C. E. Wynn-Williams
Dr Charles Eryl Wynn-Williams
1903 Born
became an academic at Cambridge University
1930s Developed electronic counters using thyratron valves for counting emissions of sub-atomic particles.
WWII At Telecommunications Research Establishment. Developed a method of helping to decrypt non-Morse Code messages (which the British labelled "Fish").
Fish messages were encoded using a machine called the Lorenz SZ, using a 32-letter Baudot alphabet. The number of combinations possible with the Lorenz SZ was much greater than with Enigma, which was felt necessary for long messages passed between the highest levels of the German command. Max Newman, a member of hut F at Bletchley Park, persuaded the director that high-speed machinery was needed for the job of comparing two enciphered messages. The first machines, called Heath Robinsons after the cartoonist, entered service in May 1943. These were a combination of mechanics and electronics designed by C. E. Wynn-Williams assisted by electrical engineers, including Tommy Flowers at Dollis Hill.
1943 Married Annie James[1]
1946 Living in Chelmsford Square, Willesden[2]
1979 Died in Cardigan[3]
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography of Thomas Harold Flowers, ODNB