RAOC Gazette - page 211
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 |
is finally accompanied by his family and looking forward to a pleasant tour. Chief Clerk Pcrs/Logs, W02 Phil Morris has become an active and sometimes successful kart racer and the proud possessor of an office conversion. Sergeant Colin Parker, when he's not camping in Happy Valley with his family, can be seen in the Headquarters running from the sound of ringing telephones. He says he's too busy to answer them and anyway he has no vehicles'to spare. Corporal John Burley, soon to be heading for Dhekelia, continues with his.sailing and rambling, when not filling in as a projectionist. HEADQUARTERS, BRITISH CONTINGENT. Since the sudden advent of Summer, everyone has forgotten the bitterly cold winter nights and even the flurry of snow in darkest Nicosia! We have recently said goodbye to Staff Sergeant ' Taff' Long who goes to the Depot and welcome Corporal John Groom from BAOR. PA to Command BRITCON, Staff Sergeant Ken Johnson is looking forward to his posting to ASD2 in Novem- ber. Acting Chief Clerk, Corporal Dave Frampton is awaiting posting to Headquarters Hohne Garrison. A clear case of delete Amber Solaire—insert Cam Cream, delete Blue Beret—insert Steel helmet! ORDNANCE DETACHMENT. Our new OC, Captain Cross, did a swan from BAOR to find out what he has let himself in for and he is quite happy at the moment—but is a bit worried at the prospect of having to take on X-numbcr of budgies from our present OC, Captain Norman Stack, who just cannot seem to get rid of them. We suggested putting a television in front of the cage but they still keep on producing. Our sporting scene is looking up. We have entered a team in the Unit volleyball league but we are still trying to get it together. We had the Regimental swimming gala which was a huge success. We managed third position which was not bad considering the opposition. We say farewell to the following Lance Corporals, Burns, Fleming and Gandy and wish them luck in their new employ- ment. Welcomes are in order for the following Lance Corporals Beverley, Horst, Williamson and Private Grimwood and we hope they will enjoy their stay. STORES SECTION UNFICYP WORKSHOP. In view of the time lapse since we last forwarded notes to the editor, it would be appropriate to begin by firstly mentioning the names of our current military staff; all four of them! They are: W02 Deret Harrison, Corporal Davis, Lance Corporal Hunking and Private Heaney. The Workshop has a tradition to maintain in organising early. morning physical exercise twice weekly. At 0625 hours with temperatures as low as the seventies our little band gathers. Q's initial task, being the only permanent participant, is to keep ' reins' on his remaining men whilst the roll is being called. Corporal Eric Davis, who sadly misses these sessions more often than not, gets very excited when he is ' running' and if he is not watched constantly, is apt to ' bolt.' On the sporting front we have a ' Gold Medal' winner in the shape of Private Heaney. He won it in a recently held Regi- mental swimming gala. Not, I must add, for his prowess as a swimmer. Lance Corporal ' J a i ' Hunking has nominated him- self as captain of the Workshop ten pin bowling team currently being formed to enter an inter club bowling competition. Like- wise, the boss, who is organising the competition, has nominated himself captain of one of the two Sergeants Mess teams to be entered. It should be noted that neither one of them is capable of breaking ' 120,' but both are under the illusion that with practice they will lead their respective teams to be winners. We'll see! Corpora] Eric Davis, who is here on his second tour with UNFICYP, organised a day's outing for a number of the lads to Kyrenia last week. Apart from a minor map-reading mishap which may well have led to a few hours locked away in a Turkish jail, followed by a hefty fine for non-compliance of rules laid down for personnel visiting the North, an excellent day's outing was enjoyed by all. So much so that a second trip is scheduled for the near future. In the way of forthcoming events, we all look forward to the RAOC in Cyprus—Families Day closely followed by the British Contingent Medal Parade and inter-Contingent swimming gala. UNFICYP SUPPORT REGIMENT. With the help of the following members of the Corps:—RQMS Donal, Lance Corporal Smudge Smith and Private Bambie Crow, Regimental Headquarters Support