Latest news with #PatOwtram
Sky News
05-05-2025
- General
- Sky News
VE Day: WWII codebreaker recalls chance encounter with Churchill as he took part in 'deliberate ruse'
Sitting down with Second World War veteran Pat Owtram, she offers me a glass of water, a cup of tea, or a sherry. At 101, Pat has the kind of spirit you have come to admire in the veterans we are lucky to still have - resilience, stoicism and a healthy dose of good humour. Pat opens up her well-worn photo album and recounts her remarkable story. At just 18 years old, Pat, like so many young women, desperately wanted to join the war effort and 'do their bit'. Pat found herself heading to Liverpool for an interview to join the Women's Royal Naval Service, known as Wrens, and was snapped up on account of her German-speaking skills. Her family in Lancashire had taken in refugees from occupied Austria and evenings spent chatting by the fire in German and English had given her a vital skill for the British government. "I could listen to the German naval ships talking because they tended to talk coming in and out of the Baltic into the North Sea. I heard a good deal of radio traffic from the enemy side." Pat started working along the British coast at small listening stations, transcribing conversations between German submarines and, crucially, writing down secret coded messages - now known as the Enigma code, to send to Bletchley Park. Pat found herself in Kent at Abbot's Cliff in Dover, the listening station in a large white house perched on a hill, well within shelling range. To this day, Pat says she is amazed it was not a target. The closest Pat came to danger was actually from an over-enthusiastic colleague. "She came in carrying a bomb, saying 'look what I found!' We told her to go away!" In between the night watches and the hours of transcribing, there were moments of calm too. Pat and her fellow Wrens started a tap-dancing club and a library - and it was during a well-earned break reading a library book on a cliff overlooking the Channel that Pat witnessed a significant moment. "A little file of people was coming up the path and it was Winston Churchill. He stood on our cliff looking across at Calais. It was carefully planned as he knew it would be reported back to the Germans. And, of course, the invasion was going to be way down west. It was a deliberate ruse." The rest, as they say, is history, D-Day creating a path to victory for the Allies with VE Day coming 11 months later. Pat remembers exactly where she was on that historic but bittersweet day for her family. "We had a half-day off and instinctively headed for the palace. Lots of people were shouting 'We want the King!' and they did come out on the balcony and everybody cheered, there was a great feeling of celebration. "VE Day meant a great deal, but VJ Day was more important to my family because my father had been taken prisoner in the Far East. We had a few more months to wait until he came home." Pat's sister Jean was also a codebreaker using her language skills in Egyptian and Italian as a cipher officer with the Special Operations Executive, nicknamed 'Churchill's Secret Army'. Jean sadly passed away last year and was stationed abroad on VE Day, but she wrote to her sister with the words "My double darling Patsy, isn't this just so wonderful and overwhelming?". It is Jean and her family that Pat will be remembering today.
