more from THE TIMES : Cracking the code on the Enigma breakthrough

The Times
July 29, 2006

Letters to the Editor :

Cracking the code on the Enigma breakthrough
--------------------------------------------

Sir, I do not wish to detract from the importance of HMS Petard sinking 
U559 in October 1942, and the extraordinary courage and resourcefulness of 
Anthony Fasson, Colin Grazier and Thomas Brown (letters, July 20 and 24), 
which helped so much with the breaking of the Enigma codes.

It should not be forgotten, however, that U110 had been blown to the 
surface by HMS Aubretia in May 1941, whereafter, led by a sublieutenant 
RNVR, men from the ship's company of HMS Bulldog went aboard U110 and 
captured the Dolphin and Shark naval keys used on the German encyphering 
machine Enigma. Not until 1975 was it revealed that the material captured 
by "hostilities only" men serving in small ships in mid-Atlantic 
during the dark days of the Second World War had led to the breaking by 
the staff at Bletchley Park of the vital Enigma cyphers. It is not too 
late to recognise all the brave men and and pay tribute to the ships 
involved.

JOHN SOROTOS
Cowbridge, Glamorgan


Sir, M. Weston (letter, July 24) is incorrect. Tommy Brown did not swim 
from HMS Petard, he jumped aboard U559's conning tower when the 
destroyer was briefly alongside, but he was unable to stay because of a 
heavy swell.

Brown went down to join the two below and carried three bundles of 
documents back up the conning tower ladder to pass on to shipmates 
alongside in a whaler. The two below ignored rising water and tied the 
Enigma machine to a line that was being hauled up the conning tower when 
the U-boat sank. Tommy Brown was rescued and awarded the George Medal.

STEPHEN HARPER
Author, Capturing Enigma
East Horsley, Surrey


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-2289948,00.html