Extra - E34 - Captain Jerry Roberts MBE

March 2014

Captain Jerry Roberts MBE, one of Bletchley Park’s last Codebreakers, died this week at the age of 93.

Jerry was one of the original members of The Testery working on cracking Tunny, the German High Commands code, used by Hitler & his top Generals.

Their work warned the Russian’s of The Kursk Offensive, allowing them to defend until the Germans called off, what would be their last major offensive on the Eastern Front. Winston Churchill said “Stalingrad was the end of the beginning, but the Battle of Kursk was the beginning of the end”.

In this Bletchley Park Podcast Extra, we bring you the interview we recorded at Jerry’s home, in February 2013 after being awarded an MBE. It is followed a short interview Katherine recorded on the day he received his MBE from Her Majesty The Queen.

Sir John Scarlett KCMG OBE, Chairman, Bletchley Park Trust, paying tribute to Jerry said:

“Captain Jerry Roberts MBE was a true gentleman and - to the last days of his long life - an outstanding ambassador for Bletchley Park.

In World War 2 he was a key member of the team who deciphered the most secret communications of Hitler and his top commanders, work of incomparable importance for the outcome of the War.

Unfailingly modest about his own achievements, he was committed to the end to achieving recognition for the work of his colleagues and the contribution of all those who worked at Bletchley Park. He will be greatly missed.

Our thoughts are with his devoted wife, Mei."

Picture: ©mubsta.com

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