Bletchley Park, codebreakers & Colosus Computers

There has been much written about the breaking of the German WW2 Enigma machine coding system, since the 1970s when these secrets started coming into the public domain. A number of films have bee made about BP and Enigma, including an American film about U-110, and the capture of an Enigma coding machine. Is it so curious that American film makers are trying to give a revisionist slant to the Enigma story, that aside.

What I find very interesting was the story of Colossus - the building and operation of the World first electronic, programable computer. This was developed by a Post Office engineer, Tommy Flowers and his staff. It would be interesting to read or find out just how effective the 2 Colossus systems that were used in the story of the breaking of WW2 codes at BP. The Americans built their own verstions of Colosus to asist in the breaking of Japanese codes in WW2. After the war ended, the 2 Colossi computers were relocated to the new GCHQ organisation in Cheltenham, after Blechely Park was closed after the end of WW2.

The development of computer systems for codebreaking continued in the years post WW2. The Colossus computers were also used up to the early 1960s, when they were decomissioned, and new systems were developed, and were usued, inclduing 'super computers' such as Cray.

I have visited BP a few times over recent years, and will no doubt make another visit to that very interesting place. I missed out on a visit to GCHQ when serving with 224 Sig Squadron (Radio) in the early 1970s. I was sent on a detachment to Norn Iron for some months at tha time. I have an interest in Military History, and I myself have worked in Computing and IT for many years after leaving the R Signals in 1977.

I worked for Lyons, of Golden Syrup fame, in 58 . They designed and operated the first BUSINESS COMPUTER. It was called LEO (lyons electronic office). I hasten to add I was scrubbing pots and pans and didn't know the word Computer. There are a whole lot of cans of worms about the first programmable computer....

Dulaigh wrote:

I worked for Lyons, of Golden Syrup fame, in 58 . They designed and operated the first BUSINESS COMPUTER. It was called LEO (lyons electronic office). I hasten to add I was scrubbing pots and pans and didn't know the word Computer. There are a whole lot of cans of worms about the first programmable computer....

AWRE Aldermaston had a (Ferranti?) computer in 1956,in a building about the size of a large bungalow. Fred Hoyle the astronomer came to use it, and various Prime Ministers dropped in to have a gawk at it.
How things have changed

Hi Chemist...very interesting...thermionic valves took up space and generated lots of heat...we have moved on some...What unit were u ?

What a shame Collosus was broken up. I always appreciate seeing the original rather than a copy.

1968 I saw mainframe, IBM ? at Watney's in Wandsworth. Line printers. In 1978/9 still using punch cards to input progs on various mainframe. and then onto VDU's and keyboards. There were still some of the original Programmers/Engineers about then. Happy memories.

I went with Wife on a coach trip -- I always wanted to go -- so i took some photos and will show a few -- I used a 'Gift' Minolta X-700 Not a 'Pentax' !!  

Many decrypt techniques, and what is called TA or Traffic Analysis that were developed at Blechely Park during World War Two, are still highly classified today. The same techniques to built ORBATS (order of battle) etc used by US and UK intelligence servcies are still used regularly, hence the reluctance to publicise how this works.

all very interesting from an historic point of view.