Ruth Bourne, who grew up in Birmingham, worked at Bletchley Park during the Second World War and was awarded France’s Legion d’HonneurTed Hennessey, Press Association. and Katy Hallam Audience Editor
19:57, 18 Dec 2025
WWII veteran Ruth Bourne, who worked on Alan Turing’s code breaking machine at Bletchley Park where codebreakers intercepted Nazi messages, has died aged 99.
The grandchild of Second World War codebreaker Ruth Bourne has described her as “intelligent, creative, and witty” whilst paying homage following her passing at the age of 99.
Ms Bourne was raised in Birmingham but more recently resided in High Barnet, north London.
Following her enlistment with the Wrens (Women’s Royal Naval Service) at 17, she operated at locations surrounding Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire as a Bombe machine operator and verifier.
She was selected to serve at the classified facility to decipher captured Nazi communications.
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In 2018 she received the Legion d’honneur – France’s most prestigious military decoration – acknowledging her wartime efforts.
Her grandchild Bee Bentall remarked: “It was our family’s privilege to share Ruth with the world.
“My grandmother was such a bright spark: intelligent, creative, and witty.
“She was always delighted to give her time to educating others about her codebreaking contributions at RAF Eastcote, and she volunteered for decades at Bletchley Park giving tours.
Ruth Bourne, during her military days. (Image: Royal British Legion)
“She lives on in books, in her pottery and art, and in our memories. She will be dearly missed by all”.
The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans posted on Facebook: “Ruth’s contribution to the monumental task of breaking the Enigma cypher was truly historic.
“Ruth was a remarkable woman with immense charm and charisma, and she will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.”
Iain Standen, Chief Executive of Bletchley Park Trust, revealed that Ms Bourne was “extremely proud of her contribution to the war effort” and had spent years serving as a tour guide at Bletchley Park.
He continued: “Through countless reunions and interviews, she spoke about her work with honesty and warmth, bringing Bletchley Park’s story to life for audiences of all ages.
“She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her and remembered with immense gratitude and affection.”
Philippa Rawlinson from the Royal British Legion commented: “Ruth was dedicated to ensuring the voices and experiences of her generation were at the heart of these historic moments, and we will always remember her commitment to ensuring the sacrifices made during the war are remembered and honoured.”
During wartime, codebreakers employed the Bombe apparatus to crack the Enigma cipher utilised by the Nazis for encrypting communications, altering the trajectory of the conflict and preserving countless lives.
Their efforts allowed British intelligence to respond more swiftly and act on the intelligence the Bletchley team provided, leading to several crucial military triumphs throughout the conflict.
It also triggered the mass production of codebreaking techniques and helped establish the foundation for the earliest versions of modern computers.