RAOC Gazette - page 224
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 |
HISTORY MYSTERY THE history of the Gibraltar Cannon shown in last month's issue is proving more difficult to unearth than was anticipated. After discussions with Mr George Palau and Lionel Culatto, the former the author of 'Towers and Gun's of Gibraltar,' it seems that Gibraltar's strong point is not records! In fact Mr Culatto, a local chronicler, would be grateful if, through the medium of THE GAZETTE, light can be thrown on the history of the cannon. As it stands, their best guess is that it came from Woolwich round about 1870. A few years later it became obsolete after the introduction of breech loading guns. The guns were then left around in stores or for decorative purposes mounted by Unit gates; they were not returned to England because of their weight. Later, in 1914, we are told that there was understandably a steel crisis in UK and all British possession and territories were asked to return scrap. The moving gun carriages were cut up and returned but the guns left due to their weight—some eighteen tons. How the cannon got its Ordnance crest and why and when it was mounted at South Port Gates is still a mystery. Perhaps a Corps member, past or present, has the answer. films were sent for processing—like all true professionals they were testing the system. Within twenty four hours the trickle had turned into a flood. Those first few photographers had quickly spread the word that the APIC darkroom service was good. By the end of the exercise an incredible one thousand plus rolls of film (That's about thirty thousand negatives), had been processed by RAOC photographers Sergeants Bob Fousert, Pete Griffiths, Pete Maile, ' Monty' Montgomery and Ken Webster with Herr Hans Buschen processing the colour film. From these films more than eight thousand photographs were made, mainly by the three hardworking darkroom girls, Cris Bahr, Christel Kitching and Gundula Thalman. A suitable accolade to the staff who provided this inter- national darkroom service was given by one American photo- grapher who said, " You army guys have given me a better service from this temporary darkroom than I get from my news- paper's ultra-modern set up in the States." (Just the service THE GAZETTE would like). CHARITY FAST CYCLE MANAGEMENT Services Unit BAOR is very proud of SSM Terry Golding's two boys Trevor and Terry. Recently they joined six other boys in a twenty four hour sponsored cycle ride to raise money for Stoke Mandeville Hospital and a local children's home. Through the worst imaginable weather they clocked three hundred and eighty miles and helped to raise DM2,202, near enough £524 to those unfortunate enough to need it. FILMS WHEN International press photographers arrived at the Allied Press Information Centre (APIC) at Hildesheim for Exercise Crusader 80, they had a problem. Where could they get their films developed and printed? The processing had to be of the very best quality, reliable and fast—very fast—so that pictures of the largest British exercise since the formation of NATO could be ' wired' to agencies, newspapers and magazines all over the world to meet tight deadlines. The problem was solved by six RAOC photographers assisted by four civilians who manned the APIC darkroom. The darkroom was set-up by WOl Tommy Atkins in a block in Tofrek Barracks a short walk across the playing field from the APIC itself. The staff came from RAOC Public Relations Photography Sections of the four divisions in BAOR and from Headquarters BAOR. Photo Sergeant F. W. Voice. Trevor and Terry help to raise the cash. In total eight sons of servicemen, serving in Viersen, did the sponsored twenty four hour cycle ride in aid of Stoke Mandeville Hospital—and the Fanny Zahn Childrens Home. Despite being nearly drowned during heavy rains the boys, whose ages ranged from nine to thirteen, cycled the impressive three hundred and eighty four miles to raise the money to be shared between the two charities. The other boys names were Newell and Thomas Rumney, Mark and Paul Hallas, Richard Chambers and Robert Nicholls. Six RAOC photographers with just a few of the empty cannistcrs from more than one thousand rolls of film developed for the international press on Exercise Crusader. Left to right: Sergeant Pete Maile, Sergeant Webster, Sergeant Bob Fouscrt, W O l Tommy Atkins, Sergeant Monty Montgomery and Sergeant Pete Griffiths. OLD Enlargcrs, film drying cabinets, developing dishes, semi- automatic film processors and all the supplies and parapher- nalia needed to set-up a darkroom were brought in. When the first press photographers arrived only a trickle of — WELBEXIAN ASSOCIATION THE Vice President's Dinner will be held at Welbeck on Saturday, 15th November 1980. Those wishing to attend should contact:—Captain N. H. Stewart, Royal Signals, Welbeck College, Worksop, Notts S80 3LN. Tel: Worksop (0909) 476326 Ext 30 by 6th Novem- ber 1980. (Continued on page 195) 177 — |
| Book number | R0404 |