Regiment managed to clinch first place in the Inter Department swimming gala. The Quartermasters department have recently said farewell to Lance Corporals Smith and Kcv Hills who both return to Donnington and welcome Lance Corporal Jim Grecnaway, also from Donningon and Lance Corporal Paton from Bicester. Congratulations to Corporal and Mrs Dave Blagg on the birth of their daughter Amanda Jayne. Fortress Headquarters Gibraltar WHAT a posting! Situated overlooking an attractive swimming haunt, Rosia Bay, the modern building housing the Deputy Fortress Commander and staff of the Fortress Headquarter! contains a sprinkling of RAOC key personnel. Unfortunately due to a recent establishment inspection, some of the posts are being wasted out making a posting here even more difficult. Ai the time of writing our nominal roll is DAA and QMG Majoi R. N. Lennox, Camp Commandant Major T. Fcarn, FOWC Conductor J. A. Johnston, Chief Clerk Staff Quartcrmastei Sergeant W. Kemp, Chief Clerk AQ Branch Staff Sergeant J Bentlcy who is being relieved by Staff Quartermaster Sergeant G Jones, Sergeant A. Licence and Corporal I. Burnett. There is ar active RAOC Association Branch which manages to encouragf participation from all the Corps members plus some past member; and even one or two locals who feel an affiliation to the Corps. The most notable local member is an ex-Conductor, Mr Joe Jurado, now settled here permanently is the Association Secretary and has organised many a jolly meeting in different original surroundings. The most recent meeting was held in order to present SSM Bill McNulty with a very nice print of Gibraltar on posting from the Rock to Chilwell. Gibraltar has plenty for those who like sport and there is al- ways the chance of appearing on the local television. Most of the major sporting events are televised and so if one is really determined—exposure is possible. SQMS Will Kemp has recently represented the Fortress Headquarters at cricket and now there is some participation in the evening series of off-shore sailing races organised by the United Services Sailing Club. Recent arrivals are Conductor J. Johnston and SQMS G. Jones. Departures are SSM Bill and Margaret McNulty to whom we wish success and happiness in their final posting to Chilwell; good luck to Staff Sergeant John Bentley on posting to Soest. B M A T T Zimbabwe RAOC Element AS this is the first appearance of BMATT 'Zimbabwe in THI GAZETTE a brief history lesson may help set the scene. Durinf the Monitoring Operation British troops began training the ex ZHRA and ZANLA forces in the Assembly Points as a demon stration of good will. This has continued in various location! as these forces are absorbed into the new National Army ani been expanded to include training of specialists and instructori for the hard-pressed Corps of the Army. Naturally, the tearf includes an RAOC element The Team's Logistic Officer is Major O'Kelly, who als< spends a certain amount of time explaining the mysteries o) MOD in general and ASD in particular to the GSOl. There is a QM Training Team of RQMSs Greenaway Donnery and Cole and Staff Sergeant Morrison from Black down, Donnington, Kineton and Dulmen respectively. At th< time of writing the original plan of work for this team has like so much here, changed, been revised and gone into ruinj I again, but we are hopeful that the task will clarify itself soon Any readers who remember. 1098 accounting ten years age would be quite at home here and form numbers such as 1033. 1157 and 1954 are in use, often identical in design to our own. : All those mentioned have renewed their acquaintance with horses—either riding them, backing them or, in W02 Coles' case both. There is, however, no truth in the rumour started by Staff Sergeant Morrison that Major O'Kelly intends to have his post ungraded so that he can rival CRAOC London District. The Team Headquarters has two Staff Clerks, Sergeants Armstrong and Babbage. They thought that the Eternal Flame on the Kopje (or Hill) just outside Salisbury would be worth seeing and might be particularly striking in the dark. Unfortunately, their car fell off the Kopje and Sergeant Armstrong sustained a nasty collar bone fracture of the writing arm. Both are back at work looking sore and rather shaken. We are all here for six month tours and will be joined by more RAOC shortly. The weather is glorious—watch this space for future action packed instalments. — 168 — |
| Book number | R0404 |