Victorians at War - Oral History Project

Personal Stories
Paul Copeland (Army - Cambodia and Sinai)
Paul grew up in Melbourne and attended Broadmeadows High School. He worked in a shoe warehouse before trying out for enlistment into the air force and then the army at the age of 17. He was accepted into the army in March 1981 and trained at Watsonia, Victoria, as a Radio Operator in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. After initial training Paul was posted to the 103 Signals Squadron in Townsville, Queensland, the 135 Signals Squadron in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, and then to the 2nd Signal Regiment in Watsonia, Victoria, for 12 months. He undertook training in Special Forces with the 125 Signal Squadron before volunteering to go to Cambodia in 1992.	Listen to interview (approx. 1 hour) Read Transcript
Paul arrived in Cambodia in 1993 and worked with the Force Communications Unit to the United Nations Transitional Authority. He was then posted to the Sihanoukville Signal Troop as Troop Sergeant. As a result of a major motor vehicle accident in May 1993, Paul was evacuated to the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. After his recovery from the accident he was transferred in November 1995 to the Middle East with the Australian Contingent to the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. He returned to Australia in June 1996 and was posted to the 7th Signal Regiment in Toowomba, Queensland. In November 1997 Paul was posted to the Signal Regiment in Sydney, New South Wales, and then to the Communications Training Centre in Watsonia, Victoria. He is an active foundation member of the Peace-Keepers and Peace-Makers Association that began in 1997.