FIGHTING THE SECRET WAR AT BLETCHLEY

It may be a lifetime ago since Kenneth Nicolson from Stornoway signed the Official Secrets Act. But, to this day, he remains tight-lipped about exactly what he saw, heard and did during the Second World War.

The Act ensures official information state secrets remain that.

Yet Mr Nicolson, aged 94-and-a-half – the half is important to this cheerful gent – doesn’t mind sharing his memories of VE Day. that and just

He said: “It was just like any other normal working day for me, but I do remember that evening we celebrated by eating a good meal with food that wasn’t typical of Army rations and drinking plenty of beer which we really enjoyed.”

He was in the Royal Signals and Radio Security service and worked for a Bletchley Park unit, stationed in Forfar, meticulously contributing to the war effort as the tide turned in the Allies’ favour.

He added: of the code

“I was one breakers. I was recruited at 19 – you couldn’t ask to join the Radio Security service, but were asked to join.

“I had registered for call-up, and when they saw what I had been doing they took an interest in me.

“I worked with the Post Office in Stornoway as a sorter, clerk and telegraphist and worked on teleprinters – equipment which was quite cutting edge at the time.”

He left his mother and sister behind in Stornoway – his father was a victim of the First World War, having been gassed during the Battle of the Somme.

Mr Nicolson said: “He didn’t die until 1933 but lived on in agony after the war.”

But, despite witnessing first hand the horrible impact which war can have, he signed up to do his bit.

“After being selected I made my way to Barnet in Hertfordshire for training which was a big, big change from island life.

“It wasn’t a nine-to-five job and we worked three shifts covering a 24-hour period.

“I like to think that I didn’t fight the war with guns, but with my head.

“My role meant we also had a good idea that VE Day was coming before it was announced.”

For this beetle-browed individual, it was really just another working day, because although there was victory in Europe to celebrate, the war was still going on in other parts of the world.

He said: “However, on that May day, we did feel very glad that at least in Europe, war was over.”

It wasn’t until August the same year that he finally returned to Stornoway for good.

“Prior to that, we would get seven days leave every six months,” he explained.

“I would leave Forfar and head for Aberdeen; stay overnight in the railway station then get an early train from Aberdeen to Inverness.

“From there, I would get a train from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, then the ferry from there to Stornoway.”

Very briefly, he returned to his old job with the Post Office, but it was a different environment following the many years of hostilities.

He said: “My wartime experience changed me as a person – I wanted to get a better job, and got work with the Town Chambers in Stornoway.

“Then, with the reorganisation of local government, I moved to the Western Isles Council and became depute director of finance.”

Kenneth, who is married to Zena, and has three children, several grandchildren and one great-grandchild, remains a sharp thinker.

He concluded: “The war was a long, long time ago, although some of it feels as fresh in my memory as if it was yesterday – but I still can’t speak about it thanks to the Official Secrets Act.”