TELEPHONE OPERATORS

Grey River Argus, 11 February 1941, Page 9

TELEPHONE OPERATORS

DECORATED FOR GALLANTRY. [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, February 7. That the Nazi conception of total warfare evokes a spirit of gallant devotion in all ranks in Britain, whether combatant or civil, is continually shown by the awards for bravery which, include members of every type of profession and occupation.' The latest instance is the conferring of the Medal of the Order of the British Empire on two civilian telephone operators named Bone and McCullough, who are employed at an Air Ministry out station. The official account states that the Royal Air Force station was divebombed by about twenty enemy aircraft. Bone and McCullough remained at their post which was only partially protected, until the windows, doors and roof collapsed. Bone received superficial scalp wounds, injuries to a shoulder and a forearm, which incapacitated him for two weeks. McCullough suffered a superficial scalp w'ound, but after receiving attention he returned to the telephone exchange and continued his duties. Although unexploded bombs dropped on the roadway outside the telephone exchange, McCullough carried on with his duties. Both men displayed unselfish devotion to duty without regard to their personal safety.