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RAOC Gazette - page 122

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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 Corps Troops
VEHICLE
COMPANY
THE month of June is with us once again bringing the sun's
niys shining down upon us. We hope the sun remains with us
ujitil the end of Crusader 80. A good advert for health
and efficiency is our WOIC Technical Administration, W 2
Jltn Barnett, who at the moment looks as brown as a berry.
F;|imour has it, once his working day has ceased he puts on
1 $ Indian headdress and does a war dance around his
t jrbecue—his bratwursts are said to be the best in the Heepen
( barter area!
In the 2nd Armoured Division Skill-at-Arms Meeting five
i) embers of the Unit contributed to the RAOC Corps Troops
t am gaining third place overall. Well done to all concerned.
The Unit soccer team came runners up in the Bielefeld
\ linor Units League. The season ended with a local Derby
c atch against FC Ziegel, a local German team. It was an
e itertaining match and we came out three two winners. To all
e i-players the end of season football night went down very
v Ell! The highlight of the evening was a football quiz presented
I f Sergeant Dodger Allan. Private Jimmy Hackett led his team
ti a convincing win over Private Brian Beedon's unfortunate
liisers.
We welcome to the Unit Sergeant Clarke, Privates Douglas,
Garrett, Hatton and Hargreaves.
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
AFTER a false start in that there has been a gap of two months
since our last contribution, I have at last found a quill and ink
pot to enable me to start my new job as, and I quote the Second-
in-Command, ' scribe.'
Several notable events have taken place. Mention must
first be made to our success in the annual Corps Troops Sports
Competition. Having won the Trophy in 1978 and losing it to
CVC in 1979, competition was fierce this year. The rugby sevens
team played some of their best rugby this season and the
tug-of-war team had its inauguration (an honourable one I
might add) into the sport. All in all an enjoyable afternoon
was had by everyone and the Trophy is now back where it
belongs. Hard luck CVC—we'll see you again next year!
The next notable event (a polite way of putting it, according
to the CSM) was the Harz Walkabout—Slogabout? Certain
people in high places were heard complaining of sore feet and
even the indomitable W 2 Nimmons was heard to be mutter-
ing under his breath about the whole affair! The reason for
cur lack of success,—"Oh! we were not doing it seriously
t lis year. It was only a recce for next year."
Meanwhile at the same time as this, a party of fifteen
i trepid adventurers led by Second Lieutenant Mike Dolamore
i idertook a BOBC Special Expedition in Norway. A full report
l Bl appear at a later date. Without wishing to remove the
«line from this extremely well organised event, have you
i oticed how they always include more ups than downs? The
(illy other comment to be made at this time is that the local
' brew' has to be tasted to be believed—several expedition
i [embers came back staunch tee-totallers.
On the departure scene we have had to say farewell to a
1 pole host of characters.
Sergeant Terry Weightman and
lance Corporal Barry Collins to Bicester; Private ' B o n e s '
1 Ister to Chilwell; Corporal Roy Matthews to 3 Division;
ljfivate ' T i n y ' Crews to Middle Wallop and Privates Martin
McNicholas and John McCarton have returned to civvy street.
(Jur best wishes for the future to all of them.
Arrivals at the Unit have been Sergeant Tanner, Lance
Corporals Thompson and Pattison and Privates Mallinson,
Dodds, Fong, Millward, Green, Bancroft, Baker and Draper.
To all of them—we hope you have a pleasant tour with us.
The last three months have also seen a number of births
and marriages: To Sergeant and Mrs Dave Withall a daughter
Sara Jane and to Sergeant and Mrs Pete Bradshaw a daughter
Julie Ann. Private Peter Stradomsky married Anne Elizabeth
Greaves and Private Ian Dodds married Lesley Carol Layton.
We wish both couples every happiness for the future. ,
On the promotion side of life congratulations go to Lance
Corporals Mick Taylor and Scott Fyvie, both on achieving
their substantive rank, and to Ron Caffrey on being promoted
to Corporal.
Last but not least, I think congratulations are in order to
Private Mick Saxby on being top of his course, in his con-
version from Staff Clerk to Supply Clerk.
— 95
The DGOS af the Corps Vehicle Company with Sergeant M a r d i ,
W 2 Barnett, Brigadier Skinner and Major Lawson.
STORES PLATOON CORPS TROOPS WORKSHOP
THIS month has been an eventful one for the civilian staff
of the platoon. We have said a sad farewell to Mr Paul Pratt
who has been with us since he served in the RAOC as a supply
clerk Lance Corporal. He will be missed and we wish him
every success in his new vocation. As a result of that loss Mr
Cull, who was the expense storeman, has taken over the vacant
clerical post and has threatened to wear a tie now that he is
non industrial.
Lance Corporal Harvey has unfortunately broken his ankle
but although he missed going to Vogelsang for regimental train-
ing has been employed in Central Records Branch as a clerk.
He is not too sure which is worse.
The training in Vogelsang proved both interesting and
worthwhile. Every possible facility was available to us and all
ranks made good use of the change of air. It was good to get
away from the office or store for a while.
Congratulations must go to Sergeant Render on his pro-
motion to Staff Sergeant
To Privates MacGregor, David
and Ritchie on promotion to Lance Corporal and to Mr and
Mrs Kalvyn Wood on the birth of their son Jason.
Farewell to Staff Sergeant Render on his departure, we
wish both him and his wife a fond farewell and wish them well
in civilian life. Staff Sergeant Render will be missed by the
Workshop and the Platoon both for his technical knowledge and
his prowess as a sportsman.
Finally Lance Corporal ' Boy' David leaves us for 6 Field
Force and is relieved by Private Whittam.
CORPS STORES
COMPANY
THE first half of the year has seen the Unit involved in a
variety of activities. Exercise Richmond Trial enabled us to
renew acquaintances with the ' Pathfinders' of the 205th
Aviation Squadron, US Army. The Squadron supplied the
lift, for an outloading practice from our field location, with
their Chinooks.
On our return to barracks the technical expertise of the
Unit was honed to perfection during a technical training week,
run by Captain Hutchinson. Though the high light of the
week was a visit to the Volkswagen factory at Wolfsburg, some
very amusing and perhaps embarrassing insights were given by
the soldier's essays. Titles given were, ' The Function of my
Department' and ' The Responsibilities of the Officers within
the Unit.'
In the competitive field we have had some notable achieve-
ments, dispelling the belief that we can only play hockey.
Our sharpshooters, Major Fleming, Corporals Whitebread and
Lowe, Lance Corporals Gray and Slade joined with Head-
quarters Corps Troops to achieve third place in the 2nd
Armoured Division Skill-at-Arms Meeting.
Our swimmers
gained second place in the Divisional finals held in Osnabruck.
There appears to be a drop in our birthrate with a nil
return for this edition, which is very unusual; could this be the
result of overstretch?
We welcome to the Unit Sergeant Crooks, who celebrated
his arrival by winning the discus event at the Corps Athletic
Meeting, Corporal Shaw RMP, transferring to the Corps, Lance
Corporal Rolf, Corporal Wilmot and Private Wilcox.

Book number R0404