RAOC Gazette - page 165
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1980 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1980 |
| Late date | 1980 |
| Transcription |
Congratulations this month are due to Corporal Gwinnell and Corpora] Bush who has just achieved promotion. We say welcome to Lance Corporal Beat who has joined our MT and welcome back to Private Rex. We have heard from Private Hughes who is at the moment attached to the British Liaison Staff Kenya, he tells us that his everyday uniform there is rugby shorts and flip-flops! Our annual Arduous Training Camp took place in the Sauerland. The star attraction of which was two day ' Escape and Evasion ' exercise. Other activities included are rockclimb- ing, canoeing, windsurfing, swimming, sailing and ' orienteering.' STORES SECTION 26 FIELD REGIMENT WORKSHOP " HOW about a games evening against 86 Supply Depot, we can say goodbye to Corporal Paul Isbell and Pauline at the same time " says the Boss and with that the wheels were set in motion. The evening went with a swing and the final result hinged on the Ladies Conkers match. We eventually won with- a ' seventy-fiver.' Our annual spring pilgrimage to Trauen has been that often that the vehicles know the way and route cards are no longer required. We rounded camp off with a Bar-B-Que to welcome to the Section Corporal Geordie Purkins and Private Chris Woodruffe. A fortnight later we were heading up the same autobahn on Exercise Javelin. Sergeant Alan Sargeant led the way and at the last minute decided against a trip down the Berlin Corridor. " Well it would have frightened the opposition," said he in retrospect. On our return we were informed that we would soon be moving back into our home which we vacated seven months ago whilst the PSA did their thing with - bricks and mortar. " Don't believe it," says one. " I'm quite happy in the Recovery Bay " says another. " I don't want to move out of the office trailer " says Corporal Andy Carr. Four days later the furniture arrived and a week after that PSA handed us the keys; they hadn't much option as the Defence Auditors were squatting in the bosses new office whilst they combed the accounts of the past two years for skeletons! On the sporting front our stalwarts, namely Messrs Pete Still, Colin Skinner, Andy Carr, Gary Lester and Taff Gray have shown the colours in the Regimental athletics meeting, and well done to Corporal Geordie Purkins and Lance Corporal Pete Still for entering the open air swimming gala in the pouring rain! ORDNANCE COMPANY IT is with great sadness that we must open this contribution whilst still recovering from the loss of Private David Stuart Emberton who died so tragically in a traffic accident in Belgium whilst motoring home for leave. He will be greatly missed by all of us who extend our sympathy to his family and friends in Oxford. The weather has not helped to cheer us up as the downpour continued unabated until the sun reappeared only a few days ago after thirty seven rain filled days. This unfortunately resulted in the withdrawal of the Nijmegen team but Sergeant Clydesdale marched on and gained the coveted medal. Our marchers, with Second Lieutenant Fox and Sergeant Stafford at the helm tool to the hills for a trek over the Harz. The trek almost turned into a swim as the rain in this area falls, unlike in Spain, mainly on the mountains. Also getting wet were Lance Corporals Little and Walters, Privates Cooke, Hicks and Atkinson who spent two weeks in the Grenoble region canoeing and climbing witl the Corps Ordnance Company. However, all the aforementioned enjoyed themselves without suffering major damage to bod} or soul. Wedding bells have been sounding for two of our young soldiers, Privates Dobson and Stotan, to whom we send manj congratulations and wish every happiness. The latter left ui the next day on posting to COD Chilwell. Also on the move are Corporal Whittle to Arborfield and Private Catherall tc Chilwell. Unfortunately, we must also say goodbye to Sergeant Winser who could only stay a few weeks due to the illness of his wife to whom we all wish the speediest possible recovery in Colchester. Arrivals include a baby for Lance Corporal Thornett with our many congratulations plus, for us, Private Langsford on re- entering the Service. The long awaited new minibus by courtesy of Army Central Funds and PRI has also arrived and is clocking up the miles now that Corporal Hall and Private Sampson have joined Lance Corporal Condon on the list of qualified PSV drivers. Our photograph this month shows our REME expert, Corporal Chapman, in possession of the bus after taking it over at CVD Ashchurch. We're not furthering the REME cause; merely showing that we are happy to rely on them. 4th Armoured Division 1 HEADQUARTERS RAOC IMAGINE, if. you will, a very rare occur- rence for this office. It's very quiet, no 'phones ringing. No visitors (situation ab- normal). Rain belting against the windows (situation very normal). Coffee has been served. Duty frees lit! WO :Mat, George Strugnell, contemplating his leave due in ' ten days time. E and MA's/MT Clerk, Sergeant Paul Noonan contemplating his posting back to Teeny Weeny Airways next March. Technical Clerk Sergeant Del Carey contemplating his navel. Herr P is on his annual leave of six weeks. The office door crashes open and in bounds our super fit Adjutant, Captain Charlie White. " Gazette notes required by the 22nd " he says to nobody in particular (but pointing to me). " W h a t ! Again? I did them once last year!" "Good. You know what's required then, don't you. Besides which, you've borrowed my pen so I can't write them." " Here, have your pen back Sir " to no avail. He's gone. Exercise Javelin was the high point, the dry-run for the big one, Crusader. Javelin also proved to be a piece of history for us. It is the first time that Ord Operations watchkeepers outnumbered EME Operations watchkeepers. The RAOC Association held its Annual General Meeting at Elles Barracks. AQ Clerks are now the proud possessors of the ' Losers Loo Trophy.' The Materials Office looks quite bare without this reminder of past loosers adorning the wall. Perhaps our luck will change now it's gone. Congratulations go to DOW02, W02 Tom Tait on his selection for promotion, Lance Corporal Luke O'Neill on pro- motion to Corporal, Corporal Kenny Hogg on passing his RPCI Course. Now, I'm off to find the Adjutant to give him his pen back. ^^fl^^k ^^H^^^k M H ^ ^ ^ A mm^^^^^m ^^^^^^^V ^ ^ ^ H r ^^^^^ Corporal Chapman collecting the new PRI Minibus. Stores Platoon 4 Armoured Workshop DIVORCE from 4 ADOC. At last we have become a' Unit. No more going from the Workshop to ADOC and vice versa. Many thanks ADOC for looking after us ' on paper.' We are a Stores Platoon of forty military and six civilian personnel. The OC is Captain Phil Hanlon newly arrived from Northern Ireland and here for a two year rest. We take this opportunity to welcome his good lady Ann and the children. 130 — |
| Book number | R0404 |