Scottish Sun
04-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Nearly half of Brits don't know when VE day happened, new study reveals – as country celebrates 80th anniversary
Shocking number of Brits can't name this key moment in history VE FORGET Nearly half of Brits don't know when VE day happened, new study reveals – as country celebrates 80th anniversary Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEARLY half of Brits do not know when VE Day happened – and one in 10 don't even know what it stands for. With the country gearing up to mark 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe, research of 2,000 adults revealed 46 per cent don't know when VE Day took place. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The research was commissioned by Findmypast to mark the launch of a VE Day photo archive 3 Many will mark the occasion with a moment of silence (41 per cent) and listening to or watching war stories (28 per cent) And 47 per cent are completely unaware of how their ancestors might have celebrated the momentous occasion in 1945. Despite this, 25 per cent wish they had photos of loved ones marking the day all those years ago. While 38 per cent want to see the celebratory traditions of VE Day kept alive for future generations. The research was commissioned by Findmypast to mark the launch of a VE Day photo archive, and is inviting the public to share their family connections and stories behind the historic images. Pat Owtram, who was 18 when she joined the Women's Royal Naval Service (WREN) after signing the Official Secrets Act in Liverpool's Royal Liver Building – and went on to become a wartime codebreaker – still has vivid memories of 8th May 1945. She said: 'VE Day was an unforgettable day. 'It came as a huge relief, and I remember the cheers and tremendous excitement of the crowds as I joined them outside Buckingham Palace – though I didn't feel I could celebrate fully while my father was still a Prisoner of War. 'VE Day signified the beginning of a brighter future – six long years of war in Europe were over. 'I felt I'd played my part in the WRENs and looked forward to my father returning home. 'Keeping these memories alive is so important – and having access to wartime records really matters. VE Day was a 'jolly' moment but work went on, 100-year-old former Wren says 'They help us remember, understand, and pass these powerful stories on for future generations.' The study also found two-thirds (65 per cent) have either celebrated VE Day in the past or plan to this year. Many will mark the occasion with a moment of silence (41 per cent) and listening to or watching war stories (28 per cent). While others will talk to or about ancestors who served (18 per cent). Historian Lucy Worsley OBE said: 'VE Day in 1945 was a profound moment in our national history, and these images capture that feeling of immense relief and hope – but it's only if we take a deeper look into the stories behind these smiles that we can understand what this moment truly meant. 'That's why I'm calling on the public to delve deeper into their family's wartime experiences. 'This is a powerful way to understand the everyday realties during an extraordinary time, from your great granny on the Home Front operating industrial machinery to your great-uncles under fire on the Normandy beaches. 'On this special 80th anniversary, let's make sure these wartime stories come to light and are remembered.' Jen Baldwin from Findmypast added: 'The findings suggest that although many are still celebrating VE Day, knowledge of the special day is declining. 'Historical newspapers and records offer a treasure trove of information to help uncover and understand your ancestors' experiences. 'This new collection reveals how millions flocked to the streets to celebrate, but the stories behind many of those smiling faces are not widely known. 'We want everyone to help us create a collective record of the nation's wartime family stories – from the eve of war to VE Day celebrations – to preserve these precious memories for generations to come.'
The Sun
04-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Nearly half of Brits don't know when VE day happened, new study reveals – as country celebrates 80th anniversary
NEARLY half of Brits do not know when VE Day happened – and one in 10 don't even know what it stands for. With the country gearing up to mark 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe, research of 2,000 adults revealed 46 per cent don't know when VE Day took place. 3 3 And 47 per cent are completely unaware of how their ancestors might have celebrated the momentous occasion in 1945. Despite this, 25 per cent wish they had photos of loved ones marking the day all those years ago. While 38 per cent want to see the celebratory traditions of VE Day kept alive for future generations. The research was commissioned by Findmypast to mark the launch of a VE Day photo archive, and is inviting the public to share their family connections and stories behind the historic images. Pat Owtram, who was 18 when she joined the Women's Royal Naval Service (WREN) after signing the Official Secrets Act in Liverpool's Royal Liver Building – and went on to become a wartime codebreaker – still has vivid memories of 8th May 1945. She said: 'VE Day was an unforgettable day. 'It came as a huge relief, and I remember the cheers and tremendous excitement of the crowds as I joined them outside Buckingham Palace – though I didn't feel I could celebrate fully while my father was still a Prisoner of War. 'VE Day signified the beginning of a brighter future – six long years of war in Europe were over. 