Mary Adams (codebreaker) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Adams
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|---|---|
| Born |
Mary Ritchie
3 November 1922 Montrose, Scotland
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| Died | 12 July 2010 (aged 87) Dalgety Bay, Scotland
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| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation | codebreaker |
| Years active | 1943–1947 |
| Employer | Foreign Office |
| Organization | Government Code and Cypher School |
| Spouse(s) | Bob Adams |
| Children | Bob, David, Lorna |
| Parent(s) | Maggie and John Ritchie |
| Awards | Bletchly Park Commemorative Badge |
Mary Adams (born Mary Ritchie) was a brave Scottish woman. She played a secret but very important role during World War II. From 1943 to 1947, she worked as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park. This was a top-secret place where experts tried to break enemy codes.
Contents
Early Life and Secret Training
Mary Ritchie was born in Montrose, Scotland, in 1922. Her father worked on the railway. Her family later moved to Stonehaven. Mary went to Mackie Academy for her schooling. After school, she worked as a clerk in a law office.
In 1943, Mary decided to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service. This was a women's branch of the British Army. She was chosen for the Royal Corps of Signals. Here, she learned how to receive messages sent in Morse code. Morse code uses dots and dashes to represent letters and numbers.
Working at Bletchley Park
After her training, Mary was sent to Bletchley Park. This was a very secret place where British codebreakers worked. Her job was to intercept, or listen in on, coded messages. These messages were sent by German and Italian forces during the war.
Mary's main task was to capture these coded signals. She said she liked intercepting Italian messages more. This was because Italian operators were often excited when sending messages. They sometimes made mistakes and repeated their messages. This gave Mary a second chance to get the full message.
Keeping Secrets
Everyone who worked at Bletchley Park had to sign the Official Secrets Act. This meant they could not talk about their work to anyone. Mary took this rule very seriously. She did not even tell her husband about her wartime job.
For many years, her work remained a secret. Then, in 1974, a book called The Ultra Secret was published. It was written by an MI6 officer named Frederick Winterbotham. After this book came out, Mary felt she could finally talk about her important work.
Life After the War
After World War II ended, Mary Adams started a new career. She trained to become a radiographer at Manchester Royal Infirmary. Radiographers are healthcare professionals who use X-rays and other imaging to see inside the body.
In 1950, Mary married Bob Adams, who was an accountant. They had three children together: Bob, David, and Lorna. After her children were born, Mary became a volunteer. She worked at the Citizens' Advice Bureau. This organization helps people with legal, financial, and other problems. She later became a trainer and tutor at their offices in Edinburgh.
Recognition
In 2009, Mary Adams received a special award. She was given the Bletchley Park Commemorative Badge. This badge was given to people who had played a part in the secret work at Bletchley Park. It was a way to thank her for her important role during the war.
Mary Adams passed away on July 12, 2010.
