Jean Valentine (bombe operator) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Millar Valentine
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|---|---|
| Born |
Jean Millar Valentine
7 July 1924 Perth,_Scotland, Scotland
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| Died | 17 May 2019 (aged 94) Henley-on-Thames, England
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| Nationality | Scottish |
| Citizenship | British |
| Known for | Bombe operation as a Wren at Bletchley Park |
| Spouse(s) |
Clive Ingram Rooke
(m. 1946–1998) |
| Children | 2 |
Jean Millar Valentine, later known as Jean Millar Rooke, was a very important person during World War II. She was born on July 7, 1924, and passed away on May 17, 2019. Jean worked at Bletchley Park in England, a top-secret place where codes were broken. She operated a special machine called a bombe, which helped to decode secret messages from the enemy. Jean was also a member of the "Wrens," which was the nickname for the Women's Royal Naval Service.
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Jean Valentine's Life and Secret Work
Jean Valentine was born in Perth, Scotland, in 1924. She was one of thousands of women who worked at Bletchley Park during the war. While working there, she lived in a nearby village called Steeple Claydon in Buckinghamshire.
Jean started her secret job earning 15 shillings a week, which was about 75 pence. Like her co-workers, she kept her wartime work a complete secret for many years. People didn't talk about what they did at Bletchley Park until the mid-1970s.
Working with the Bombe Machine
Jean Valentine worked in a building called Hut 11 at Bletchley Park. She remembered that there were five bombe machines in her hut. Ten girls and one petty officer, who was in charge of the telephone, worked there. The bombe machines were designed by Alan Turing and others. They were crucial for breaking the secret codes used by the enemy.
Jean mentioned in an interview that moving to England for work was a big adventure for her. She had never left Scotland before that time. She worked for eight hours every day at Bletchley Park. It was very important that no one ever talked about their work outside of Bletchley Park.
Sharing the Story of Bletchley Park
After the secret was revealed, Jean Valentine became involved with the Bletchley Park Museum. She helped with the reconstruction of a bombe machine, which was finished in 2006.
Jean believed it was important for people to learn about this history. In 2006, she said that if people didn't visit, a vital piece of history would be lost. She felt that the more they could educate visitors, the better.
Jean often demonstrated the reconstructed bombe machine at the Bletchley Park Museum. She also led tours, sharing her experiences with visitors. In 2009, she took part in a special reunion at Bletchley Park.
On June 24, 2012, Jean Valentine spoke about her wartime experiences. This was part of an event called Turing's Worlds. It celebrated 100 years since the birth of Alan Turing, the brilliant mathematician who helped design the bombe. Jean Valentine lived in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire later in her life. She passed away in May 2019 at the age of 94.
See also
