Gladys Wong

Sergeant Gladys Wong from Limehouse in London's East End was one of very few Chinese-British women to serve in the armed forces during the war. She worked as a wireless operator in the WAAF, intercepting enemy radio communications at a Y-Station in southern England. Her exceptional skill at identifying individual German operators by their 'fist' — their distinctive keying style — provided valuable intelligence about enemy unit movements. She was mentioned in despatches for her outstanding service. After the war, she ran a successful laundry business in Soho and was a matriarch of London's Chinatown community.