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RAOC Gazette - page 40

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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 It will be clear from above that we really had an exciting
time and in all seriousness, learnt a lot of valuable lessons.
1 Platoon was commanded by Second Lieutenant Peter
Gosney ably assisted by W02 Mellors.
Enemy activity seemed to concentrate on Corporal Nonis's
site although they were, in a manner of speaking, contained.
One of the enemy who we must mention was Sergeant Mo
Spencer, if only because he has never been mentioned before
!bd he felt this was his big chance.
Someone resembling the SATO, Major Nigel Lampard,
ras lucky to get away when spotted observing a site in his
Hint. Sergeant Frank Goldsworthy was within feet of lifting
jm with his Eager Beaver when he drove off.
Captain Steve Clarkson was caught during another phase
y an Eager Beaver road block. We are now investigating
nethods of fitting twin LMG's to these versatile vehicles!
On the final day of the RP phase we were visited by some
if the wives who, after a brief introduction from our OC,
llajor Allan Allkins, were driven around the circuit. On the
»ay they were shown an MHE demonstration with Lance
Corporal Daisey Adams driving, a section attack led by
Sergeant Yorkie Coates (with Padre Roger Davies on hand),
in NBC demonstration with CSM Kim Selvon explaining the
tit and a cooking demonstration given by Corporal Dave Crocker
ivhose culinary skills were once again in evidence. The ladies
then had sherry followed by lunch and wine before departing
after an enjoyable moming.
Since returning from exercise we have performed well on
the sports field with our rugby team narrowly beating 43 Com-
pany in a well fought match. They now play 3 ADOC in the
3rd Division Ordnance Competition. Team Captain Staff Sergeant
Mick Shepherd, Sergeant Stone and Corporal Goulden hold
together our team, most of whom were playing their first games.
The volleyball team have also performed well, losing only
two games in the 3rd Division league, and are now waiting to
see if they have done enough to get through to the BAOR
finals.
The Company is now in training for the athletics, cross
country and Hoogeveen marches which take place before Sum-
mer Camp in two weeks time, so don't be surprised if we don't
R'rite next month will you.
Our congratulations go to Private McManus (Lance
Corporal) Lance Corporal Smith (A/Corporal) Corporal Paul
iSub-Corporal). Private Jones (Lance Corporal) and Private
Wright (Lance Corporal)—also Privates King and Graham on
passing their Driving course.
We welcome to the Company Lance Corporal Dewman
Privates Casmore, Longman, Prior and Ried.
Corps Troops
CORPS VEHICLE
COMPANY
APRIL saw the visit of the DDOS Brigadier Skinner accom-
panied by CRAOC Lieutenant Colonel Hellis to the Vehicle
Company. Rumour has it that only one person of the Unit
failed to get into conversation with the DDOS—none other
than the artful dodger, Private Curthoys. Fortunately the visit
seemed to get by wihout any April Fool pranks being played,
probably due to the ever-watchful eye of CSM Dunn.
Apologies for no pictures of the visit but the film taken
during the visit didn't turn out, probably due to being taken
on 1st April.
The football team is still holding their own, drawing against
C Battery RA Gutersloh and a five nil win over J Corps Troops
Workshop where Sergeant Mardi just failed to get a hat-trick
with a penalty miss in the last five minutes of the match.
Past members of the Unit will be pleased to know that
Berty and Gertrude, our goldfish in the barge, had an eventful
winter. They produced some thirty offspring.
We say farewell to Private Harrison (the football team
will miss him) and Private Goodier—good luck in Civvy
Street.
and to Mrs Murphy on the birth of a daughter Claire. Mrs
Murphy's husband, Private Murphy, must also deserve a men-
tion having been part of the team that produced Claire.
Well done also to Lance Corporal Cock who has been pro-
moted substantive Corporal and A/Sergeant Frew whose sub-
stantive promotion has been confirmed in that rank.
Belated congratulations to Private Ritchie who has just
discovered that he has been provisionally selected for pro-
motion to Lance Corporal.
