Gill Lewis shares her fascinating journey, serving many roles in the FANY towards the end of World War II. Being a car enthusiast, Gill first joined the FANY after receiving her driving license and assisted in many of their transport operations.

Marrying at a young age, her circumstances would send her away from the FANY to Cairo. However, an invasion by the Germans was coming and she was offered the chance to go to South Africa, leaving her husband behind. Coming from a family with a naval background, Gill was no stranger to moving around a lot.

In South Africa, she continued to volunteer as a driver for transport assignments. She recalls how during the war, petrol needed to be rationed, meaning you couldn’t travel too much. However, this did not hinder the fun she had on these expeditions.

Eventually, she returned to England where she reapplied to the FANY. This time, she went to Chicheley Hall where she was given a choice between coding or wireless telegraphy – she chose the former.

During the course, she discovered she had a flair for coding which brought the attention of Leo Marks who summoned her for one-to-one tuition. Later on, in a crafty move, Marks sent her to the far east for active service, believing she was in need of a challenge.

It was here that her coding skills were put to the test. Her job was to decipher cluttered messages from those who found themselves in desperate situations. She remembers the importance of discriminating and fixing any mistakes the messengers might have made and to avoid relying on assumptions. Her skillset would earn her the nickname ‘Mark’s wonder girl’.

Gill loved coding but when asked later in life why she didn’t join the foreign office for the same job during peacetime, she explains how it lacked the same level of urgency and resourcefulness which made it satisfying.

Gill’s story is a salient example of the rewarding experience achieved by people who are willing to challenge themselves.