WWII code breaker Mary Ratcliffe (98) and original AC/DC drummer Colin Burgess (77) pass away
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The world has lost a remarkable woman who played a pivotal role in the defeat of the Nazis during World War II. Mary Ratcliffe, a code breaker who worked alongside the legendary Alan Turing, has passed away at the age of 98.
Her life was a testament to the power of intellect, courage, and resilience, and her contributions to the war effort were instrumental in securing victory for the Allies.
Mary Ratcliffe was more than just a code breaker; she was a woman of extraordinary intellect who worked in the shadows to help bring down the Nazi war machine.
Working at a secret code-breaking base in Middlesex, Ratcliffe was part of a team that deciphered coded messages intercepted from the Nazis.
German Enigma machines encrypted these messages, and it was Ratcliffe and her colleagues' job to crack these codes using the Bombe machines invented by Alan Turing at Bletchley Park.
The work of Ratcliffe and her team was crucial to the war effort. Many historians believe that Turing's work and those who operated his machines shortened the war and saved millions of lives.
The main base for codebreaking was at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes. Still, Ratcliffe's site in Eastcote was one of several others established to ensure that if one were bombed or sabotaged, the rest would still be operational.
Despite the critical nature of her work, Ratcliffe remained humble and largely silent about her contributions due to the secrecy surrounding her profession.
After the war, she became a familiar face in her hometown of Swindon, Wiltshire, thanks to her willingness to support good causes.
Ratcliffe later worked as an acupuncturist and was most famed for her portrayal of Queen Victoria at local events, which she did for 30 years.
She opened fetes, appeared in parades, and graced Swindon with her presence as the monarch, free of charge, at the request of event organisers.
Her dedication to her community was recognised in 2008 when she became one of the first-ever recipients of the Pride of Swindon award for her work doing soup runs for the homeless with the Simon Community and her campaigns for various social causes.
Ratcliffe's passing is a significant loss, but her legacy lives on.
She leaves behind three adult children and many grandchildren who will remember her for her warm presence, her appetite for life, and her fierce independence.
‘Whether as Mary or Queen Victoria, she championed underdogs with eloquent ferocity and actively supported humanitarian causes ranging from elder abuse to homelessness.’
‘She tackled grave issues, where others feared to tread and as such was always true to herself,’ her family said in a tribute.
They added: ‘She was fiercely independent and climbed the stairs to bed until the very last of her life.’
In similar news, Colin Burgess, the original drummer of the legendary rock band AC/DC, has passed away at the age of 77.
The band announced the sad news on social media, paying tribute to their first drummer. The cause of his death was not immediately disclosed.'Very sad to hear of the passing of Colin Burgess. He was our first drummer and a very respected musician. Happy memories, rock in peace, Colin,' the band said in their heartfelt tribute.
Burgess was a key figure in forming AC/DC, one of the most iconic rock bands in history.
In November 1973, he was recruited to join the band, which included Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, his brother Angus on lead guitar, lead vocalist Dave Evans, and bassist Larry Van Kriedt.
However, Burgess's tenure with AC/DC was short-lived. He was dismissed from the band in February 1974 following accusations of being intoxicated on stage. Burgess later claimed that his drink had been spiked, leading to his erratic behaviour.
Despite his early departure from the band, Burgess's influence on AC/DC's sound was significant. Several drummers succeeded him, and even returned to fill in for one of them for a few months in 1975.
Before his stint with AC/DC, Burgess was a member of the Australian rock group The Masters Apprentices, a band that significantly contributed to the Australian music scene and was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame in 1998.
After leaving AC/DC, Burgess continued to make his mark in the music industry by forming the hard rock band His Majesty. His passion for music and his contributions to the rock genre will be remembered by fans and fellow musicians.
Their contributions to their respective fields will be deeply missed, and their legacies will be remembered for years to come. Our thoughts and condolences are with their families and loved ones during this difficult time.
Her life was a testament to the power of intellect, courage, and resilience, and her contributions to the war effort were instrumental in securing victory for the Allies.
Mary Ratcliffe was more than just a code breaker; she was a woman of extraordinary intellect who worked in the shadows to help bring down the Nazi war machine.
Working at a secret code-breaking base in Middlesex, Ratcliffe was part of a team that deciphered coded messages intercepted from the Nazis.
Mary Ratcliffe, a code breaker for the Allies during World War II, has passed away. Credit: Ratcliffe Family/SWNS
German Enigma machines encrypted these messages, and it was Ratcliffe and her colleagues' job to crack these codes using the Bombe machines invented by Alan Turing at Bletchley Park.
The work of Ratcliffe and her team was crucial to the war effort. Many historians believe that Turing's work and those who operated his machines shortened the war and saved millions of lives.
The main base for codebreaking was at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes. Still, Ratcliffe's site in Eastcote was one of several others established to ensure that if one were bombed or sabotaged, the rest would still be operational.
Despite the critical nature of her work, Ratcliffe remained humble and largely silent about her contributions due to the secrecy surrounding her profession.
After the war, she became a familiar face in her hometown of Swindon, Wiltshire, thanks to her willingness to support good causes.
Ratcliffe later worked as an acupuncturist and was most famed for her portrayal of Queen Victoria at local events, which she did for 30 years.
She opened fetes, appeared in parades, and graced Swindon with her presence as the monarch, free of charge, at the request of event organisers.
Her dedication to her community was recognised in 2008 when she became one of the first-ever recipients of the Pride of Swindon award for her work doing soup runs for the homeless with the Simon Community and her campaigns for various social causes.
Ratcliffe's passing is a significant loss, but her legacy lives on.
She leaves behind three adult children and many grandchildren who will remember her for her warm presence, her appetite for life, and her fierce independence.
‘Whether as Mary or Queen Victoria, she championed underdogs with eloquent ferocity and actively supported humanitarian causes ranging from elder abuse to homelessness.’
‘She tackled grave issues, where others feared to tread and as such was always true to herself,’ her family said in a tribute.
They added: ‘She was fiercely independent and climbed the stairs to bed until the very last of her life.’
In similar news, Colin Burgess, the original drummer of the legendary rock band AC/DC, has passed away at the age of 77.
The band announced the sad news on social media, paying tribute to their first drummer. The cause of his death was not immediately disclosed.'Very sad to hear of the passing of Colin Burgess. He was our first drummer and a very respected musician. Happy memories, rock in peace, Colin,' the band said in their heartfelt tribute.
Burgess was a key figure in forming AC/DC, one of the most iconic rock bands in history.
Colin Burgess, the original drummer of the iconic band AC/DC, has passed away. Credit: @nikthehat/X (Twitter)
In November 1973, he was recruited to join the band, which included Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, his brother Angus on lead guitar, lead vocalist Dave Evans, and bassist Larry Van Kriedt.
However, Burgess's tenure with AC/DC was short-lived. He was dismissed from the band in February 1974 following accusations of being intoxicated on stage. Burgess later claimed that his drink had been spiked, leading to his erratic behaviour.
Despite his early departure from the band, Burgess's influence on AC/DC's sound was significant. Several drummers succeeded him, and even returned to fill in for one of them for a few months in 1975.
Before his stint with AC/DC, Burgess was a member of the Australian rock group The Masters Apprentices, a band that significantly contributed to the Australian music scene and was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame in 1998.
After leaving AC/DC, Burgess continued to make his mark in the music industry by forming the hard rock band His Majesty. His passion for music and his contributions to the rock genre will be remembered by fans and fellow musicians.
Their contributions to their respective fields will be deeply missed, and their legacies will be remembered for years to come. Our thoughts and condolences are with their families and loved ones during this difficult time.
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