Michael Arbuthnot Ashcroft (1920–1949) was a code breaker at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, working in Hut 8 under Alan Turing.
In June 1941, after only two full terms at Oxford, he was recruited by Conel Hugh O'Donel Alexander to join Hut 8 at Bletchley Park.
[1] Within Hut 8, he made his mark and a major contribution to breaking the Atlantic and Mediterranean Naval Enigma "Shark" (or Triton), as the expert on short signals.
[3] This work was considerably aided by the capturing of the short signal code books from German submarine U-559 by men from HMS Petard.
Ashcroft's funeral service took place at St Margaret's, Westminster, on 17 December 1949, attended by Stafford Cripps, then chancellor of the exchequer, and many MPs, colleagues, family and friends.