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NO. 1 OPERATING (STATION) SECTION
Along with the other elements of the Group, the Ops. were mustered at Gordon Head and Patricia Bay, B.C. from August, 1944 to January, 1945. The personnel from this section were recruited mainly from the Canadian Special Wireless stations and later augmented by partially trained members from all parts of the Dominion.
Throughout their stay in Canada they all went through the various stages of Basic Training, endless fatigues, operated a Special Wireless station and still found time for recreation together. Then came the trip to Australia and we shared the doubtful beauties of the Islands and New Guinea, along with the other forms of torture necessary to a long ocean voyage on a troopship. Upon arriving in Australia we immediately began to adapt ourselves to the different Australian way of life and adjusted ourselves in matters pertaining to their recreation, work and customs.
Then came the never-to-be-forgotten trip north to Darwin and our subsequent endeavours in trying to make our camp livable according to our standards. Such words as "improvise" became the order of the day until we settled down to the everyday run of camp life and made the best of what we found.
During our stay here the Ops. have done a marvellous job in their army profession and have acquitted themselves to the best Canadian tradition. We have held a major role in winning for this unit the highest commendation from those whose job it has been to make use of our labors.
During all the hard work we have found time for sport and recreation. Although the "Trained Ops" have not won any major competitions in the sport line, they have held the top spot in the softball league and only lost out in the finals to the hard hitting kids of No. 2 Operating Section.
There are many of us who will look back on our stay here with mixed feelings. Many strong friendships have been built around our everyday life together. Many incidents, both humorous and tragic, have taken place in the section but most of us will only remember the humorous side. Incidents will be talked and laughed over for years to come whenever a few of us get together, and the friendships formed here will be a source of enjoyment throughout our civilian life in years to come.
We came overseas to do a Job as trained operators. We have done that Job to the best of our ability in spite of numerous difficulties. Not one us will fail to be able to look back on these days with justifiable pride knowing that we accomplished what we set out to do.
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