William Clarke (cryptographer) facts for kids

William Francis "Nobby" Clarke (1883–1961) was a clever British officer who worked with secret codes during both World War I and World War II. He was an expert at understanding hidden messages, especially those used by navies.

Early Life and Education

William Francis Clarke was born in 1883. He went to a famous school called Harrow School. After that, he studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, which is a well-known university.

Clarke decided to become a lawyer. In 1906, he became a "barrister." This means he was qualified to argue cases in court. His father, Sir Edward Clarke, was also a very important lawyer and even served as the Solicitor-General, a top legal advisor to the government.

Working with Secret Codes

Joining the Navy

In 1915, during World War I, William Clarke joined the British Navy. He became an "assistant paymaster." This job involved managing money and supplies for the Navy. He wanted to be an "executive officer," which is a leader on a ship, but he couldn't because of his eyesight.

Clarke knew how to speak German. This skill was very useful for understanding enemy messages. In March 1916, he joined a secret group called Room 40. This group was responsible for breaking enemy codes.

Room 40 and Intelligence

Clarke was very good at understanding and organizing information, even more than just breaking codes. He was on duty during a big sea battle called the Battle of Jutland. He noticed that the Navy wasn't very good at sharing the secret information they found.

After World War I, in 1919, Clarke and another code expert named Francis Birch were chosen to write the history of Room 40. They were very honest in their report. They criticized how the Navy handled secret information. Because of their strong opinions, their history book was not allowed to be published.

After the War

Government Code and Cipher School

In 1919, Clarke started working for a new secret organization called the Government Code and Cipher School (GC&CS). This was the main place where Britain worked on secret codes. For four years, he focused on understanding secret messages from American diplomats.

In 1924, Clarke was promoted. He became the head of the new section at GC&CS that dealt with naval codes. He stayed in this important role until 1941, during World War II.

World War II Work

After 1941, his colleague Francis Birch took over as head of the naval section. William Clarke then focused on breaking Italian naval codes. He continued this vital work until he retired in October 1945, right after World War II ended.

Later Years

William Francis Clarke passed away in 1961. He was buried at the Church of All Saints, Selworthy.