken coop like buildings for weeks. Not even sure what country they were in, all of our lives growing up she played cards. Looking back she could count cards, we could never beat her at any game. She did puzzles until a few days before she died. Was amazing with numbers. I gave her a computer when she was about 75 and within a week she was pasting and sending things to my sisters. I now know why.

[villagerjack]

This was and still is a great program. The Bletchley women were the heroes of the war, and were not acknowledged. They were not allowed to admit their war time work to anyone, even to their husbands. When the truth came out, they were finally given the praise they deserved.

Marvelous series and another part of history we should know about.

Pales in comparison to the 290,000 deaths and 670,000 U.S. Military wounded during WW2 and 48,000 deaths and 300,000 wounded in the Vietnam and the 150,000 Vietnam Vets who committed suicide. Interesting that when these statistics are written about gender is never mentioned.

[Boomer]

It is quite a story, at least the parts that she told us. On the way to England they had to stay in their cabins. They were put in the back of a truck and taken to Bletchley where they stayed in chicken coop like buildings for weeks. Not even sure what country they were in, all of our lives growing up she played cards. Looking back she could count cards, we could never beat her at any game. She did puzzles until a few days before she died. Was amazing with numbers. I gave her a computer when she was about 75 and within a week she was pasting and sending things to my sisters. I now know why.


Thank you, Harleyman.

I bet your mother has some mathematically brilliant descendants, some already, some long into the future maybe. What a wonderful story to pass down.

You mentioned puzzles. I was just with a friend whose grandchild is a toddler, 18 months old. She loves to play with puzzles (designed for little ones) and she patiently solves them. I have seen her do this. I told him that I think this little girl is wired for math. Also, I love it that her puzzles are hands-on and not on a screen. (But that is a soapbox topic of mine for another day.)

(I have to say that I am wondering if your mother was also musical, or are any of her offspring? I have observed that often, though not always, playing a musical instrument comes easily to those for whom math comes easily.)

Anyway, thank you. :)

[John_W]

...

[graciegirl]

It is quite a story, at least the parts that she told us. On the way to England they had to stay in their cabins. They were put in the back of a truck and taken to Bletchley where they stayed in chicken coop like buildings for weeks. Not even sure what country they were in, all of our lives growing up she played cards. Looking back she could count cards, we could never beat her at any game. She did puzzles until a few days before she died. Was amazing with numbers. I gave her a computer when she was about 75 and within a week she was pasting and sending things to my sisters. I now know why.

From where were they coming? Where is Bletchley exactly? I wonder how they found these women who had such amazing qualities to figure out codes. Were they volunteers or were they drafted?

I know your mother must have been fascinating. And her genetic abilities must have been gifted down.

[Boomer]

Not everyone fought on the front lines, and even if a woman wanted to she was denied. Just because they worked behind the lines doesn't mean they should not be honored for the work they did in winning the war. How about all those men who sat home and did nothing at all because they were CO, or flat feet, or some other ailment. These woman actually contributed to our victory. Every war has casulties, and every war has heroes, these woman were heroes.

Thank you, John W.

The women pilots of WWII did not get the recognition they deserved. In fact, tragically, sometimes they were sabotaged by insecure men who were supposed to be serving alongside them.

There is a book called “Yankee Doodle Gals: Women Pilots of World War II” by Amy Nathan. It is a book for YA (Young Adult) readers but it is something anyone interested would like. Excellent photos.

[graciegirl]

Thank you, John W.

The women pilots of WWII did not get the recognition they deserved. In fact, tragically, sometimes they were sabotaged by insecure men who were supposed to be serving alongside them.

There is a book called “Yankee Doodle Gals: Women Pilots of World War II” by Amy Nathan. It is a book for YA (Young Adult) readers but it is something anyone interested would like. Excellent photos.

