Bernard Willson facts for kids

Harold Bernard Willson (born 1919, died 1994) was a brilliant British expert in languages. During World War II, he became famous for being the first person to break a secret code used by the Italian Navy. This code was made with a special machine called the Hagelin C-38. Bernard Willson was also the father of the well-known TV presenter, Quentin Willson.

Bernard Willson's Life and Work

Bernard Willson studied modern languages at Trinity College, Cambridge University. He was a very talented student.

Cracking Secret Codes in World War II

When World War II began, the Italian military used simple codes for most of their messages. But the Italian Navy started using a more complex machine in 1941. This machine, called the Hagelin C-38, helped them guide their ships. These ships carried important supplies to North Africa.

In 1941, Bernard Willson joined a secret team at Bletchley Park. This was a top-secret place where codebreakers worked. His team was in a section called Hut 4. Their main job was to break the Italian Navy's Hagelin code. They worked with another team based in Cairo, Egypt.

The Breakthrough at Bletchley Park

In June 1941, Bernard Willson made a huge breakthrough. He was the first on his team to crack the Hagelin code. This was incredibly important for the war effort. It meant that British military leaders could now read the Italian Navy's secret messages.

Knowing these secrets helped the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force sink enemy ships. These ships were carrying supplies to North Africa. As more ships were sunk, the enemy's fuel supplies dropped sharply. For example, the fuel for the German air force (the Luftwaffe) in North Africa fell by 90 percent in just a few months.

This code-breaking success was so vital that Prime Minister Winston Churchill visited Bletchley Park. He personally thanked Bernard Willson's team for their amazing work. Later, in 1944, Bernard Willson started working on Japanese codes after learning the language.

Life After the War

After the war ended, Bernard Willson returned to his life as a university professor. He became the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Leicester University. Like many people who worked at Bletchley Park, he never received a medal for his secret wartime efforts. He also never talked about his work there. The details of how he broke the code remained confidential for many years.

A Hero Remembered

Bernard Willson's important work at Bletchley Park was featured in a TV show in 2011. It was called Hero in my Family. His son, Quentin Willson, spoke about his father in the show. He said he was very proud of his dad's strength and courage.