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RAOC Gazette - page 108

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Publication date 1980
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Early date 1980
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Transcription shire and Dorset Band (TA). There was also a number of static
stands depicting Corps activities and this was ably supported by
a large funfair. The major worry was whether the expected
crowds of two thousand five hundred would turn up, but no
one was more surprised than the Adjutant when an estimated
ten thousand descended on the Battalion! Luckily the weather
held out and the whole day was enjoyed by soldiers and civilians
ulike. It is believed that this major recruiting drive was a
!iuccess and that indeed the whole affair was cost effective.
3ne sigh of relief however in that the Adjutant thinks he wilJ
lot have to organise it next year. Look out his replacement!
Ul ranks of the Battalion should be congratulated on a job
Sell done. (Photographs next month.)
IS AMF(L) COMPANY.
The Company at this time of year
ire adjusting themselves to climatic changes in preparation for
heir exercise in Turkey. As part of their on going work-up,
the Company has recently paid a visit to Otterbum with the
Logistic Support Battalion. Major Richard Rhodes did not
lake part but he has however got to the ' bottom' of his in-
tray and is looking forward to the final instalment of his own
little operation.
All have also been busy in and out of camp. The bakery,
as usual, are much in demand and WOl Ross is fully booked
up for the Aldershot Display and Royal Tournament. Besides
this he is taking a party of soldiers adventure training and hopes
at the end of it all to be able to eat a loaf of quite the best bread
in UK.
Two parties of soldiers from the Company have been in-
volved in Exercise Rhinog Wander which incidentally is the
RSM's idea of fun. In fact, last week during torrential rain
storms the lads conquered a thirty mile hike across the Welsh
Hills.
Staff
Sergeant
Steve Morgans the Chief Clerk 7
Ordnance Company incognito.
Central Ordnance
Depot
Field Force
Bicester
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THIS month the Representative Colonel
Commandant, Major General Minogue,
carried out a formal visit to the Depot.
He combined his visit with Director Base
Depots Inter Officers Mess Cricket
Tournament which was held on the same
date.
Needless to say, the Bicester
weather stayed fine and the Bicester XI
won the final. The Colonel Commandant
had a full morning touring the installa-
tion but found time to officially open the
Garrison Clay Pigeon Shoot by loosing
off a few rounds himself.
We say goodbye this month to Lieutenant Colonel George
Gillberry, the Chief Planning Officer, whose graphs and charts
svill remain for a little while to remind us of his era! We wel-
come in his place Lieutenant Colonel John Eaton who travels
the great distance of one hundred and twenty yards from his
previous place of employment! The sailors continue to arrive
at Bicester; the latest in the shape of Captain Mike Harris who
joins 2 Sub-Depot. Finally, we welcome Major Gordon Cox
RAPC the new DMA and say farewell to Major Nigel Taggart
RAPC who leaves for the punishment station of Hong Kong.
FFC/IBTP. Lieutenant Paul Beering has now settled in to the
Company and in fact found himself as OC Cadre for a short
spell. Enough said about that but all are looking forward to
his wedding this month.
Like the remainder of the Battalion FFC/1BTP spent much
time preparing for the Open Day and this was only slightly
disrupted by talk of an obscure island somewhere in the Pacific.
1BTP thought that another trip could be on the cards but since it
•wasn't, it can only look back to the French night held in the
Officers Mess.
7 Field Force Ordnance Company
RUMOURS that the Company has been disbanded are com-
pletely false, it is just that we have been unable to find anyone
•who could write (due to heavy Unit commitments of course!).
The Company has just returned from a two weeks Ad-
venturous Training Camp at Willsworthy in Devon. For those
of you a little less knowing, Willsworthy Camp (at which we
were based) is a small cluster of ' tin h u t s ' on the outer limits
of Dartmoor. We had two good days weather—I need not
mention either, but they were of course the first and last
day of camp. The remainder seemed to consist of rain or wind
or both. Apart from the weather a good time was had by all
(1 am sure that the Dartmoor Inn, Lydford, will not forget
Kliner in a hurry!). The two weeks seemed fairly well split
^vith each of our merry band taking part in canoeing, rock
climbing, orienteering and a quick morning on the Royal
Marines confidence course at Bickleigh; not to be forgotten by
pne Subaltern (no names mentioned ' Ben') who attempted to
abseil a thirty foot rock face with no rope, the Commando
Instructor looked extremely impressed never having seen it done
lhat way before.
:
The Company has had a large turnover during our period
of absence from the pages of Tun GAZETTE but to mention a
few:
Farewell to Major Chris Bedford and a new life at RMA
Sandhurst, with a welcome to his relief, limp and all, Major
Ian Coppock, W02 Dave Dick to civvy street, Staff Sergeant
lohn Hall to TSAB, Corporal Phill Walls to Germany, Corporal
Steve Fevers to Bordon and Lance Corporal Derek Jolliffe
to civvy street.
For our more recent arrivals we welcome Captain Maurice
Palmer our new AO, W02 Noel Barker, Staff Sergeants Paddy
Brymer and Dave Jones, Privates Dave Hiscock, Mick Czapski,
Plug Boulton, Jock Thompson, Donkey Hodgeson and last but
not least John Edmonson.
Our congratulations must go to Lance Corporal Andy
Geddes on his marriage to Miriam and, on promotion, to
Sergeant Dave Jones, Lance Corporals Keith Simpson, Derek
Drury and Corporal Jim Brown.
16 BATTALION
WE start this report with a welcome and goodbye.
The
Battalion are very happy to welcome into the Corps Sergeant
Joe McCarthy. The Royal Anglians loss is the Corps gain.
Sergeant Mac is delighted to have joined, but poor chap has to
Sergeant McCarthy, Royal Anglian rebadges into RAOC with
Lieutenant Colonel Bill Ford,CO 16 Battalion,doing the honours.
83

Book number R0404