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RAOC Gazette - page 69

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1980
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Colour Yes
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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription Bovington and Lance Corporal Raymond Mabbott from Dul-
men. Major McLachlan has already made his presence felt on
the local golf course and with his partner Colonel Piggins the
former Colonel GS won the foursomes competition in the South
West District Golf Meeting.
Army Air Corps
WITH the end of the Rhodesian ex-
pedition Ord (Air) Branch is now back
to normal.
Here in Middle Wallop there was an-
other successful RAF Supply Managers
Course with the following being presented
with their certificate on gaining a pass:
Sergeants Bushnell, Duncan, Fullager,
Hicks, Long, Robinson and Staff Sergeant
Harthill.
The photo below shows those who
attended the RAOC Convention at
Wallop which we mentioned in our last notes.
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At the Middle Wallop Convention.
1 AIRCRAFT SUPPORT UNIT. Sergeant Graham Fullager,
Lance Corporals Ian Vassiere and Jock McLellan, Privates
John Woodward and ' Plug' Elstob are back from Cyprus
after a month of Lion Sun I. They all look very much fitter
and sun tanned.
We welcome WOl Keith Heritage who is to be our new
Supply Manager.
WOl Joe Johnston is posted as FOWO
Gibraltar. After many years with the Army Air Corps he has
decided to sail to his new posting in his thirty foot yacht
' Laughing Water.'
He is proud of his success with his
Offshore Skippers Certificate and wishes it to be known that
his last port of call before Gibraltar is Tangier. We wish
Conductor Johnston and his family well and wish them not
only a successful trip but a pleasant posting.
Corporal Merv Porter is shortly off to Cyprus on posting
and promotion. Recent arrivals are Corporal Scouse Dichfield,;
Lance Corporals Tony Welland and Tiny Crews. We would
like to welcome Corporal Mac McKimm back to the fold
from RAF Aldergove where he has been on detachment for
four months.
Finally, the OC is happy as his team has won the Premier
Division of the Salisbury League — for the third year in
succession.
10 Ordnance Support Battalion
HEADQUARTERS
AND HEADQUARTERS
COMPANY. Life
goes on much as usual in the aftermath of Exercises Tiger
Head and Spring Fever. These took place at Aldershot and
Folkestone respectively, the former in our priority role in
support of the UKMF (L) and the latter was a week spent
classifying on personal weapons. Departures are Sergeant Alex
Brown, Lance Corporals Phil Dawber and Mick Doran; we
would love to welcome their successors only they are not here,
neither have they been nominated (Records please note). PS.
The Chief Clerk is off to Jamaica—yet again!
1 BULK TRANSIT PLATOON.
Spring cleaning brought new
management to the Platoon. Captain Stephen Monk departed
for BAOR and was replaced by Lieutenant Paul Beerling and
W02 Mel Wood has left and has been replaced by W02
Rose. The first task for the new hierarchy was Exercise Tiger
Head on Salisbury Plain. However, the first five hours was
spent asleep as the ' White Arm Band M o b ' declared they had
been illegally deployed (i.e. just down the road from Devizes),
it did not end there and they actually found umpires living in the
location. It was hoped that this would gain them some im-
munity but this was not to be. Nevertheless the war was won
and they then went off to improve their shooting. I hope this
was no reflection on their previous exercise.
3 DETAIL
STORES PLATOON/2
SUPPLY
PLATOON.
Since forming on the 31st March 1980 they have taken part in
two exercises: Tiger Head and Spring Fever. It gave every-
one the chance to see how they could all perform in the field.
After the initial few days setting up and sorting themselves out
the exercise went very well. The weather was perfect for
Spring Fever and besides classifying on personal weapons,
almost everyone acquired a suntan.
48 AMF(L) COMPANY.
The company has returned from
Norway more or less in one piece. Most of the travellers
managed to take some leave the notable exception being MT
who under the leadership of Sergeant Harry (The Flag) Mills
had to prepare for PRE. They are to be congratulated on a
' Satisfactory' report. They say Devizes is a sleepy town but
most of the company never get a chance to try it as half the
strength is now in the wilds of the North of England enjoying
Exercise Ardent Ground. The CQMS (Staff Sergeant Brian
McHoul) is frantically demanding OGs for the exercise in
Turkey later this year whilst the rest of his staff, Sergeant
Howard and Private Jones are returning Arctic Kit. If they
see a white cam net in the middle east they know its all gone
wrong!
The Stores Section have been very quiet of late. This
could be due either to SQMS John Malin trying to juggle 998s
so that he can write it off or the arrival of Second Lieutenant
John Bednall from Sandhurst. Newly arrived Sergeant Walsh
was last seen muttering " It was better in BAOR at least we
had two toilets." Rations and POL continue in their usual top
form. Sergeant Tony Biondic dives into an open air pool every
morning at 07.30 closely followed by the Administration
Officer, Captain Peter Hamp and Privates Wickham, Allem and
Rhodes. The local populace wrapped in their fur coats, are
now firmly convinced that the ' Clenched Fist M o b ' are com-
pletely round the twist
It is with great regret that we must again mention the seat
of power. Major Richard Rhodes is again .in pain but the
hospital will relieve his problem—a slip with the knife could
change his entire life.
Central Ordnance
Depot
Chilwell
OUR final attempt to win soccer honours
this season failed when we were unable to
retain the RAOC six-a-side trophy in the
recent competition played at Donnington.
We did however manage to win our local
Notts Thursday Division Two Champion-
ship and were suitably rewarded with a
•splendid trophy at a recent presentation in
the Nottingham Commodore International
Hotel.
A mini rebuilding job will be necessary
before the beginning of the new season.
By then we will have lost regular team members such as
Lieutenant Chris Simmonds, Staff Sergeant Mick Stevens
(REME), Corporal John McGonagle and Lance Corporal John
Hutchinson. Many thanks to them for their tremendous sup-
port throughout the season.
The shooting team brought back two trophies from the
Corps Shoot and are hopeful about results in the forthcoming
District Shoot.
With the hockey team bringing back the
Blackdown cup from the Corps Hockey Festival, the silver
cabinet is looking quite full. A photograph of the Bari Cup
Hockey Squad (with lone supporter) is at last available.
This period has seen a large number of our soldiers leave
the Garrison and as many new faces arrive. A welcome to
Lieutenant Colonels Evans and Ward, Major Walker, Corporal
— 52 —
Book number R0404