RAOC Gazette - page 52
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 |
and when they left the church Sir Edward Belknap and his men had bumed down their houses so forcing them to leave the area. In order to avoid retribution for this wanton act. Sir Edward used his position as ' Squire to the King's Body' to persuade King Henry VII to grant him a special patent giving him immunity from being troubled or questioned for the en- closure and depopulation of the area. When, in 1970. a name was required for the new married quarters ' village' which had just been built it seemed very appropriate to adopt the mediaeval name of Temple Herdewyke. Perhaps our most important link with history occurred in 1642. It would seem that the whole area was still an open plain at that time and this might explain why it became the scene of the first major battle of the Civil War. On Sunday 23rd October 1642, nearly thirty thousand men of the Royalist and Parliamentarian Armies faced each other in the area where the West Sub-Depot of the Central Ammunition Depot is now located. The Royalists under the personal command of King Charles. I having established themselves on the Edgehill Ridge, were in an almost impregnable position to cut off the Earl of Essex and the Army of Parliament from London. However, in order to confront Essex and bring about an early conclusion to the battle, the King decided to descend from the ridge and form up on the plain below. The battle began in the early afternoon with an exchange of cannon fire and a charge by the Royalist Cavalry under the independent command of Prince Rupert. The charge swept away the Parliamentarian horse and part of the left wing of their foot soldiers, who fled pursued by the Cavaliers down the road and beyond Kineton. Meanwhile the Royalist foot in their advance to the area of Radway Brook had suffered many casualties from the musketeers of the Parliamentary Forces. Night fell and both sides ceased the battle, more from exhaustion than anything else. Prince Rupert's horse returned from their chase too spent to influence the battle in the King's favour. In the morning, both sides took up battle positions but were disinclined to fight and Essex left the field with his whole Army. The actual number of dead is unknown. but reports vary from one thousand two hundred to five thousand. Most of the dead are buried in two grave areas within the Depot, one in the centre of Essex's position, now called Graveground Coppice, and the other a field away from the old turnpike gate on the Kineton road. Many teams were forced to abandon (the Privates after about a mile!) and there was considerable rebuilding on the river- bank. The final stretch of shallows caused the partial disintegration of Mike Major's raft and, regardless of piranha, sea snakes. Portuguese men-of-war and other hazards, he ordered his team into the water to walk the last mile home to victory' in two hours eleven minutes (1979: one hour thirteen minutes by Richard Conway-Hyde's team in flood conditions). The Army Fire Brigade, after a late launch and poor start, made tremendous efforts to finish second on a raft which was obviously made by experts. Then came Planning Branch : Officers Mess : WRAC: B2 civilians; WRAC Corporals Course in three hours and twenty five minutes and Corporal Garth Dell who. deserted by his Corporals Club ship-mates, brought his raft down some three and a half miles of river single handed, a remarkable feat of endurance, strength and sheer guts. Special mention must be made of the organisers. Lieu- tenants Nigel Lloyd and Tom Mouat and also Chris Morton who finds it difficult to leave the Donnington scene. Thanks to (Pipe) Major Richard Powell who played his doodle-sax and Captain Ron Miller and his many helpers for a fine barbecue supper at the Woodbridge Inn. First and second teams received plaques from Mrs Eileen Parker (husband Colonel David found better company this year and was on the winning raft). All finishers receive certificates; near-finishers received suitably en- dorsed certificates. PUTTING HIS FOOT IN IT A Provision Section of Control Division DSM recently had some unusual demands from a Unit. They were for size eighteen shoes and boots and special size socks. The demands were authenticated by a diagram showing the imprint of a bare foot measuring twelve and a half inch by four and three quarter inch. They have had large demands before, but this is ridiculous. I am told that, since then, the requirement has been further up-dated for an even larger size! Can he still be growing—indeed, could this possibly be the son of ? Also within the confines of the Depot is the old Point Course at which the House of Commons event was held between 1888 and 1892. A stone plaque in West Sub-Depot is a memorial to Captain Bay Middleton, one of the finest riders to hounds in English history. He was the constant companion to the Empress of Austria on her many visits to England, and his name was romantically linked with hers in the social chatter and newspapers of the day. He was killed in a Point to Point on the course within the Depot. His death in 1892 gave rise to the legend of the ghost of the headless horseman that is abroad in this locality. (See also our report on page 38.) THE DONNINGTON RAFT RACE THE annual raft race on the River Severn is from Buildwas to the Woodbridge Inn—over some five miles. Teams each consist of six members who must be competent swimmers, of proven ability. The equipment listed below is supplied and can be used for construction of rafts. No other aids are allowed. (a) Six by forty five gallon oil drums; (b) Planks of wood; (c) Approximately one hundred and fifty foot nylon rope. Fifteen teams lined up for the start by GOC Western Dis- trict, Major General Ward-Booth. Teams raced to their pile of parts and, in the incredibly short time of seven and a half minutes Lieutenant Colonel Mike Major's Headquarters Officers team (counting Conductor-to-be Stu Hudson) had built their raft and moored it in pole position, quickly followed by Major Richard Conway-Hyde's Officers Mess team and the Sergeants Mess led by W02 Jack Payne RAMC. The GOC signalled start two and crews raced Le Mans style to their rafts. Again the Headquarters Officers were first off but were immediately impeded by the Gemini assault boat, some rich river repartee followed and then they were into a clear lead. This they held for about a mile until some females on the bank caught their at- tention and the team of all civilian Planners swept passed. The two leading teams were in close company and fought a ding-dong battle until the middle rapids when Mike Major, by clever reading of the currents and closing his eyes tightly, re- took the lead. The river was low and the rapids dangerous. " One thing the Army has done for me,—it's taught me to stand on my own two feet!" — 37 — |
| Book number | R0404 |