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RAOC Gazette - page 36

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Material type Journals
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1980
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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription The platoon seems to have acquired a Kamikahzi pilot in
the form of Private Steve Agass who, when on exercise managed
to modify a ten tonner with the help of a ditch. Meanwhile
back at base young Agass is still in form trying to fly on a
motor cycle.
On the sporting scene we must congratulate Lance Corporal
Kev Hardman on being selected for the Corps cricket team.
We welcome back to the fold Lance Corporal Dirk Wilson who
has just returned from UK after attending a B2—Bl Upgrading
Course. Private John Mooney has gone off to try and cure his
fear of heights by attending a parachute course—hope he comes
back in one piece.
Congratulations go to Lance Corporal Kev Hardman and
his wife Bev, on the birth of their son Richard. Some people
will do anything to get a mention.
Arrivals: Sergeants Ron Gray, Brian Unwin and Dave
Green and Lance Corporal Neil Ward. To them and their
families we say welcome.
PS—It is. rumoured that Second Lieutenant Gorsuch is try-
ing to make a takeover bid for the Workshops Duty Officer.
I know I was due a posting but this is ridiculous.
promotion but we don't want to tell him that due to establish-
ment cuts the vacancy is being downgraded to Lance Corporal.
Captain Cross, having once again regained hold of the
physical training reins appears to be taking it very seriously.
Three and a half miles sprinting, jogging and walking with
various exercises in between seem to be taking their toll of the
less fit branch members. Some rather unkind comments emitted
from the lips of those who had any breath left at the end of
the session, the kindest being the muttered comment ' thrown
out of the Gestapo for cruelty.'
Finally our congratulations go to W02 John Sexton, and
Sergeant Geordie House, on their substantive promotion and to
Corporal Bill Winchester and Lance Corporal Jock Falconer
who in addition to receiving their substantive promotion also
passed their Bl course.
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
THE big event of the year, the ARU, which this year took the
form of an Inter Platoon Competition, is our main news this
month. The competition took place in the Soltau and Falling-
bostel areas.
Phase 1—A Drill and Turnout Inspection by 1 Coldstream
Guards.
Phase 2—A series of Individual skills—tested by 4/7 RDG,
I Coldstream Guards, 1st Armoured Division Field Ambulance
and Headquarters Soltau Garrison.
Phase 3—A ten kilometre Battle March and Balloon Shoot.
The competition was a close thing and all rested on who
won the Shoot. The eventual winners being Headquarters
Platoon, second 1 Platoon, and third 2 Platoon. The Cham-
pion Platoon Cup was presented to Staff Sergeant Chapman by
Commander Soltau Garrison Brigadier Palmer, who also
presented the 1st Armoured Division Minor Units Cross Country
League Championship Trophy and Medals to our Cross Country
Team.
Congratulations to Lance Corporal Poole and Private
Hoareau on their recent Bl Supply Clerk courses, Privates Mc-
Aulay and Bannister on their Bl Supply Specialist and Lance
Corporal Fox on his B3 Vehicle Specialist.
We welcome the following to sunny Soltau: Staff Sergeant
Wheeler, Sergeant Luker, Corporal Woodhouse, Lance Corporal
Wilson, Privates Mitchell, McGee, Cassidy, Lewis, Lenaghan,
Hamilton, Mason, Bryant and Wigg and on cross posting to
the Stores Platoon: Sergeant Gray.
STORES PLATOON 7 ARMOURED
WORKSHOP
THE column begins in the aftermath of a crash-out which
proved to be different; both MRGs being deployed on the COs
exercise. We are still trying to work out why MRG A always
gets the better weather. It is still being argued who were the
best MRG, but at least MRG B managed a two hour stand-to
in the rain—all good fun.
79 SUPPLY DEPOT (THE FIGHTING 19th)
TO open our news for this, month it is appropriate to men-
tion our un-sung heroines—Yes! our wives.
Ably led by
Margaret Byles and supported by Doreen Osborne, Jenny
Gudgeon and Margaret Field they are keeping fit and, possibly
shedding the odd pound or two, by practising the mysterious
arts of yoga. There have even been the odd murmurings that
it is much harder than the BFT runs that are once again in
full swing. In addition to the yoga a visit was made to the local
Ten Pin Bowling Alley recently where they really knocked
hell out of the pins—so we are told.
The potted sports finals were held recently with the ' Desk
Bounders,' Messrs Byles, Hopper, Grant, Mclnnes and Osborne
coming out top of the league and winning a trophy each. Well
done! the ' bounders.'
Our OC, Major Byles has just departed for a sailing course
at Kiel and hopes to qualify as a ' boat driver' or some such
thing. He was last seen with tears in his eyes riding his bicycle
out of the Depot at close of play on Friday—we thought at first
it was because the working week was over, but discover it is his
new contact lenses giving trouble.
We welcome to the fold Corporal Eric Jones and family
and trust they will have a happy tour at Hohne.
2nd Armoured Division
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HEADQUARTERS
RAOC
IRON BAND, the CRAOC's exercise,
lived up to its traditional standards of
weather, snow and ice and at times minus
five degrees centigrade. Even one case of
frost bite. The first phase of the exercise
consisted of Unit training and phase two
was devoted to a section competition
organised by Major (Para) Jim Steele
starting with deplanement from Wessex
by rope into the unknown and including a river crossing. We had
hoped to publish a photograph of the latter but thought that the
Editor would censor it due to the abundance of bare bottoms. The
sections were ambushed by enemy lead by Colonel Thynneski
appropriately attired with Major (mad Mike) Stacey under
command,—normally such a quiet chap. The competition ended
with a ' shoot o u t ' on the range and 2 ADOC's team led by
Corporal McDouall narrowly relegated the 5 Field Force Ord-
nance Company all stars to second place.
Following comments from Major Chris Green OC 2
ADOC, Iron Band 81 will be much tougher involving moves
every night and will possibly take place in January. 2 ADOC
apparently had too much sleep. Major Peter Haden, OC 5
Field Force Ordnance Company, has kindly offered to write
the exercise instructions and give clear and concise orders in
good time—a pity as Captain Mike Southworth the Adjutant
was going on PQS2 courses this year.
Major Alan Jamieson has finally left us; we wish Alan and
Kathy a good homecoming and a happy tour. We have drunk to
the farewell of WOl Jackson who will have gone by the time
this is printed. We welcome Major Mike Dalley and his
wife Sharon.
STOP PRESS: CRAOC, who never gets time off for sport,
has just returned from the Divisional golf meeting. He em-
phasises it was duty. He presented Private Buchanan with the
second prize in the handicap. Sergeant Major Evans managed
— 25 —
Book number R0404