Letter from King George VI amongst items belonging to adopted Mancunian Alan Turing returned from USA

Items belonging to adopted Manuncian and revolutionary mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing have been returned to his childhood school. Turing is most well known for devising a way to break the German Enigma code during the Second World War, shortening the conflict by an estimated two years. 

Turing lived and worked in Manchester after the war and his work had him based at the University of Manchester. This followed his work for the British Secret Service at Bletchley Park. 

Despite his ground-breaking work, Turing was prosecuted for his homosexuality in 1952 back during a time when it was illegal to be gay in the UK. In 1954, he died by suicide and was only pardoned posthumously by Queen Elizabeth II in 2013. 

Turing is acknowledged by Manchester Pride and earlier this year a documentary entitled ‘Alan Turing: The Pride of Manchester’ was released. It is perhaps fitting that the news of Turing’s belongings being returned home comes just days before Manchester Pride 2023.

The items returned to England include Alan Turing’s PhD diploma from Princeton University, the Order of the British Empire Medal, a personal note from King George VI of England, a number of school reports, and various photos. They have been returned to the Sherborne School in Dorset where Turing attended from 1926 to 1931.  

An investigation carried out by the United States District Attorney’s Office of Colorado found the items after they were offered to be displayed at the University of Colorado in Boulder in 2018. Following an investigation, US Homeland Security discovered they had been removed from the archives at the Sherborne school back in 1984.

The items were reportedly taken by a person named Julia Schinghomes who arrived at the school and took them into her possession.  She later changed her name to Julia Turing- but she was of no relation to Alan.     

U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan said: “Together with Homeland Security Investigations, our office ensured that historical artefacts belonging to Alan Turing are now back in the place where they belong. We celebrate the accomplishments of Alan Turing and are thrilled that the historical significance of these artefacts will continue to be appreciated by scholars and generations to come.”

HSI Special Agent in Charge, Ryan L. Spradlin said: “Sir Alan Turing was named a national hero for the crucial role he played in cracking coded messages during World War II, enabling the Allies to defeat the Axis Powers. I’m very proud of HSI Denver investigators and our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s office were able to recover his effects after being missing for nearly 40 years.”