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Motion · S6M-08817 · 3 May 2023

Paying Tribute to the Second World War Codebreaker, Adelina Ferguson

Lodged by Alexander Stewart Standard Motion 34 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament pays tribute to the resident of Bield Sheltered Housing in Bridge of Allan, and Second World War veteran, Adelina "Lena" Ferguson, nee Irvine, who sadly passed away on 23 April 2023, aged 103; understands that she was part of the Allied codebreaking operation, starting work as a cryptographer at Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, aged 24; notes that she moved to Bridge of Allan aged 99 from her home in Jordanhill in the west end of Glasgow, where she had lived for most of her life, to be closer to family; understands that she was a much-loved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and had a happy marriage to James Ferguson from 1948 until he passed away in 2002; acknowledges that Adelina’s brother, George, was a pilot during the Second World War and was shot down over Normandy in 1940, aged 21, and is buried in France; understands that Adelina, a member of the Women's Royal Naval Service, known as the Wrens, was at Bletchley Park for two years, and that, according to her family, was excited to be part of the war effort; notes that, although due to signing the Official Secrets Act, she did not speak in detail about her experiences, she did speak fondly of the Nissen huts that she stayed in with the other Wrens, including when one hut was bombed curtailing all hot water for a week in winter, and also about "whirring drums that would produce letters" and the "huge Colossus machine", as well as modestly referring to herself as "one little part in the many processes that went on"; commends Adelina for her selfless service to the UK’s war effort, for which she received a medal and certificate in recognition years later, and sends its sincerest condolences to her surviving family.

Supporters (34)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.