Alison Robins facts for kids

Alison Robins (born Gerrish) (March 9, 1920 – October 15, 2017) was a British officer who worked with secret signals during World War II. She joined the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), also known as "Wrens," in 1939. Later, she became part of the "Y-Service" which played a key role in the war.

Early Life and Training

Alison Gerrish was born in Branksome, Dorset, England, on March 9, 1920. Her parents moved often for her father's work, so Alison went to eight different schools. In 1938, she finished school and became a riding instructor. She was a member of the Royal Horse Society.

When World War II began, Alison joined the WRNS. At first, she was an officers' steward, serving meals. But she wanted to do more. In her free time, she learned Morse code, which is a way to send messages using beeps or flashes of light.

Becoming a Signals Expert

Alison quickly became very good at Morse code. In January 1941, she passed her course and became a Chief Petty Officer. Her first job was at a Royal Navy Wireless Station in Scarborough.

By May 1942, she moved to Felixstowe. This was a very busy place because German E-boats (fast attack boats) were constantly trying to stop British ships carrying important supplies. Alison's job was to listen to all the Morse code messages. These messages were in a secret code. She would send them to a super-secret place called "Station X" to be decoded.

Working at Bletchley Park

Alison Robins was one of the last surviving members of the 'Y-Service' who worked with secret German communications. For many years, she didn't know that "Station X" was actually Bletchley Park. This secret location was where brilliant minds worked to break enemy codes. She only found out its name in the late 1990s.

In 1943, Alison moved to Sheringham in Norfolk. Here, she decided to learn German. This way, she could listen to spoken messages from German U-boats (submarines) as well as Morse code. Other Wrens helped her learn by singing simple songs. She also used a "Teach Yourself German" book.

Listening to German Messages

Every day, the German High Command (their military leaders) would give a report on the war's progress. They spoke slowly, like dictation, which helped Alison learn to write it down accurately. Soon, she became one of the few Wrens who could understand both Morse code and spoken German.

Later in 1943, she moved to a station near Dover. This was another very busy area because a lot of ship traffic passed through the English Channel. This was also when the Allied invasion of Europe was being planned.

Meeting Her Husband and Recognition

While in Dover, Alison met Maurice Robins, who would become her husband. He was a soldier and went to France shortly after D-Day. He fought through several countries. Because he had a degree in German, he later helped question German prisoners of war.

In 2010, Alison Robins received a special badge from the Prime Minister, David Cameron. It was the Bletchley Park badge. The award thanked her for her "vital service" during World War II.

Family Life

Alison and her husband, John Maurice Usher Robins, had four children together: Beatrice Anne, Elizabeth Jill, Rosemary Gay, and Marguerite Suzanne. Sadly, Marguerite died just five days after she was born in 1953. By the time Alison passed away, she had seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.