34 | 3 mEETING A GENIUS
Turing argued as follows: ‘I can imagine no set of circumstances under which it would be to my
advantage to answer this question “Yes” ’. So he answered it ‘No’. He was duly enrolled and soon
became a first-class shot—he usually did very well the things that he set himself to do.
But then the danger of invasion receded and Turing began to find attending parades
increasingly tedious, so he stopped going. In consequence, he started receiving nasty notes
of increasing irritability. These culminated in a summons to his court-martial, presided over
by Colonel Fillingham, Officer Commanding the Buckinghamshire Division of His Majesty’s
Local Defence Volunteers:
Is it true, Private Turing, that you have attended none of the last eight parades?
Yes, sir.
Do you realize this is a very serious offence?
No, sir.
Private Turing, are you trying to make a fool out of me?
No, sir, but if you look up my application for admission to the Home Guard, you will see that I
do not understand I am subject to military discipline.The form was produced, Colonel Fillingham read it, and became apoplectic. All he could
say was:
You were improperly enrolled. Get out of my sight!figure 3.1 Peter Hilton.
Photo taken by Marge Dodrill, reproduced courtesy of Meg Hilton.