Memories of the d’Ars Bunker
When you entered the d’Ars bunker, there was a Pass Control area which was operated by the Military Police. This was where you picked up your pass when you arrived at the bunker, and you expected to return your pass when you departed the bunker.
You would then proceed down a corridor until you reached a location where you had to turn right. On the right were the Message Centre, COC Operations Centre and the COC Operations Orderly Room.
Then came the "fenced-in" Intelligence Section with controlled access. You had to ring a "buzzer" and someone came to open the door.
Across from the COC Operations Centre were the stairs to the lower level. The switchboard was one of the sections located on the lower level.
At the left of the stairs were the Message Relay Centre, Technical Officer’s Office, 601 Telecom Squadron sub unit (where they repaired telephones etc.) and further down was the Mess Hall.
We used to play horseshoes on top of the bunker.
Pinetree Line Note: - Marie Gariepy (now Jones) worked in the Combat Operations Centre (COC) Orderly Room between 1961 and 1963. Her husband, Bill (Jonesy) Jones worked in the Combat Operations Centre (COC) Operations Centre between 1961 and 1966.