Born: June 24, 1917 (West Norwood, London)
Biography:
Joan Clarke was an English cryptanalyst and numismatist who played a crucial role in the Enigma project at Bletchley Park during World War II. Born on June 24, 1917, in West Norwood, London, Clarke was the youngest child of Dorothy and the Revd William Kemp Lowther Clarke. She grew up with three brothers and one sister and attended Dulwich High School for Girls in south London.
Clarke’s exceptional mathematical abilities were discovered by Gordon Welchman while she was studying at Newnham College, Cambridge. Welchman, one of the top mathematicians recruited in 1939 to supervise decoding operations at Bletchley Park, recognized Clarke’s talent and invited her to join him at the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS). She was recruited on June 17, 1940, to work on breaking the German Enigma Code.
Upon her arrival at Bletchley Park, Clarke was placed in an all-women group called The Girls, which primarily performed clerical work. At a time when cryptology was considered an unconventional job for women, Clarke was one of the few female cryptanalysts at Bletchley Park. Her dedication and brilliance quickly led to her promotion to the Linguist Grade, despite not speaking another language. This promotion recognized her significant contributions to the team’s efforts.
In Hut 8, Clarke became the sole female practitioner of Banburismus, a cryptanalytic process developed by Alan Turing. Banburismus played a crucial role in deciphering German encrypted messages, reducing the reliance on bombes, electromechanical devices used by British cryptologists.
Clarke’s work went beyond her contributions to code-breaking. She also worked as a numismatist, studying and collecting coins. Her interest in numismatics led to her further involvement during the war. In 1941, she played a key role in the capture of trawlers, which included their cipher equipment and codes.
Despite her remarkable contributions, Clarke’s work at Bletchley Park remained largely unknown to the public for many years. It was only in recent decades that her vital role in the Enigma project and the decrypted German secret communications came to light.
After the war, Clarke married mathematician and fellow code-breaker Alan Turing. However, their marriage was short-lived due to Turing’s untimely death in 1954. Clarke continued to work in the mathematical field and contributed significantly to the education of the next generation of female mathematicians.
Recognition for Clarke’s extraordinary achievements came in 1946 when she was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This prestigious award acknowledged her unparalleled dedication to breaking the Enigma Code and her invaluable contributions to the war effort.
Joan Clarke’s legacy as one of the pioneering female cryptanalysts endures today. Her intelligence, determination, and resilience paved the way for future generations of women in mathematics and code-breaking. Her unwavering commitment to her work and her exceptional talents played a vital role in changing the course of history during World War II.
Awards:
– Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1946.