RAOC Gazette - page 20
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1980 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1980 |
| Late date | 1980 |
| Transcription |
It was a cold, gloomy, windswept day, as we set off with a will to practice our skills. The first test was a fast convoy run to Blackdown completed in one hour and twenty minutes. After a rest of some forty minutes we had our next test, a war game with Didcot which ended with DSCS the victors. Another rest. then another war game against Apprentices College, again DSCS were the victors. With our pride and hope at its highest level, we rested until the afternoon, when the war games ;. were going to be deadly serious. This turned out to be the case j as next on the field of combat we met Northern Ireland but I DSCS were on top of a wave and made it a hat-trick by emerging victors yet again. Evening time saw us retreating back to Bicester for a well earned rest. On the 28th we were at the convoy run again choosing the more scenic route. This time our run to the Battlefields of Blackdown took one hour and fifty minutes. We were allowed thirty minutes rest before taking up arms against Kineton 'A.' During this battle our efforts of the previous day started to show and one could see at a glance the odd wounded soldiers, some with a leg missing, others with only one eye. Despite these handicaps the war umpires declared it a creditable draw, with DSCS the moral victors. With some sixty minutes to lick our wounds and some emergency operations on legs and eyes we took the field of combat against AIDU and as was dreaded by all, this was our Waterloo. Fight- ing a rear-guard action to the last man, the last drop of blood. we were narrowly defeated. This victory by AIDU allowed them to enter and win the final battle in our stead. The exercise finished with DSCS making its way back to base, with their heads held high with pride, tinged slightly with sorrow, with thoughts firmly and resolutely fixed on the same exercise in one year's time. Welcome Captain Linda Kerley and Major Jim Lawrence to DSCS and farewell to Major Bill Grant. Congratulations are in order to Major Jim Lawrence, Major Colin Tennant and Captain Sue Rollo on their promotions. Training Centre CENTRAL VOLUNTEER HEADQUARTERS ONCE again the Commander's Study Period is over for another year, and it was voted a resounding success. On the Friday night we held a Ladies Dinner Night in Headquarters RAOC Officers Mess. This was the first time such a function had been arranged for our TA Officers and their ladies, but judging by the enthusiastic reception it certainly will not be the last. The principal guests were Major General Brown and Mrs Brown. The Sergeants Mess was not to be outdone and a very successful dinner night was held on the Saturday at which the principal guests were the Commander Training Centre, Brigadier Short and Colonel Kelly. Major Nigel Notley, our Paymaster, has left on posting, and in his place we welcome Captain John Clifford and hope he will enjoy his stay at CVHQ. The same goes for Sergeant Eric Shaw and family who have joined us from Cyprus. We were delighted to have a visit from Lieutenant Colonel. Ray Dickey who is out ' on licence' from the Cambridge Mili- tary Hospital. It was good to see him looking so well, and obviously enjoying his glass of beer at the farewell lunch for Major Nigel Notley. Congratulations to WOl Bernie Brace on his substantive rank. What's next in store for him? Staff Sergeant Tommy Young has left us for civvy street, but he hasn't severed all connection with the Army as we hear he has volunteered to join the TA. We wish him every success. SCHOOL OF ORDNANCE LIEUTENANT COLONEL COLIN ROGERS is at present on his bricks and mortar course and Major Des Townsend and Captain Dudley Ells will be leaving us later this year for UMIST. Major John Woodliffe was in the Training Centre squash team that won the Army Inter-Unit Championship. W02 Bell is in hospital and we wish him a speedy recovery. The School has been a haven of quiet recently due to the absence of Major Malcolm Bryant in BAOR. Corporal Cooper has departed for Training Battalion and we welcome Lance Corporal Wrigley from Wulfen in his place. TRAINING BATTALION AND DEPOT AS in most hard-working establishments, there is very little time to devote to the mundane minutac of Regimental life. Perhaps. the main event of the month was CSM Gardners' passing-on; not so much to a better life but a civilian life. However, now that all the huriy burly of the handovers and takeovers is completed. Training Company has once again settled down into the routine of a well oiled machine. Although Major Ken Collins may boast he never had a passing out parade in the gym because of wet weather, Major Jim Keating is not going to be outdone. Since his arrival we have had two parades, both in the pouring rain and poor Salerno Platoon was on the receiving end of some hefty dry cleaning bills after both performances. The subalterns have found two new friends in Second Lieutenants Ged Argyle and Mark Whitaker: evenings and weekends have been so free since their arrival. To cap it all Mark has just finished his Young Officers Course, where they taught him all about the duties of an Orderly Officer—or did he teach them? QMSI Ron Spree and his staff have ably administered two major cross country' championships in the past month. We hosted the RAOC meeting and later major and minor Units appeared for the South East District Competition. As you may have read the Training Centre team made a name for them- selves in the major units division. Sadly the gym have said farewell to their combined services judo star. Lance Corporal Tony Franklin, we wish him luck in Dulmen. Congratulations are in order for Sergeant Jim Parker. Corporals Taffy Rowlands and Andy Knowles all recently promoted: Lance Corporals Burchell and Seggie on their sub- stantive ranks and Lance Corporal Ron James of the gymnasium staff for his numerous victories at boxing from which he emerged as the army open light middleweight champion and runner-up in the combined services competition at this weight. We welcome Major Jim Keating. Captain Gordon Coombs. W02 Roger Evans, Sergeant Jock McGavin. Corporals Sanders and Ford, and bid farewell to Major Ken Collins on the Food Technology Course. Captain Mike Dalley on promotion to BAOR, Lieutenant Ted Jukes to Northern Ireland and marriage, Sergeant Wheeler on promotion to 1 ADOC via the CQMS course. Sergeant Paul Goodeve is shortly to leave us on posting to Bicester. In Civilian Life Enjoy Service and Comradeship in T H E R O Y A L BRITISH LEGION Your service to Queen and Country needn't stop when you leave the Forces. The Royal British Legion has as much interest in and responsibility for young ex-servicemen and women of today as it has for those of two world wars and looks to them for its leaders of the future. The Royal British Legion, 4 9 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5JY |
| Book number | R0404 |