What did my Great-Aunt do in WW2?

[EmmaParker]

My Great-Aunt - Mary Marguerite Hodgson (I haven't got her exact dates but she was born between (1907-1911) and died about 1992).  She didn't marry until she was into her 70's.

My family has always believed that Aunt Mary did something "top secret" in WW2 that she could never talk about.

I have no idea how to find out about this - can anyone help?

Her parents were Vera Marguerite Bacon  &  Arthur Thomas Hodgson, who Married at Uttoxeter, Staffs (1906)

[KGarrad]

WW2 records are still with the MOD

Maybe you can get something from this site:
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records

But there will be a fee of £30, and you will need to provide a copy of her death certificate.

There is a chance that, as her job was "top secret" it will still remain classified?
Do you have any idea where she was employed?
Or where she was living at the time?

[nanny jan]

Maybe you can get something from this site:
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records


If she worked at somewhere like Bletchley would that show as "military service"?


Have you looked for her on the 1939 Register?  The 1911 census should give an indication on when she was born.

[KGarrad]

Not Bletchley Park - I just checked on their website

https://bletchleypark.org.uk/roll-of-honour

[candleflame]

Interesting that the GRO doesn't seem to have anyone of that name born in that time frame. Even if you leave the maiden name of bacon out. How sure are you of her dates and birth names?

[JenB]

My Great-Aunt - Mary Marguerite Hodgson (I haven't got her exact dates but she was born between (1907-1911)

We aren't allowed to do 1911 look-ups, but Mary Marguerite is easily found on the 1911 census.

This census gives you her exact age in months. Given that the 1911 census was taken on the 2nd April you can easily work out approximately the month of her birth 

Having worked that out it's not too difficult to find her in the 1939 Register (we can't do look-ups from that either) and to find out what her occupation was at that time.

[nanny jan]

From FreeBMD:

Mary M Hodgson  DecQ 1910  St.Geo.H. Sq     1a    371


I think this could be her.

[JenB]

Interesting that the GRO doesn't seem to have anyone of that name born in that time frame. Even if you leave the maiden name of bacon out. How sure are you of her dates and birth names?

 
From GRO website: (female) Hodgson (no christian name) 4th q. 1910, St George Hanover Square 01A 371, mother's maiden surname Bacon.

[candleflame]

Interesting that the GRO doesn't seem to have anyone of that name born in that time frame. Even if you leave the maiden name of bacon out. How sure are you of her dates and birth names?

 
From GRO website: (female) Hodgson (no christian name) 4th q. 1910, St George Hanover Square 01A 371, mother's maiden surname Bacon.

Yes just got that too without any Christian name! These indexes are designed to confuse us at times!