Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

New study finds 80 women were part of team that cracked Nazi codes during WWII

Jane Monroe who used to make tea was actually a code-breaker in the World War II.

New study finds 80 women were part of team that cracked Nazi codes during WWII

During World War II, a group of unsung heroes worked tirelessly in complete secrecy to crack Nazi codes, a story that is only now coming to light. At least 77 women from Newnham College, a women-only institution at Cambridge University, were drafted to Bletchley Park, the renowned code-breaking centre north of London.

While mathematician Alan Turing is widely known for his role in decoding messages encrypted by the Enigma machine, the contributions of these women have only recently been revealed thanks to research initiated by Sally Waugh.


Waugh, a former Newnham student and teacher, embarked on her research journey five years ago to shed light on the often overlooked role of women during this period. She stumbled upon the story when she came across an article mentioning an old friend, Jane Monroe, who had worked at Bletchley Park.

Despite Monroe's modest response that she "made tea" during the war, Waugh discovered that she was, in fact, a code breaker. Monroe, like many others, was bound by the Official Secrets Act and could not disclose her wartime activities.

Driven by curiosity, Waugh delved deeper into the university's archives and uncovered the names of around 80 women who had contributed to the code-breaking efforts at Bletchley Park.

alan turing statue uk scaled A statue of Alan Turing sits in Sackville Park in Manchester's Gay Village. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Among them was mathematician Joan Clarke, who worked closely with Turing and played a significant role in the decryption process. Clarke's story gained wider recognition after being portrayed by Keira Knightley in the film The Imitation Game.

Other remarkable women included Violet Cane, known for her statistical prowess, and Elizabeth Langstaff, a German speaker tasked with reconstructing intercepted messages. Newnham College's involvement extended beyond mathematics, with linguists, historians, and archaeologists also joining the ranks at Bletchley Park.

The women's contributions were diverse, ranging from decrypting German signals to analysing diplomatic messages and studying aerial photographs. Their work was crucial to Allied planning, including preparations for the pivotal D-Day landings on June 6, 1944.

Although most were unaware of the exact timing of the invasion, the increased German signal traffic in response to the Allied advance made June 1944 a particularly busy time at Bletchley Park.

Today, the efforts of these remarkable women are being rightfully acknowledged, ensuring that their invaluable contributions to history are not forgotten.

More For You

 Michael Madsen

Michael Madsen’s top 10 unforgettable movie roles

Getty Images

10 iconic Michael Madsen roles that made him Hollywood’s ultimate tough guy

Quick highlights:

  • Michael Madsen was known for blending menace with vulnerability across a 200-film career.
  • His breakout role as Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs remains one of the most iconic villains in cinema.
  • Roles in Kill Bill and Donnie Brasco cemented his status as a cult favourite and Tarantino regular.
  • He also surprised audiences with emotional performances in Free Willy and Thelma & Louise.

Some actors chase stardom. Michael Madsen wasn’t one of them. He didn’t charm you with a smile; he unnerved you with a stare. His voice wasn’t smooth; it was gravel scraped over concrete. He played men who lived in the shadows, spoke in grunts or chillingly calm threats, and carried violence like a familiar tool. But damn, when he was on screen, you couldn’t look away.

Madsen didn’t act tough; he was tough, and not in the movie-star sense. In a real, broken, beautiful way. These 10 roles aren’t just career highlights. They’re pieces of a man who gave us something rare: the truth, hidden in hard men with soft edges.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bangladesh seeks US deal to shield garment industry from tariffs

Workers are engaged at their sewing stations in a garment factory in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on April 9, 2025. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Bangladesh seeks US deal to shield garment industry from tariffs

BANGLADESH, the world's second-biggest garment manufacturer, aims to strike a trade deal with the US before Donald Trump's punishing tariffs kick in next week, said the country's top commerce official.

Dhaka is proposing to buy Boeing planes and boost imports of US wheat, cotton and oil in a bid to reduce the trade deficit, which Trump used as the reason for imposing painful levies in his "Liberation Day" announcement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kent County Show 2025

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley

Getty Images

Kent County Show opens with royal visit from Duchess of Edinburgh

Key points:

  • Day one of the Kent County Show begins at Detling Showground near Maidstone
  • The Duchess of Edinburgh visits the event for the first time in 16 years
  • Organisers expect up to 70,000 visitors over the weekend
  • Farming and rural life are at the centre of the three-day programme
  • Highlights include live camel racing, equine sports, livestock displays and more

Kent County Show opens with royal visit

The Kent County Show returned to Detling near Maidstone on Friday, marking the start of a major three-day celebration of farming, food, and rural living. The event opened with a special visit from the Duchess of Edinburgh, who is attending for the first time in 16 years.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley near Tunbridge Wells and serves as patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), met with farmers, equine exhibitors, and local businesses on her tour of the showground.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hasmukh Shah

The certificate was presented to Shah at the Welsh parliament by Anita Bailey, Home Office Director Windrush Unit.

Hasmukh Shah receives UK minister’s certificate of appreciation

A prominent Asian doctor has been recognised for his services to the community. Prof Hasmukh Shah has received a certificate of appreciation for his contribution and services to the United Kingdom.

The certificate was issued by Seema Malhotra MP, UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship, as part of the Windrush Cymru Elders and Race Council Cymru’s Windrush work in Wales.

Keep ReadingShow less
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom confirm split after nine years and say they will co parent daughter Daisy

Katy Perry Orlando Bloom Choose Co Parenting Future After Nine Years

Getty Images

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom confirm split after nine years and say they will co parent daughter Daisy

Quick highlights:

  • Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom have ended their nine-year on-off relationship, confirmed via reps.
  • The couple says the focus has now shifted to co-parenting their daughter, Daisy.
  • Perry got emotional on stage during the Australian leg of her tour amid split rumours.
  • Bloom posted cryptic quotes about loneliness and new beginnings.

After weeks of speculation, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom have officially confirmed they are no longer together. The singer and actor, who have been in a high-profile relationship since 2016, released a joint statement through their representatives, saying they’ve “shifted” their relationship to focus on co-parenting their daughter. The pair, who got engaged in 2019 and welcomed daughter Daisy Dove Bloom in 2020, had reportedly been living increasingly separate lives in recent months.

 Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom Katy Perry Orlando Bloom Choose Co Parenting Future After Nine YearsGetty Images

Keep ReadingShow less