Joan McLean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joan Louisa McLean
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| Born | October 1919 Dublin, Ireland
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| Died | 17 January 2018 |
| Years active | 1942 to 1945 |
| Known for | Wartime morse code operator |
Joan Louisa McLean (born October 1919 – died 17 January 2018) was a brave volunteer during World War II. She joined the Women's Royal Naval Service, also known as the Wrens. Joan played a super important role in breaking secret codes. In 1945, she worked at a base called HMS Paragon in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Her job was to send secret morse code messages from German submarines to Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire.
Joan's Early Life
Joan Louisa McLean was born in 1919 in Dublin, Ireland. She was one of four children. Her parents were Thomas Trowbridge and Florence Youells. Joan grew up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. She helped her mom, Florence, in her dress shop.
In 1940, Joan met John McLean at a dance in Salisbury. John was a Scottish accountant from Edinburgh. He was taking a course at the Royal School of Artillery at Larkhill. They fell in love during the war and got married. In 1942, John left to join the Eighth Army. He went to fight in the North African campaign.
Working for Bletchley Park
Joan wanted to help with the war effort at home. Her brothers were already serving. One was in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the other in the Merchant Navy. So, Joan decided to volunteer for the Wrens.
She earned 3 shillings a week at the Scarborough Y Station. This was an onshore listening base called HMS Paragon. The workers there had a tough schedule. They worked eight-hour shifts. For the next two days, they would work their shifts at different times. There was no day off during the week. If someone was absent, others had to work extra hard.
Joan once shared a story about getting into trouble. She was late getting back to base. It wasn't her fault, but she still got detention. Her dad was very upset. He wrote a letter to King George VI to complain. He told the King, "My daughter is fighting in YOUR war!" This letter actually made things a bit worse for Joan.
Life After the War
After the war, Joan went back to Edinburgh. She lived there with her husband, John. They had four children together: Iain, Jane, Katrina, and Kevin. For many years, Joan's important work was a secret. People only found out about her role when Bletchley Park opened to the public in 1993.
Images for kids
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Women played a huge part at Bletchley Park, helping to break codes.
