Keith Batey
Encyclopedia
Keith Batey was a codebreaker who, with his wife, Mavis Batey (born 5 May 1921), worked on the German Enigma machine
at Bletchley Park
during the World War II
.
under a state scholarship
, where he met Gordon Welchman
, who would later assemble a group of code-breakers for Bletchley Park at the outbreak of the war.
's research section, reconstructing new Enigma machines as they were introduced. Batey assisted Lever in reconstructing one of the rotors of a new Italian Enigma machine and they soon fell in love and were married. In 1942, Batey wished for a more physically active role in the war as a pilot in the RAF, but was rejected due to his knowledge of Ultra and the risk of getting captured. Instead, he persuaded the authorities to allow him to train as a pilot with the Fleet Air Arm
for the defence of Canadian
waters. However, he was called back to work in a newly created section known as ISK, standing for Illicit Services (Knox) alongside his new wife. Dilly Knox
had just reconstructed the main Enigma cipher machine used by the Abwehr, German military intelligence, and the ISK section was to play a key role in the Double Cross System
which "turned" German agents sent to Britain and elsewhere in the world and used them to feed false intelligence back to the Germans. During 1943, Batey broke the Enigma ciphers of the Sicherheitsdienst
, the Nazi party's intelligence service, along with the cipher used by Italian
military attachés in Berlin
.
, Canada. He worked there until 1951 when he transferred to become the private secretary to Philip Noel-Baker, Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
.
Batey subsequently worked as the Secretary of the Chest, the official title for the chief financial officer of the University of Oxford
, before becoming Treasurer of Christ Church
in which role he played a key part in refurbishment of the Oxford college's historic buildings.
.
The Bateys demonstrated how the Abwehr Enigma machine worked during a visit by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall
to Bletchley Park in 2008.
Enigma machine
An Enigma machine is any of a family of related electro-mechanical rotor cipher machines used for the encryption and decryption of secret messages. Enigma was invented by German engineer Arthur Scherbius at the end of World War I...
at Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is an estate located in the town of Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, England, which currently houses the National Museum of Computing...
during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Education
Keith Batey was at Carlisle Grammar School and went on to study mathematics at Trinity College, CambridgeTrinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
under a state scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
, where he met Gordon Welchman
Gordon Welchman
Gordon Welchman was a British-American mathematician, university professor, World War II codebreaker at Bletchley Park, and author.-Education and early career:...
, who would later assemble a group of code-breakers for Bletchley Park at the outbreak of the war.
Bletchley Park years
Batey was recruited by Welchman in 1940 and worked in Hut Six, which was responsible for breaking the German Army and Air Force Enigma ciphers. While there he met fellow code-breaker, Mavis Lever, who worked with Dilly KnoxDilly Knox
Alfred Dillwyn 'Dilly' Knox CMG was a classics scholar at King's College, Cambridge, and a British codebreaker...
's research section, reconstructing new Enigma machines as they were introduced. Batey assisted Lever in reconstructing one of the rotors of a new Italian Enigma machine and they soon fell in love and were married. In 1942, Batey wished for a more physically active role in the war as a pilot in the RAF, but was rejected due to his knowledge of Ultra and the risk of getting captured. Instead, he persuaded the authorities to allow him to train as a pilot with the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
for the defence of Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
waters. However, he was called back to work in a newly created section known as ISK, standing for Illicit Services (Knox) alongside his new wife. Dilly Knox
Dilly Knox
Alfred Dillwyn 'Dilly' Knox CMG was a classics scholar at King's College, Cambridge, and a British codebreaker...
had just reconstructed the main Enigma cipher machine used by the Abwehr, German military intelligence, and the ISK section was to play a key role in the Double Cross System
Double Cross System
The Double Cross System, or XX System, was a World War II anti-espionage and deception operation of the British military intelligence arm, MI5. Nazi agents in Britain - real and false - were captured, turned themselves in or simply announced themselves and were then used by the British to broadcast...
which "turned" German agents sent to Britain and elsewhere in the world and used them to feed false intelligence back to the Germans. During 1943, Batey broke the Enigma ciphers of the Sicherheitsdienst
Sicherheitsdienst
Sicherheitsdienst , full title Sicherheitsdienst des Reichsführers-SS, or SD, was the intelligence agency of the SS and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany. The organization was the first Nazi Party intelligence organization to be established and was often considered a "sister organization" with the...
, the Nazi party's intelligence service, along with the cipher used by Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
military attachés in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Post war work
After the war, Batey worked with the Commonwealth Relations Office and joined the High Commission in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada. He worked there until 1951 when he transferred to become the private secretary to Philip Noel-Baker, Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations was a British Cabinet office existing between 1947 and 1966, responsible for dealing with British relationship with members of the Commonwealth of Nations . The position was created out of the old position of Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs...
.
Batey subsequently worked as the Secretary of the Chest, the official title for the chief financial officer of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, before becoming Treasurer of Christ Church
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
in which role he played a key part in refurbishment of the Oxford college's historic buildings.
History of Bletchley Park
Batey remained largely silent on his war work while his wife Mavis became much better known, cooperating with a number of books and television series, including Station X, the book of which went on to become a UK number-one bestseller. They advised actors Kate Winslet and Dougray Scott on what it was like to be a codebreaker at Bletchley for the Hollywood film EnigmaEnigma (2001 film)
Enigma is a 2001 British film about the Enigma codebreakers of Bletchley Park in World War II. The film, directed by Michael Apted, stars Dougray Scott and Kate Winslet. The film's screenplay was by Tom Stoppard, based on the novel Enigma by Robert Harris...
.
The Bateys demonstrated how the Abwehr Enigma machine worked during a visit by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall
Duchess of Cornwall
The Duchess of Cornwall is the title held by the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. Duke of Cornwall is a non-hereditary peerage held by the British Sovereign's eldest son and heir....
to Bletchley Park in 2008.