STORES
PLATOON
94 LOCATING REGIMENT
RA
THE patter of tiny feet is the subject of interest in the Platoon
at present—congratulations to Corporal Graham Harvey on
becoming the proud father of a baby girl.
Drone flying, that mystical rite which justifies our existence
in Celle, will have finished by the time these notes arc printed,
hopefully without adverse incident The launch and recovery
is a fascinating sight to those not familiar with the system.
(What about some photographs and an article.—Editor).
Corporals Brian Aitchison. Mick Greenhalgh, Colin Broth-
well and Howard Hart have all recently passed their RPCI
courses, and are now fully qualified for Exercise Kecnwind
duties.
We congratulate Sergeant John McConnell on his pro-
motion ; he has been seen feverishly examining every piece of
paper that comes into the office in search of his Posting Order!
(M and RO please note).
Land Forces Cyprus
THE Army (Cyprus) Squash Championships
took place in the Episkopi Garrison Courts
with competitors from the Headquarters; Staff
Sergeant Phil Gadsden. W02 Ralph McKee
and WOl Wilf Wright. W02 McKee made it
through to the quarter-final of the Plate com-
petition and put up a fierce struggle before
going down to Staff Sergeant Corrin, 1 QLR.
Staff Sergeant Corrin went on to win the Plate
competition by beating our Staff Sergeant
Phil Gadsden in the final. Phil played well throughout the com-
petition and deserved his runners-up medal,—congratulations.
WOl Wright was beaten (annihilated) in the semi-final of the
Veterans and the quarter-final of the open both times by the
eventual winner of these competitions.
Signals Unit RAF organised a ' Mini' Walkabout Com-
petition, based on the rules of the main Cyprus Walkabout.
The aim of the competition was to provide a very good test of
team work and physical endurance combined with map reading
skills for teams of three. The course covered a distance of
over thirty miles, starting from a point near Platres in the
Troodos Mountains to Episkopi, passing through nine check
points on the way. According to the expert ' Walkabouters' it
was a very tough course therefore it was quite an achievement
that of the thirty seven teams that started, seventeen complete
teams and three individuals who on route made up a com-
posite team finished the course. The Headquarters entered a
team in the form of AQ Branch which comprised Captain Mike
Brooke, RE, W02 Ralph McKee and Corporal ' K C ' Smith.
This was the first time the team had done any serious walk-
abouting therefore it was a very good effort in finishing in
sixteenth position. (When he reads these notes Corporal ' KC '
will no doubt tell me that their true finish position was twelfth
because four teams who finished after them were allowed a
bonus time of one hour because they had a lady in the team).
Farewells have been said to Staff Sergeant Bill Gordon
and Lance Corporal Tell Norton in the rank of Corporal—con-
gratulations.
We welcomed Staff Sergeant Wilbur Wright,
Lance Corporals Syn Leymour and Pam Lightfoot, Corporal
Phil Dawber and Lance Corporal Julie Easton our new and
recently qualified draughtswoman.
STORES SECTION CORPS TROOPS WORKSHOP
British Forces Hong Kong
NOW that the pleasant weather has arrived the Platoon wishes
it could be on permanent leave but still naturally drawing pay.
] NOW that the rugby season in Hong Kong
is reaching its closing stages, it is perhaps a
This unfortunately is not possible as the Workshop still demands
suitable time to highlight the outstanding
stores at the same rate. Perhaps this is because they can't see
season which has been enjoyed by an
the sun from beneath vehicles. We must try to educate them.
RAOC NCO in the Colony, Corporal Ron
Congratulations form a large part of this submission largely
Audrain of the Composite Ordnance
because so many people have done so well. Congratulations to
Depot. Ron, who is prop for Tigers RFC,
Lance Corporal Butcher for having passed RPC2 and qualifying
is well known in Hong Kong rugby circles.
as a B2 Supply Clerk (he will now change trade). To Lance
Although Tigers RFC have not fared too well in the local
Corporal Harvey on completion Bl Supply Specialist courses
— 29 —
Book number R0404