Canadian Military Memorabilia - 1955 HMC Coverdale - Pewter Stein Award

* Dating to March 23, 2955. * This is a pewter mug awarded to "Sub Lt(W) J.L. Tyo" who was a divisional supervisor of WRENs at HMC Coverdale. * Some staining due to age. No damage. * 5" tall x 4" diameter. * The inscription reads: "Presented to Sub LT.W J.L Tyo RCN R From the Officers HMC Naval Radio Station Coverdale 23-3-55" * Picture: Sub Lt. Tyo is in the middle row, 2nd from right. * Women who served in The Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS) were called WRENs. * HMCS Coverdale was established as a Special Wireless Station (High Frequency/Direction Finder (HF/DF) station) on November 23, 1942. It was situated across the Petitcodiac River, slightly south of Moncton, New Brunswick. Because this site was located over a tremendous bog, it was selected for HF/DF operations because it provided a very good ground plane for radio frequency signals and the abundance of water provided a good source of domestic water. Construction was completed in the January-February 1944 period and the station was quickly staffed by personnel from the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS). During the Second World War, the major activity at the station was taking D/F bearings on German submarines and assisting with search and rescue operations for aircraft in distress. On April 30, 1945, a HMCS Coverdale operator intercepted a message sent by German Admiral Karl Doenitz telling all his forces that Hitler was dead. She was the first allied person to hear the news of his