Dear Codebreaker

The Letters of Margaret Rock (Bletchley Park Codebreaker) & John Rock (Parachute and Glider Forces Pioneer)

Margaret Rock is one of the very few women codebreakers who worked at the Government Code & Cypher School's codebreaking operation at Bletchley Park in World War 2. Working with legendary codebreaker Dillwyn Knox, and colleage Mavis Lever, Margaret was given the opportunity to turn her love for all things mathematical into a natural codebreaking ability.

Dilly Knox once said 'Give me a Rock and a Lever and I can move the Universe.'

John Rock, Margaret's brother, lived an adventurous life in the British Army Royal Engineers. Within a month of rescue from France in 1940, John was put in charge of setting up the pioneering training establishment for Britain's first parachute regiment.

Using Margaret and John's own words Dear Codebreaker offers a glimpse into the lives of two ordinary people doing extraordinary work during World War 2.

Well, as to my adventures on Friday night. I got to Euston by 8.15 - the raids had just started and there were guns beginning, which soon got much louder. There was no train before my 9.50, so I asked a porter where I should wait. He directed me to an archway, a very long one going between the tube station and one of the platforms. The passengers and railway staff (in tin hats) spent all their time there, and it felt very safe, and never shook, however near the bombs..........A friendly porter came and told us to come with him if we'd like to see a fire, and from the entrance of the archway there was the whole sky lit up flaming red. It was quite near either St Pancreas or Kings Cross Station.
Margaret Rock letter from Bletchley, September 1940

This touching book of letters is a unique glimpse into the lives of Margaret Rock, Bletchley Park Code Breaker, and her brother, John Rock, British Parachute and Glider Forces Pioneer.

Read the personal account of one family’s journey of happiness, loss and great adventure during the Fall of France, the Blitz, the start of Britain's first Parachute and Glider Regiments as well as the secret work at Bletchley Park during World War 2.

Purchase includes exclusive access to bonus material on an accompanying website. There are copies of letters, photographs, school reports, university exam papers, as well as video interviews with family, friends and experts.

Anthony Eden had a look around this morning, and I had a few words with him. He flew over in a most luxuriously fitted out Flamingo. It had eight most comfortable easy chairs and its own lavatory.
I have just worked out a new War Establishment for us, by the way, we are now an Establishment and not a School and it comes to ten officers and seventy-nine men.
John Rock letter from Ringway, 1 October 1940