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RAOC Gazette - page 164

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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 The DGOS visits the Stores Platoon.
Second Lieutenant Gorsuch has just returned from his
VO's Course and thus is now a qualified Young Officer.
We say goodbye to Vivian Grainge and welcome to Dawn
Homer and Private Shaving Foam Tiller.
79 SUPPLY DEPOT RAOC—THE FIGHTING 19TH
THIS month we have again had a good share of visitors, al-
ways most welcome. We had an unusual deputation from
the Bundes Marine (German Navy) comprising of two Officers
and two Warrant Officers of their catering department. They
were very impressed by our organisation and some interesting
eating habits were discussed.
Sport within the Depot continues to flourish in ever
increasing diversities. Major Byles our OC has been out sail-
ing with W02 Gary Divers in the Corps Regatta held in
Roermond.
Rumour has it that they nearly got ' bunged'
off! (Whatever that means!) but they weren't last—not even
second last—not even third last—but that's where the story
ends!
Corporals Peter Waddington and (Super Mac) Maclntyre
entered the locally held Dutch Marches. One long weekend
march of sixty five kilometres was followed each weekday by
shorter events which we are happy to report our two heroes
completed (with sore feet).
Entertainment in our Unit club continues its upsurge.
W02 Gary Divers organised a barbeque evening to which
all the civilian employees were invited. The event was only
marred by the weather and the Depot Superintendent's singing.
During the evening a sad farewell was said to Herr Paul
Konig the Bakery Foreman who retires after thirty two years
service with the British Army. He was ceremoniously presented
with a loaf of bread and a roll suspended from a piece of
string by the OC, who also presented Frau Konig with a
bouquet of flowers and a very large kiss. (It's obviously not
so tough at the top after all!).
We welcome Staff Sergeant Ron Louis and his family who
takes up the Master Baker appointment.
5 Field Force
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ORDNANCE
COMPANY
TWO
local
News-
paper reporters visited
the Unit at Vogelsang
and according to the
reports published in
the local newspapers—
the Unit is on Summer
Holiday! Major Haden insists that his photograph in the news-
paper does not do him justice. From the daily phone calls to
the Training Camp I understand that Captain Martin is very en-
grossed in the smooth running of the • training aspects and is
heard to mutter " I am running a training camp not a holiday
resort."
Here is some news of the Rear Party. W02 Ron Ferguson
has returned after his stay at BMH Munster and is seen walking
around with deliberate steps and bent over.

Prior to the Unit going to Vogelsang. W02 Geoff Collinge
learned the error of trying to skate on highly polished floors—
his clerks will still not divulge more details of the incident.
Staff Sergeant Graham Chapman who runs the PRI Account
with the finesse of a Chartered Accountant is heard to com-
plain bitterly " How can I run an account efficiently when PRI
cheques are not signed for payment." Corporal Jimmy James
has demanded that RAOC Records be approached with the
request that he be allowed to change trade to that of Driver
because of the number of trips he has made to Vogelsang with
Rations and Mail. Lance Corporal Geordie Cramman firmly
believes he is on the rear party because of his expertise as a
Supply Clerk (he changed trade recently), but is never seen
in the PC and A office where he is employed.
Earlier on in the month the Commander 2nd Armoured
Division Major General M. B. Farndale visited the Unit and
in his talk impressed upon us the need for recruiting in the
Army. His talk must have been impressive because Lance
Corporal Bob Phillips and Private Steve Duffield are both off
shortly to UK on the Satisfied Soldier Scheme. Lance Corporal
Phillips has been expressly forbidden to mention the Can-Am
Motorcycle to potential recruits.
The Second-in-Command, Captain Burr, has just arrived
back in Barracks and insists I tell you about his successes
as a swordsman. Yes he has done it again. He represented
the Army in the Inter Services Fencing Championships at Earls
Court in the Royal Tournament and after coming tenth in the
Foil (he claims this was a warm up!) he then excelled him-
self and took second place in the final Epee Pool. A great
achievement—well done Captain Burr.
I have just received a scrap of paper from the CSM
John Matthews (Oops! congratulations on your promotion) at
Vogelsang which I think contains news of the Training Camp.
I will let the CSM tell you the ' war stories' in his own
words. Sergeant Dave Jamieson lost the tailboard of his
Land Rover on the first weekend and is still looking for it.
Mind you the Belgian who found the tailboard is still looking
for his Land Rover. Today the sun is shining for the first time
since we've been here and that's ten days. Private Steve
Duffield is thinking of transferring to the RAVC as a Duck.
So far it's been plenty of ranges and military skills although
three of the lads got away to Rheindahlen for the weekend
attached to ' 29 Company.' Lance Corporal Phil Handley is now
believed to be thinking of signing on. More of Vogelsang in
next month's notes.
87 SUPPLY DEPOT
ON rainy days we now try our skills at volleyball under the
guidance of the Depot Superintendent, W02 George Arthur.
Unfortunately his rules are somewhat Irish! Needless to say
his team won! Whilst on sporty subjects, it is worth mention-
ing our OC recently enjoyed a tour in Denmark, and is
currently on a weekend trip to Berlin. He says he is umpiring
cricket but we're not so sure.
A stranger entered the office recently, Sergeant Dave
Baynham. He has recently been on a Petroleum Ordnance
Depot Unit Instructors Course, preceded and followed by
leave. We hope 4 Petroleum Depot can spare him so much
time when he joins them in September—that is if he ever
arrives.
Our one and only cleaner, Mrs Sandie Hall, is practising
at being a clerk—but she does experience problems trying to
dip her mop in the ink-well. Actually she is doing a good job,
much to Mrs Jackie Griffin's delight. We would re-trade test
Sandie were it not for her joviality—clerks are not jovial all
the time—or are they?
3rd Armoured Division
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
JUNE was dominated by two major
exercises, namely Exercise Prop Forward
III our CRAOC's deployment exercise and
Exercise Javelin the CPX rehearsing
Spearpoint. The main body of the Com-
pany spent the duration of Javelin in 80
Supply Depot Hannover under the
' dictatorship,' wrong—command of Lieu-
tenant Morrison. The main feature of their stay at Hannover
was the inter-departmental sports league surprisingly won by the
SNCO's team. The Company at Hannover at one stage at-
tempted to sabotage Captain Chilton's and Lieutenant Brownlee's
Rover when they were visiting, but Captain Chilton saw it
coming—or so he told me when we were waiting in the local
LAD for the Rover to be repaired!
129 —
Book number R0404