A Suffolk Second World War veteran has been honoured with a commemorative badge and certificate for her code-breaking work at Bletchley Park.

East Anglian Daily Times: Right to left: Liz Austin, of Framlingham, with her Bletchley Park Commemorative Badge and certificate, with Georgina Penny, Care UK Business Support Manager at Mills Meadow, and Roz Ingate, Care UK Mills Meadow Activities Coordinator.Right to left: Liz Austin, of Framlingham, with her Bletchley Park Commemorative Badge and certificate, with Georgina Penny, Care UK Business Support Manager at Mills Meadow, and Roz Ingate, Care UK Mills Meadow Activities Coordinator. (Image: Archant)

Liz Austin, from Framlingham, now 87, was called up to join the war effort when she was 17 years old on her last day at school.

She trained at Bletchley Park, the iconic war-time code-breaking site in Buckinghamshire, where she learned how to use the cyphering and encryption machines.

She was then based at the Eastcote Outstation, Middlesex, where she helped decipher German codes and forward them on to officers at Bletchley Park.

She said: “I was amazed and very proud to receive the badge.

“Working during the war at such a young age was hard, with very long hours, working through the night and lots of secrecy.

“After some encouragement and persuasion from Care UK colleagues here at Mills Meadow, I decided to tell my story and claim the badge as I would like to pass it onto my grandchildren.”

Mrs Austin was born in Framlingham and has spent most of her life in Suffolk.

She joined the Wrens during the war from 1943 and then worked as a potter in Sudbury before marrying her husband John and settling in Cretingham.

She now lives at Mills Meadow care home on Fore Street, Framlingham.

The achievements of the Government Code and Cypher School made a significant contribution to allied victory during the Second World War.

In 2009 the government recognised the vital service of all those who worked at Bletchley Park and its outstations during the war, by presenting surviving veterans with a blue and gold commemorative badge. Mrs Austin received hers in the post from Prime Minister David Cameron.