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RAOC Gazette - page 72

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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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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription J^eto* from &broab
Headquarters Northern Army Group
WELL after only one entry in the Corps
GAZETTE we have had our first let down.
A certain office, ' at the sharp-end' they
always say, has let us down by all going
on leave, ' we don't get leave' they say,
and not providing any notes, ' you didn't
tells u s ' they say. Perhaps we didn't but
next time we will.
Well here's poor G1/G5 again.
Actually there is not much to report since
last month, no posting in and only one
forthcoming posting out, that of W02
' Geordie' Heads to RMCS Shrivenham.
Lance Corporal George Grant and his
wife have returned from their wedding
which I'm led to believe went off 'without a hitch,' and have
settled into their quarter without too many arguments.
Next month we hope to have a report on the NORTHAG
Athletics Meeting with all the budding Corps athletes showing
the remainder how it's done!
a quiet departure to leper (Ypres) to take part in the annual
' one hundred kilometres of Ypres' led by volunteer Sergeant
Alex Brocklehurst, the fourteen strong team marched over the
First World War battle sites. The first evening was notable for
the blisters, and the Menen Gate Memorial Ceremony.
Lance Corporals Derek Bailey and Frank Eckersley's agonies
were ably treated by the medic Lance Corporal Alan Hodgson
who also marched. Private Jock Morrow was seen fraternising
with the Belgian equivalent of the WRAC.
Private Trev
Colledge was trying to stay out of trouble by marching with
the leader of the British Transport Police Marching Team. Un-
fortunately this was Lance Corporal Ken Meek's last march.
He has done an excellent job in organising teams for the
various marches. Maybe Lance Corporal Tom Orrock whose
rest times were longer than his marching times will take over!
Finally the ODA announces the formation of The Calypso-
nians, a steel band specialising on two hundred litre empty
drums. The band comprising of Staff Sergeant Paul Fyzool,
Sergeant Ram Ramlu, Corporal Ces Johnson, Brigadier Tony
Hutchinson who are now awaiting material support from OIC
Storage, QM and the RSM.
We welcome the following: W02 Lugg, Sergeant Wilkie,
Privates Brooks and Pow.
Planning and Workstudy Unit BAOR
FOR those readers who eagerly await the result of our ARU,
I am afraid there is only bitter disappointment. After under-
going a strenuous period of training thrust upon us by SSMs
Pete Bath and Jim McLarty, the inspection was cancelled at
the last minute! Now, we have to do it all again next month.
Our photographer, Sergeant Frank Voice, was loaned
to Ordnance Depot Viersen for a shooting competition. This
comparatively gentle sport provided him with a large plaster
on his left leg—he needs his tripod for support now. First
Corporal O'Keefe and now Sergeant Voice. What next does
ODV have planned for us?
The latest from our OC, Major David Rowley, is that the
wife of the OC of the local ASU knocked on his door and
asked if she could borrow some baking tins! Almost like a
WSP asking Mr Timex if he can borrow a watch!
;
SSM Sandy Bennett is wide-eyed and slanted after CCW
: accepted him onto the long service list and gave him a posting
to Hong Kong in December. Finally, we all offer our con-
: gratulations to Tom Paisley on being appointed Conductor.
j
Ordnance Depot Antwerp
! THE Medical Centre has been very busy over the last month
j dealing with the end of season injuries. Corporals Mick Bennett,
! Brum Sandland and Bob Gallagher the medic, have all suffered
eg injuries resulting in plaster cast legs.
At the beginning of the month, the shooting team departed
or BAOR to participate in the Rhine Area Full Bore Com-
petition. In ideal weather conditions Staff Sergeant Trevor
Smith won himself various prize monies in a Pool Bull Com-
petition on the first day. Sergeant Bob Hood, Corporal Ned
Kelly and Private Gordon Speed managed to become runners-
up in the Pistol Competition and on the SMG Lance Corporal
Ken Lomax had the top score in the team. The week was
rounded off with Corporal Ned Kelly and Lance Corporal Dick
Rainey walking off with the Individual Trophy in the LMG.
The cricket team have started the season very satisfactorily
with five wins in five mtaches (Oh that the football team had
such results!). Included among those wins was one by ten
wickets against 3 BAD in the Rhine Area Cup so reversing last
years defeat at 3 BAD's hands in the same competition. Our
two Johnsons, Sergeant Tony and Corporal Ces, have been
the main wicket takers so far.
On one of the many public holidays that seemed to have
befallen Belgium lately, the British Forces Antwerp Team made
S
3 Base Ammunition Depot
PAST members of the Unit would be shocked if they set foot
in the Depot After being knocked down by a Hyster they
would have to get over the surprise of being given the kiss
of life by its WRAC driver. We were recently graced with
seven ladies from the WRAC. They were originally, destined
to boost the morale in the Control Office as clerks. They were
then claimed by the ASD, but eventually snaffled by W02
Jimmy Richardson and taught various things one of which
included the handling of MHE. In fact there is some argument
in the ASD over the definition of 'eight thousand pounder!'
MT are now writing a book titled " Confessions of
?"
Bracht Barbarians have now finished their most successful
season to date. As already reported they won the BAOR
' and Army ,UK Rugby Cups. Because of injuries and three
members of the team representing BAOR they just failed to
retain the RAF Invitation Sevens Cup. Congratulations to
Corporal Chris Christopher on receiving his BAOR cap and to
Sergeant Bob Scott and Corporal Don Robertson on receiving
their BAOR colours. Corps Colours were also presented to
Corporals Dick Travers, Roger Lister, Roger Bisson, Don
Robertson and Lance Corporal Chris Watkins at the Club
Annual Dinner.
Ten golfers turned out for the Unit at the RAOC Spring
Golf Meeting at RAF Bruggen in far from ideal conditions.
Corporal Ian Gray the Army and Dutch Open Champion was
firm favourite for the Scratch Cup, but his quest for the title
was frustrated by Staff Sergeant Paul Ladley who won with a
gross score of seventy seven. WOl John Kearney the Scratch
Cup holder for the last three years soothed his disappointment
by winning the Chatfield Plate with thirty five Stableford
points.
Bracht won the Bateson Trophy for the best Unit through-
out the five competitions. The team consisted of WOsl John
Kearney and George Dodd RE, Staff Sergeant Paul Ladley and
Corporal Ian Gray. Our ' boss' Colonel Dodworth, who is
just embarking on his competitive golf career, reluctantly
accepted a modest prize for having the courage to hand in his
equally modest score. (Watch the Guinness Book of Records!)
Staff Sergeant Jimmy Boyle was in amongst the prizes as the
most consistent twenty four handicapper over the two days.
Of the remaining Bracht golfers, Sergeant Bob Scott just failed
to fulfil the promise he showed in the Autumn Meeting.
Lieutenant Colonel Manuel, while not in the running for prizes,
was nonetheless pleased with his results in the three events that
— 55 —
Book number R0404