Eleanor Ireland facts for kids

Eleanor D. L. Ireland (born Eleanor Outlaw on August 7, 1926) was an important British computer scientist who helped with secret work during World War II. She was also a member of the Women's Royal Naval Service, which was a part of the British Navy for women.

Early Life

Eleanor Ireland was born in Berkhamsted, England, on August 7, 1926. She had a brother who worked for the Royal Air Force. Her father was a civil servant, meaning he worked for the government.

Eleanor went to Berkhamsted School for Girls from age ten to seventeen. She was very good at school. She earned high marks in English language, English literature, French, and Biology.

After school, Eleanor wanted to study architecture in London. She was accepted into a school, but World War II had started. She decided not to go because of the war. Instead, she worked at a friend's stamp collecting shop on Chancery Lane. She worked there until 1944. That year, she joined the Women's Royal Naval Service.

Joining the War Effort

In the spring of 1944, Eleanor Ireland volunteered for the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS). She received a letter on August 2, 1944, saying she was accepted.

When she first joined, Ireland was sent to Tullichewan Castle in Scotland. She did basic tasks like cleaning and preparing food. Soon, she was moved to Bletchley Park. This was a top-secret place where codes were broken during the war.

Secret Work at Bletchley Park

At Bletchley Park, Eleanor was told her work was top secret. She was part of a special group called PV Special Duties X. Like other women who worked with the new machines, she had to pass a difficult test.

Everyone working there had to sign the Official Secrets Act. This was a promise not to tell anyone about their secret work. Eleanor spent the rest of her time with the WRNS living in Woburn Abbey.

Working with Colossus

While at Woburn Abbey, Eleanor worked with a mathematician who broke codes. She helped operate the Colossus II. This was a very early computer. Her job was to help break the secret messages the Germans were sending.

The Colossus computer had to figure out the daily settings for a German code called Tunny. Eleanor had to keep a careful record of all the tapes she received. She noted the date and time messages arrived and when they were finished. Then, she would load these paper tapes into the Colossus II.

She used copper-nickel pins and tape to operate the computers. Sometimes, the paper tape would break because it ran so fast. The workers, including Eleanor, would have to glue all the tiny pieces back together.

Life After the War

After the war, Eleanor thought about becoming an interior decorator. But an aunt, who taught art, convinced her to study art instead. Eleanor spent five years at the Regent Street Polytechnic School of Art.

After finishing art school, she found work illustrating books. Later, when her sons grew up, she taught art to adults.

Family Life

Eleanor married Dennis Ireland. He was a microbiologist, a scientist who studies very tiny living things. Dennis worked in research for a company called Glaxo. Eleanor and Dennis had two sons, named Robin and Toby.

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