A to Z Challenge 2020 - W

The Blogging from A to Z Challenge is to post everyday (except Sunday) in the month of April 2020 starting with the letter A and going all the way to Z. My theme is...
Ancestor Occupations 

WIRELESS OPERATOR

During both wars, all wireless and amateur radio stations were ordered to shut down, except those taken over by the military. 


On 29 Jan 1916 a government Order in Council was passed establishing a rank to be known as "Wireless Operator" in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve.

Orders in Council 0162 - 29 Jan 1916 pg.3

My great uncle Wilfred Tait, born 1897 in Montreal, Quebec was a Wireless Operator in the RCNVR during the First World War.

Wilfred joined the RCNVR in September 1914 at the age of 17, and applied for a position in the government Telegraph Service 12 October 1917 when he could already operate using the Continental Code at 14 words a minute. 

Wilfred was assigned to the HMCS Niobe (training and depot ship in Halifax) for wireless training in his first appointment as Wireless Learner. 

From service file of Wilfred Tait, ordered from LAC

Wilfred was listed on the May 1918 Navy List as W/L (Wireless Learner) and was assigned to a CD-25 patrol boat.

The Navy List May 1918 pg.46

Wilfred was promoted to 4th class W/O (Wireless Operator) starting 10 June 1918 and soon assigned to the HMCS Seagull

Up to and including WWI, the crew of navy ships were awarded shares of prize money for destroying or capturing enemy vessels during times of war. The money was distributed in three installments at the end of the war. When the money was ready to be distributed it was announced in the newspaper and the person had to apply for it. 

Third Distribution - Montreal Gazette, Jan 14, 1924 pg 2, col.4

Being a Wireless Operator on submarine chasers Wilfred was entitled to shares of the prize money.  He received his first check 4 Nov 1920 of £5 for his share of the prize money, his second check 11 Apr 1923 of £7 10d, and the third check of £1 on 1 Feb 1924.

After the war Wilfred started Square-D Electric Company in Montreal. 

Wilfred Tait died suddenly in July 1940 at the age of 43. 

Being a wireless operator can also be a hobby. Then it is called Amateur Radio, or Ham Radio, and there are ham clubs all over the world. 

My husband is an avid sailor and thought it would be a good idea to get a wireless radio on his boat. Often where he sails there is no cell reception. He took the course, which at the time included morse code. He then chose his call sign (the VA7 part is for our area) and got his ham license.

My husband had a ham shack in our basement but he mostly used the one on the boat. The boating net is active all summer, giving weather information, which anchoring places are full so don't bother going there, such and such a place is having a free shrimp boil, or has any one seen or heard from so and so today as he hasn't checked in? The moderators are all volunteer and it is such a good safety thing, as well as social.