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RAOC Gazette - page 68

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Publication date 1980
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Early date 1980
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Transcription 6 Field Force Ordnance Company
THE high point of this period was the
deployment of the Company on Exercise
Tigers Head, in the Salisbury Plain train-
ing area.
It was useful to test all the new ideas
and all the practice ' camming,' night moves
and defence tactics.
Thanks to a new system of com-
munications, night vision aids and the will
of the sentries to ' capture anything that
moves," an attack by 7 Squadron RCT was
firmly beaten off.
Sergeant " here I am behind the tree"
Spooners section bore the brunt of the attack but the only
comment from his lads afterwards was, " They should have sent
the whole Squadron, might have made it more interesting!".
The high level of Issues and Receipts activity meant that,
with the complication of NBC training, moves and various at-
tacks. the company was kept busy throughout although we did
find time to practice our helicopter handling techniques when
presented with a Gazelle to play with for an afternoon, and also
found time to impress all teeth arms and higher formations with
our high standard of camouflage even in some difficult locations.
;
The company's cricket team played its debut match against
.Cambridge Military Hospital and learnt a few lessons. CMH
i declared at one hundred and ninety five for eight, leaving the
! company to score one hundred all out despite a sterling joint
stand by the OC, Major Gordon MacDougall and our Second-
in-Command Captain Dick Carman, of forty four. Our Corps
cricketer Private * Tosh' Zaman promises to improve his batting
from his score of two!
The Unit football team has had a very good season al-
though we went through a bad spell mid-season, losing on two
occasions to the bottom two teams. The Unit was placed second
in the league taking three out of four points from the eventual
league winners. Perhaps our good form at the end of the
season was due to moving Lance Corporal (Digger) Diggle
from left back to left wing. (He kept up his scoring record
and at last he even found the correct goal), also the arrival of
Sergeant Alan Crawford into the back four. Lance Corporal
(Dinky Toy) SutcJiffe was our leading goalscorer, settling
down well after his move from Subutteo Table to a full size
pitch! Private (Womble) Weedon has been a stalwart in goals
since taking over from Lance Corporal Colin Brothwell on his
posting to BAOR.
Sergeant Paul Beard and Lance Corporal Colin Renicks
missed most of the season due to courses and injuries but
Renicks was picked to play for the Corps and the Army Youth
teams.
Next season holds much promise also, due to the intro-
duction of new blood in the form of Private Phil Stant and
Corporal Taff Tamplin and the youth in our team has now been
seasoned.
Finally we wish Lance Corporals Colin Renicks
and (Smurf) Storey, Privates Phil Stant and (Womble) Weedon
good luck in the Corps trials in August.
Welcome to our new CSM, W02 Boyle and Privates Ford,
Pickard, Stant and Taylor.
Many congratulations to Lance Corporals Deacon and
Tamplin on promotion to Corporal, A/Lance Corporal Wood
on promotion to sub-Lance Corporal and Privates Diggle,
i Renicks and Storey on promotion to A/Lance Corporal. And to
: Lance Corporal Storey and Private Nobber Curtin on their
; recent marriages.
WOl (Wally) Hampton was recently welcomed into the
Officers Mess and lunched-out on 23rd May by the Deputy
Commander, Colonel GS and Corps Officers prior to leaving
on commissioning. We all wish him well in his new appoint-
ment at Regimental Depot.
CRAOC was recently invited to talk to a Senior Manage-
ment Course at the BL Management Training School on the
subject of ' Management Style.' He irretrievably blotted his
copybook by arriving in a rival French auto and was given
nought out of ten for diplomacy. He survived the lecture and
question-and-answer session but hopes of succeeding a well-
known South African industrialist are now sadly diminished.
Anyone want to buy a 1973 Renault 16, going cheap?
The OSU Weyhill has recently had a change in OCs.
Captain Alan Steene has left the Army to work for Dixon
Photographic and been replaced by Major (OEO) Bert Grade.
We extend a welcome to the new OC and wish him a very
happy tour in this District.
We understand that the trout in the River Avon are having
a hard time with Major Reg Frisby. In the past two weeks
of fishing he has hooked no less than twenty ' Big Ones'—
well every fisherman has a tale to tell. His car is suitably
labelled " Think Trout "!
The happiest Officer in the Branch is Major Eric Spittal.
Since AG9 extended him to his fifty seventh birthday and also
the recent pay award, he is now seen roaming the corridors
looking like a Bank Manager with a distinctly smug expression.
Both of our impoverished ROs are applying to him for a loan
so that they can buy a third runabout for the family.
SUPPLY DEPOT BULFORD. During the period under review
we welcomed Lieutenant Colonel Elliott who carried out our
Annual Technical Inspection. This event was quickly followed
by a visit from the DGOS who despite a very intensive pro-
gramme found time to talk to all military personnel and many
of our civilian employees.
Congratulations are in order for Lance Corporal Royston
Tiliman on his promotion and to Sergeant Jim Sharrock our
Master Butcher on his selection for promotion to Staff Sergeant
in the coming year.
We have said farewell to Captain Fred Moughton our
Depot Officer who has departed on posting to Kineton and
have welcomed Major Jim McLachlan from the now closed OSU
South W e s t District
HEADQUARTERS
WE have just had a most successful one day
CRAOC Recruiting Seminar. A number of
guest speakers including the AAG AG9 and
the Corps Recruiting Liaison Officer attended.
The day ended with a Regimental dinner
for the WOs/SNCOs in the Sergeants Mess
at which CRAOC was the guest of honour.
Judging by the state of our Chief Clerk's eyes
the following morning, and CRAOC be-
seeching our charming Clerical
Officer
" Penny' for aspirins, the dinner appears to have been a fitting
end to a pleasant day.
We wish to correct an item on page 374 of the May 1980
GAZKTTC. The Editor has somehow got his Districts mixed up.
Would all concerned note that Captain Fred Moughton was in
' South West District' NOT ' South East District.'
— 51 —
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