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A veteran interview with

Joyce Aylard

Joyce Aylard was stationed at HMS Pembroke V in North London where she worked on the bombe codebreaker machines trying to decode German Enigma…

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About Joyce Aylard

When war broke out, 14-year-old Joy Aylard was evacuated to the countryside for two happy years, before leaving school and returning to London to study at college until she was old enough to join up. As soon as she could, she joined the WRNS and was almost immediately sent to Bletchley Park’s Eastcote Outstation.

Joy describes in detail the top-secret work involved in operating the Bombe machines to decipher German Enigma messages, remembering the boost to morale that came when successful results of their codebreaking efforts were filtered back to them. Reflecting on the intense secrecy surrounding the work, Joy explains that everyone just got used to not talking about what they were doing; not even Joy’s father knew what her job entailed!

Joy’s reflections on her time during the war allow us a vivid glimpse into life behind the walls at Bletchley Park, and the technical skill, dedication and discretion of all who worked there and played such a pivotal role in the Allied war effort.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Caroline Barratt

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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Home | Veterans | Joyce Aylard

A veteran interview with

Joyce Aylard

joy-aylard - portrait in action

Joyce Aylard was stationed at HMS Pembroke V in North London where she worked on the bombe codebreaker machines trying to decode German Enigma…

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Aylard, Joyce. A Veteran Interview with Joyce Aylard. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 14 Dec. 2014 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joyce-aylard/. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
APA Style:
Aylard, J. (2014, December 14). A Veteran Interview with Joyce Aylard [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved May 21, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joyce-aylard/
Chicago Style:
Aylard, Joyce. 2014. A Veteran Interview with Joyce Aylard. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, December 14. Accessed May 21, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joyce-aylard/
Harvard Style:
Aylard, J. (2014). A Veteran Interview with Joyce Aylard. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 14 December. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joyce-aylard/ (Accessed: 21 May 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Aylard, J. A Veteran Interview with Joyce Aylard [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2014 Dec 14 [cited 2026 May 21]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joyce-aylard/
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