WASP - Women Pilots of World War II (https://www.thoughtco.com/wasp-women-pilots-world-war-ii-3530695)

[Harleyman]

About 50 women who were in the a Royal Canadian Army were picked to take a course in Ontario, based on a test of some kind they had done. About twenty of them were chosen to go to Bletchley, which is outside a London, about 30 miles or so I think. My mother was good in math and puzzles. She had also worked for the phone company as a switchboard operator before the war. The only musical ability was that she played a wicked harmonica. I could go on forever but from what I know, which isn’t as much as I would like, it was an experience of a lifetime. As a point of interest, her father was a Major who served in both world wars, was wounded twice in the first nine, had two brothers killed in the first war. She had two brothers who were both air crew in the second war. When I asked her brother a few years ago if he knew about her working at Bletchley, he told me that he did know about it and also that he himself was a commando during the second war and was shot when he was parachuting out of a plane on a mission. I was the first person he had told that and he was 90 when he told me. There are other military stories about her family but I have gone on long enough. All the best to everyone.

[ColdNoMore]

Thank you, John W.

The women pilots of WWII did not get the recognition they deserved. In fact, tragically, sometimes they were sabotaged by insecure men who were supposed to be serving alongside them.

There is a book called “Yankee Doodle Gals: Women Pilots of World War II” by Amy Nathan. It is a book for YA (Young Adult) readers but it is something anyone interested would like. Excellent photos.

:agree:

[Boomer]

About 50 women who were in the a Royal Canadian Army were picked to take a course in Ontario, based on a test of some kind they had done. About twenty of them were chosen to go to Bletchley, which is outside a London, about 30 miles or so I think. My mother was good in math and puzzles. She had also worked for the phone company as a switchboard operator before the war. The only musical ability was that she played a wicked harmonica. I could go on forever but from what I know, which isn’t as much as I would like, it was an experience of a lifetime. As a point of interest, her father was a Major who served in both world wars, was wounded twice in the first nine, had two brothers killed in the first war. She had two brothers who were both air crew in the second war. When I asked her brother a few years ago if he knew about her working at Bletchley, he told me that he did know about it and also that he himself was a commando during the second war and was shot when he was parachuting out of a plane on a mission. I was the first person he had told that and he was 90 when he told me. There are other military stories about her family but I have gone on long enough. All the best to everyone.


Thank you and thank you to your family. :)

[villagerjack]

Not everyone fought on the front lines, and even if a woman wanted to she was denied. Just because they worked behind the lines doesn't mean they should not be honored for the work they did in winning the war. How about all those men who sat home and did nothing at all because they were CO, or flat feet, or some other ailment. These woman actually contributed to our victory. Every war has casulties, and every war has heroes, these woman were heroes.

Never suggested that they should not be honored. They indeed played a very important part in the war effort. But so did all the women who stayed home including my mom who had 4 kids in a one bedroom apartment Living on an Army allotment and ration stamps. No stories about them because it does not fit the subliminal Agenda that entraps many. Point is that these great women were treated unfairly but so were a lot of other veterans who were spat upon and called baby killers. My FIL. Was shot down over Ploesti and was a POW under very bad circumstances but he amazingly never complained or thought he was special. This story could have been about their achievements but PBS prefers to dote on victimization. Life is not always fair but that is true for all genders.

[John_W]

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[Moderator]

Please return to the topic....the PBS TV show. Getting sidetracked ....

Moderator

[graciegirl]

I am sure I am not alone in saying that I enjoyed the personal connection from Harleyman. I felt it added to this thread and to all of our general information. He is another lucky fellow in his choice of mothers.:)

Are you a year rounder in The Villages, Harleyman? It would be lovely to hear you talk about your mom at length.

I think how amazing it was that people kept mum about this secret. It showed the stiff upper lip and the moral fiber of the people in that generation.

[Harleyman]

Thanks Gracie. Of all the people who post on this site there about six or seven that I would like to meet and you are at the top. We are from Nova Scotia and have owned for eight years. We spend about four and a half to five months a year at our house.. We will be back hopefully in mid Feb until mid April. I would love to get together with you and tell you some more of the story. My mother wrote us a letter about her war times but she would not actually tell us about Bletchley. They all signed a sixty year oath of secrecy and she took most of the stuff to her grave. I will send you a note when we get back. Perhaps we can arrange to get together for a chat.