Cryptographers were not organised into fixed shifts, but worked with
different people each week and took it in turn to do research work and the various
operational jobs. This system kept everybody in touch with up to date technique
and alive to possible improvements. A weekly change of job led at times to minor
administrative inefficiency and the normal term of offices for Duty officers and
wheel-men was eventually extended to three weeks, these two jobs were normally
filled by more experienced men.
After the Section was fully staffed there were often two research men each
week. Most of the important ideas were developed by men as a result of practical
routine work and written up in the Research Logs. In a subsequent research period
of a week or more they were at leisure to elaborate their ideas and to tackle any
other problems of a pressing operational nature.
Ideas for new methods, and routines for immediate instruction were discussed
at the weekly "Tea Party" - a democratic assembly of cryptographic staff.
31E. W.R.N.S.
Wrens were chosen by interview from those in H.M.S.Pembroke V (Category -
Special Duties X ). No fixed qualifications were required, though a pass in
mathematics in School Certificate or apparently "good social recommendations" was
normally considered essential. Though a few of the earlier Wrens were rather older
and more experienced, 96 per cent of those who came were between the ages of
17 1/2 and 20. 21 per cent had Higher Certificate, 9 per cent had been to a
University, 22 per cent had some other training after school training and 28 per
cent had previous paid employment. None had studied mathematics at the university.
On arrival a11 Wrens were given up to a fortnight's training in the
teleprinter alphabet, the workings of the Tunny machine and (in some cases) in
computing. This was followed by a conducted tour of the section and a written
test. Wrens (unlike men) were organised in fixed watches and given fixed jobs in
which they could become technically proficient. While the section remained
small it was possible to try new Wrens at various jobs soon after arrival, but
later, allocation was made on the basis of the test held at the end of their
initial training period, and on the basis of the jobs available. The cheerful
common sense of the Wrens was a great asset. Several of them showed ability in
cryptographic work and several others were trained by the engineers to undertake
routine testing of machines.
31F.ENG1NEERS
It was decided at the beginning of the association of the P.O. Research
Branch with GC and CS that maintenance of equipment would be an increasingly
important part of the undertaking. It was agreed to recruit the best available
men from the automatic telephone construction and maintenance staff throughout the
country, to employ them at Dollis Hill and the P.O. Factory at Birmingham to build
the equipment so that they should be thoroughly familiar with it, and to give
them, before taking up their maintenance duties, any supplementary instruction
that was necessary. As the work developed, the complexity and novelty of the
equipment increased and further maintenance training was needed but the technical
staff were often hard pressed to produce the equipment and instruction was
neglected. A number of maintenance men made up for this deficiency by their own
initiative and exertions, and passed their knowledge on to others. Full
maintenance efficiency can be achieved only after some months