'I felt I'd played my part in the WRENs and looked forward to my father returning home. 'Keeping these memories alive is so important – and having access to wartime records really matters. VE Day was a 'jolly' moment but work went on, 100-year-old former Wren says 'They help us remember, understand, and pass these powerful stories on for future generations.' The study also found two-thirds (65 per cent) have either celebrated VE Day in the past or plan to this year. Many will mark the occasion with a moment of silence (41 per cent) and listening to or watching war stories (28 per cent). While others will talk to or about ancestors who served (18 per cent). Historian Lucy Worsley OBE said: 'VE Day in 1945 was a profound moment in our national history, and these images capture that feeling of immense relief and hope – but it's only if we take a deeper look into the stories behind these smiles that we can understand what this moment truly meant. 'That's why I'm calling on the public to delve deeper into their family's wartime experiences. 'This is a powerful way to understand the everyday realties during an extraordinary time, from your great granny on the Home Front operating industrial machinery to your great-uncles under fire on the Normandy beaches. 'On this special 80th anniversary, let's make sure these wartime stories come to light and are remembered.' Jen Baldwin from Findmypast added: 'The findings suggest that although many are still celebrating VE Day, knowledge of the special day is declining. 'Historical newspapers and records offer a treasure trove of information to help uncover and understand your ancestors' experiences. 'This new collection reveals how millions flocked to the streets to celebrate, but the stories behind many of those smiling faces are not widely known. 'We want everyone to help us create a collective record of the nation's wartime family stories – from the eve of war to VE Day celebrations – to preserve these precious memories for generations to come.' 3
The Irish Sun
04-05-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Nearly half of Brits don't know when VE day happened, new study reveals – as country celebrates 80th anniversary
NEARLY half of Brits do not know when VE Day happened – and one in 10 don't even know what it stands for. With the country gearing up to mark 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe, research of 2,000 adults revealed 46 per cent don't know when VE Day took place. Advertisement 3 The research was commissioned by Findmypast to mark the launch of a VE Day photo archive 3 Many will mark the occasion with a moment of silence (41 per cent) and listening to or watching war stories (28 per cent) And 47 per cent are completely unaware of how their ancestors might have celebrated the momentous occasion in 1945. Despite this, 25 per cent wish they had photos of loved ones marking the day all those years ago. While 38 per cent want to see the celebratory traditions of VE Day kept alive for future generations. The research was commissioned by Advertisement Read more on News Pat Owtram, who was 18 when she joined the She said: 'VE Day was an unforgettable day. 'It came as a huge relief, and I remember the cheers and tremendous excitement of the crowds as I joined them outside Buckingham Palace – though I didn't feel I could celebrate fully while my father was still a Prisoner of War. 'VE Day signified the beginning of a brighter future – six long years of war in Europe were over. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Exclusive 'I felt I'd played my part in the WRENs and looked forward to my father returning home. 'Keeping these memories alive is so important – and having access to wartime records really matters. VE Day was a 'jolly' moment but work went on, 100-year-old former Wren says 'They help us remember, understand, and pass these powerful stories on for future generations.' The study also found two-thirds (65 per cent) have either celebrated VE Day in the past or plan to this year. Advertisement Many will mark the occasion with a moment of silence (41 per cent) and listening to or watching war stories (28 per cent). While others will talk to or about ancestors who served (18 per cent). Historian Lucy Worsley OBE said: 'VE Day in 1945 was a profound moment in our national history, and these images capture that feeling of immense relief and hope – but it's only if we take a deeper look into the stories behind these smiles that we can understand what this moment truly meant. 'That's why I'm calling on the public to delve deeper into their family's wartime experiences. Advertisement 'This is a powerful way to understand the everyday realties during an extraordinary time, from your great granny on the Home Front operating industrial machinery to your great-uncles under fire on the 'On this special 80th anniversary, let's make sure these wartime stories come to light and are remembered.' Jen Baldwin from Findmypast added: 'The findings suggest that although many are still celebrating VE Day, knowledge of the special day is declining. 'Historical newspapers and records offer a treasure trove of information to help uncover and understand your ancestors' experiences. Advertisement 'This new collection reveals how millions flocked to the streets to celebrate, but the stories behind many of those smiling faces are not widely known. 'We want everyone to help us create a collective record of the nation's wartime family stories – from the eve of war to VE Day celebrations – to preserve these precious memories for generations to come.' 3 While others will talk to or about ancestors who served (18 per cent)
