World War Two decoder from Bristol celebrates 100th birthday

A World War Two decoder has celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends.

Iris Jefferies lived in Bath, Somerset, during the conflict. Part of her work decoding secret messages covered major milestones including the Mulberry Harbour mission that was key to D-Day, and a message to say that the war had ended.

“I was typing a lot and I didn’t know what I was typing. I found out later I was doing all the reports for the Mulberry Harbour. I was thrilled that I had done something useful,” Mrs Jefferies, who now lives in Bristol, said.

She added that she was “absolutely over the moon” to receive a birthday card from the King.

She said she enjoyed her time in Bath, but at the time it did not feel special.

“One day, the supervisor came into the room and she said an important message will be coming through on one of your machines.

“Whoever the lucky one is, don’t say anything, just get up from your machine and go hand in your message.

“It said: ‘the European war has ended’.”

After the war, Mrs Jefferies met her husband David, a D-Day veteran, and they married in 1947. They were together for 73 years until David died in 2020.

The couple have two daughters, Sandra and Dawn, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

On receiving her card from the King, Mrs Jefferies said: “The postman was delighted as well, he said I have a card for you from Buckingham Palace. He wanted me to open it there and then.

“He went straight over the road and told the neighbours.”

She added that it felt good to reach 100.

“I’m not doing anything special. Very normal, very quiet.”