An Enigma
Flight Lieutenant Arthur Faulkner Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training)
The Man Arthur Faulkner was born on 6th February 1919 in Rugby, his mother’s maiden was White. He married and following the outbreak of World War II in 1939 enlisted into the Royal Air Force with service number 621534 the same year. Arthur’s trade initially was an electrician and in his own words, he performed a number of tasks including charging batteries and providing stage lighting for camp concerts. Promoted to Sergeant he also had an opportunity to fly in a Sunderland Flying boat and later involved in teaching Polish airmen to fly, using a link trainer. There were some communication problems as Arthur couldn’t speak Polish and the Poles no English, ironically they managed by talking in German! Arthur recalled that on one occasion an Officer entered the training hangar and told a nearby Corporal to “Switch off that radio”. The Corporal replied that it was in fact not a radio, but Sgt Faulkner teaching the Poles to fly, in German. The officer was apparently so impressed that he told Arthur to report to his office in the morning, saying “We need men like you for the secret service”. Arthur was posted to Newbold Revel for initial training and sworn to secrecy - those who did talk disappeared very quickly. In August 1942 he was posted to Cheadle out post (a listening post), followed by RAF Chicksands Priory, a former monastic house in Bedfordshire requisitioned by the Royal Navy and then the RAF in 1940, and finally to Bletchely Park in August 1943. He remained at Bletchley until the end of the war. Bletchley Park was a 19th-century mansion and estate in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire that became the principal centre of Allied code-breaking during the War and housed the British Government Code and Cypher School, which regularly penetrated the secret communications of the Axis Powers – most importantly the German Enigma and Lorenz ciphers. Arthur was based in Block F and involved in decrypting Luftwaffe reconnaissance codes. His block also housed the 'Newmanry' whose task it was to develop and employ machine methods in Cryptanalysis of the Lorenz cipher. It was named after its founder and head, Max Newman. The block also deciphered the Fish series of encrypted teleprinter transmissions used by German Commanders in Italy to high command in Berlin. This led to the development of the world's first electronic computer Colossus, which was installed in May 1944. The rest of the block, where Arthur was located, was occupied by the Air Section, including the German Air Section and the Military Section. Both were involved with non-Enigma codes and intelligence interpretation.
Following the war Arthur was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 for his services. He also became a teacher, possibly the via the emergency training scheme, started by the Government to increase teacher numbers following the war and taught metalwork at Campion Boys School in Leamington Spa. On 4th May 1949 Arthur was Commissioned into the RAF Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch) as a Pilot Officer and posted as Adjutant to 1048 (Royal Leamington Spa) Squadron Air Training Corps, taking over command of the unit almost immediately as acting Flight Lieutenant. He was promoted to substantive Flying Officer on 30th August 1952 and it was during this time he enrolled Michael Dymock Harrison as a cadet. Thanks to Arthur’s teaching at Campion School he encouraged a number of pupils to join the unit, including cadets Hudson & Wheeler who both later became national schoolboy sports representatives. Arthur undertook many activities during his time as CO, two specifically recorded being the Battle of Britain parade in Leamington Spa in September 1949 and annual camp at RAF Pembroke Dock in 1953. The unit was affiliated to RAF Wellesbourne Mountford for Air Experience Flying and cadets flew in Avro Ansons from the RAF School of Photography, Airspeed Oxfords, Tiger Moths, Sunderland Flying Boats and Miles Magisters amongst others. Gliding regularly took place at RAF Honiley and many cadets qualified for their gliding wings. Wellesbourne Mounford was also used for full bore shooting and the range at Lockheed Brake Company for small bore with cadets competing in competitions at Bisley. The unit also excelled in sports. In 1950 the Squadron moved to new headquarters in Bury Road, Leamington Spa and to celebrate a Grand Ball was held in the Town Hall. Arthur relinquished his Commission on 25th January 1954 aged 35 due to health problems, handing over command of 1048 Squadron to Flight Lieutenant Eric Burden. He continued teaching, still encouraging many youngsters to join 1048 Squadron, although he did become rather renowned for being easily taken ‘off subject’ by his students when discussing ‘The War’! During the first quarter of 1980, aged 61 Arthur remarried to Maud Ferris in Leamington Spa. Mike Harrison being his best man at the occasion. In later life Arthur enjoyed fly fishing, travelling - visiting most capital cities of Europe and became involved with the local branch of the RAF Association. In August 1997 he attended at 1048 Squadron reunion, and as the senior Commanding Officer present unveiled a plaque in the presence of other surviving COs and cadets of the unit spanning many years. In January 2002 Arthur was given the freedom of Bletchley Park in recognition of his services during the war and the vital part he had played in the work of the secret service. He described this as a great honour and recognising ‘the happiest days of his life’. He also features on their Roll of Honour, which aims to list all those who worked in signals intelligence for the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries during the Second World War. Sadly Arthur never received the Bletchley Park Commemorative Badge as it was not awarded until 2009, after his death, and not posthumously. Arthur lived with Maud at Highland Road in Leamington Spa and died on 21st December 2004 aged 85. Maud lived another 14 years passing away herself on 23rd June 2018.
The Story The medals awarded to Arthur Faulkner were acquired at some point following his death, his tunic buttons, belt buckle and VRT collar dogs having been already presented in 1997. Arthur’s story is of specific interest as he is a former Commanding Officer of 1048 (Royal Leamington Spa) Squadron Air Training Corps, and his medals are the fourth set awarded to an OC of that unit within this collection. 1. Eric Burden, 2. Ewart James, 3. Mike Harrison. His story serving at Bletchley Park is also unusual and interesting. Arthur and Maud were both known personally, but sadly as is often the case, his biography was not pieced together until after both of their deaths, thus much information lost. However Arthur’s service to a vitally important part of the war effort during 1939-45 is at last recorded for posterity with help from Ancestry.UK, London Gazette and the Bletchley Park web site.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
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This page last updated 13 Oct 19