A rare black - and - white film documenting life at one of the most top - hidden World War II efforts has been revealed by an anonymous root , provide a “ rarefied glimpse ” into the lives of those with some of the most secretive job during the war effort .
The 11 - min silent film is the only bed footage of sprightliness at Whaddon Hall atBletchley Park , the wartime home of theGovernment Code and Cypher School . It was here that a belittled squad of code - cracking specialist finally grew to a panoptic word factory of thousands of piece and women whose technical advancements lead to the institution of the GermanEnigmaandLorenzciphers , as well as the humanity ’s first programmable digital galvanising reckoner , Colossus .
“ No other film footage of a site well connected with Bletchley Park survive . We do n’t know who shoot it and the footage does n’t give away any state secrets or any hint about the work the masses in it are doing . If it fall into the wrong hands , it would have given little away , but for us today , it is an astonishing find and important track record of one of the most secret and valuable aspects of Bletchley Park ’s piece of work , ” tell Dr David Kenyon , inquiry historiographer at Bletchley Park , in apress release .
life story at Bletchley Park was keep as secretive as the code its inhabitants crack . Because of this , photos and video recording of day-after-day life-time were banned . Thefootagewas preserved in its original canister and donated to the organization by a donor who like to remain anon. . Mostly shot in black - and - white , it shows M16 Section VIII stave in what is believed to be a compiling of footage record between 1939 and 1945 , including man and woman on duty at Whaddon Hall and footage of a football game as well as a cricket match .
The film was authenticated by refer Geoffrey Pidgeon , a World War Two veteran who jump working for the effort at the age of 17 . His grandfather , who worked at the place for five years , is one of the multitude identified in the film .
" I ’d never seen my father on a cinefilm before , " said Mr Pidgeon . “ I was very surprised and moved to watch it for the first time . It ’s a remarkable discovery . ”
Others include Brigadier Richard Gambier - Parry , head of SIS Section VIII , base at Whaddon Hall , as well as First Engineer Bob Hornby and Stores Officer Ewart Holden . Others have not been distinguish and anyone who may recognize someone in the film is advance to contact enquiries@bletchleyparlk.org .
Bletchley Park is presently shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic but Codebreakers is offeringvirtual toursof the grounds and archives . The entire documentary film can be see onYouTube .
