Remembering the Telegraphist Air Gunners
Commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the Arrival of Telegraphist Air Gunners in Yarmouth
December 28, 2007
65 years ago in December of 1944, the first group of Telegraphist Air
Gunners of the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy arrived in Yarmouth, Nova
Scotia from England, to begin their training during the Second World War.
From shortly before Christmas of 1942 until the spring of 1945, No. 2 TAGS
(Telegraphist Air Gunners School) of the Royal Navy trained Telegraphist Air
Gunners at East Camp. The school could accommodate approximately 480
TAGs at a time. Most of the TAGs were from England, with a few from Canada
and elsewhere.
The first Course to arrive was Course # 45A. The “A” denotes courses
trained at in Yarmouth, NS, versus course numbers without the “A” that
represent courses trained at Lee-On-Solent near Portsmouth, Hampshire in
England.
This 65th Anniversary reminds us of the importance of remembering and the
Wartime Heritage Association will be restoring the Memorial bench on the
former site of East Camp later in 2008-2009.
The bench was placed near the monument in 1989 by the East and West
Camp Association with an inscription that reads, "East Campers Say Relax and
Enjoy". Over the years, the condition of the wooden bench has deteriorated.
The monument itself was placed on the site of East Camp in September of
1988.
Wartime Heritage has concluded consultations with Veterans who were members of the East and West Camp Association and the
Telegraphist Air Gunners Association to ask for their input on the restoration and they agreed. These Veterans served at either
East or West Camp during WWII.
East Camp WWII Monument and Bench
East Camp WWII Monument
Telegraphist Air Gunners, Course 45A at East Camp