Colin Kitching in World War 2

I've started a Web site for Colin's many interesting journal articles about his time in the RNVR:

Colin Kitching in World War 2

From Alan Hiley

27.07.2008 : Alan Hiley wrote "Colin was one of nature's gentlemen, he was a quiet unassuming man who loved Repton and its history. He and Betty were responsible for the founding and success of the Repton Village History Group. In our association with the Derbyshire Family History Society he showed great interest in the recording of the memorial inscriptions on the headstones in St, Wystans Churchyard. We never heard him talk about his war years and it wasn't until reading the article in the DET that we realised he had played such an important part in the capture of the Enigma machine. On numerous occasions we enjoyed Betty and Colin's hospitality at their home in Repton looking at their local history archives, photographs and a glass of sherry. Gill & Alan Hiley." Posted on Derby Evening Telegraph tribute site

From Pat Walker

25.07.2008 : Patrick Walker wrote "I got to know Colin only because he had been in the RNVR with my Father and they both were at Dieppe and later D-Day - and also because he and my Mother had been life-long friends. I shall always remember his rich southwest accent and the fact he was a most likeable man. Very dedicated to his history and his work on Calke Abbey. He did not say too much about his experiences during the war except his time in Combined Operations, but having read the tributes to him I can see he was something of a quiet hero. To have crammed all the various experiences into one career is remarkable to say the least. I know that he and my Father survived all the actions without a scratch physically but always carried many awful mental pictures deep inside. A truly remarkable man and his death was a great shock to me when I found out, because I had only rung to tell him I had come across some photographs of the 703 Flotilla from his wartime days and would he like to see copies of them. A sad loss of a man who helped to change history." Posted on Derby Evening Telegraph tribute site

pics of Colin & Betty

by way of a start towards an appropriate pictorial tribute, some picsof Colin & Betty

Derby Evening Telegraph tribute

Fri 25 July 2008 "Second World War veteran who helped crack Enigma code dies"

also their leave-a-tribute site:

"Lasting Tribute"

is available for anyone to leave their own tributes