RAOC Gazette - page 236
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 |
Sergeant Les Thwaites on their recent promotion and our best wishes to Staff Sergeant Jim Green on his posting to Tywyn. A COMPANY. Whilst most care to rest and recuperate during our well earned summer holiday, Arnhem Platoon spent the first week visiting Arnhem. As guests of the Royal Netherlands Army and accompanied by Captain Eccles and Sergeant Keogh, they visited the battlefield, museums and a number of other cultural and historical sites in the area. Travelling from Marchwood by LSL and thence from Antwerp by coach, the Platoon had a memorable time. It is conceivable that Ardennes Platoon could attempt a similar venture—possible Alamein could try, little hope how- ever is held out for Anguilla and any attempt to form an Acapulco Platoon will be discouraged. Once the Winter Term started in early September, our Recruit Platoons were soon settling into their strange new surroundings. A sincere welcome is extended to the members of Arakan and Anguilla Platoons, who have already made wel- come contributions to Company and College life. Other welcome new arrivals on the Company staff are Lieu- tenants Rigby RAAOC and Freegard and Sergeant Tarr; a temporary farewell was said to Lieutenant Marshall who, once completing his duties as Ordnance Officer to the Royal Tourna- ment went off to Australia oh Exercise Long Look. Sport has begun again in earnest and as at the start of every new season at the College, the search begins for new stars. The footballers under Captain Oldham's guidance made a thrill- ing start by beating old rivals from the RAMC College, and cross country, rugby, hockey and orienteering competitions are im- minent. Staff Sergeant Fred Sloan demonstrates the art of bowmanship. He can be seen most Sunday afternoons on the airfield in Shackleton Barracks giving instruction to the Brigade Archery Club. It is reported that he is a better shot with a long bow than an SLR. 3rd Armoured Division Ordnance Company—look out! B COMPANY. After a well earned four weeks rest ' B ' Com- pany has returned to the fold. Having said farewells to Bala- clava, Brunei, Burma and Berlin Platoons at the end of the summer term, we have now welcomed four new Recruit Platoons. The Company is, at present, frantically training for the College Inter Company Cross Country. A trophy that has eluded us for quite some time. Results of this competition will be pub- lished in next month's report. At present all the stops are being pulled out to give twelve Apprentices (fourth term) the opportunity of visiting Berlin for seven days. Again, if successful, a report will follow. On the sporting scene, there is, at present, very little to report but from the Inter Platoon sports it is obvious, even at this stage, we are going to be a force to be reckoned with. Having lost Sergeant Dave Atkins at the end of last term, we welcome the following: Lieutenant Bill Hutton and Sergeant Mick Hogan. We wish them both a happy tour with ' B ' Com- pany. Congratulations to: Lance Corporal Callow on his engage- ment. (Regret we have had to cut down on rhyme because of space problems.—Editor). HEADQUARTERS 8 INFANTRY BRIGADE W02 PETE MURRAY recently returned from three weeks in America and Private Ray Preston from his holiday in Greece, are gradually returning to the standard shade of pale. Alas Sergeant Mick O'Hare's frequent sessions in the Squadron solarium have proved unequal to the struggle. Only Corporal Bruce Watson seems to be unaffected! Driving in Londonderry can be a dodgy proposition 'at the best of times but now that Corporal Bill Laight and Lance Corporal Ian Cramp have been let loose with Provisional Licences and Kamikazi tendencies, it's downright unadvisable! We are pleased to report that Robin Hood is alive and well and living in Londonderry under the alias of Staff Sergeant Fred Sloan who can be found most weekends twanging his bow on the open spaces of Shackleton Barracks giving lessons to his budding Merry Men (and women). Fred who appears as this months pin-up, is trying to coax Private ' Supersonic' Day to pose with an apple on his head, but so far he is having no success. But no doubt time ' Will Tell' ouch! Lance Corporal Roily Kay has discovered that he is allergic to mountains—they seem to reject his efforts to stay attached on his first foray into climbing. On a run to Kinnegar recently Corporal Bruce Watson suffered the misfortune of a broken windscreen on the way. After his driver had convinced him that they were not under attack they carried on and were lucky enough to be given the last windscreen replacement in Kinnegar. A pleased Bruce carried it back to the vehicle where his driver, not having seen him, threw the door open smashing the new screen. Both seem strangely reluctant to return to Kinnegar these days! One might say their confidence is shattered. Northern Ireland HEADQUARTERS RAOC WE looked for signs of panic when our Chief Clerk Staff Sergeant Joe Emery faced the prospect of a security check (you all know the kind of thing, some person or persons unknown come along and start peer- ing at that book with all red lines on, through a magnifying glass) apart from going a whiter shade of pale he showed no reaction; not at that moment, but soon after, we observed the usual sneaky last minute activities like rushing round tying little labels on keys, polishing the file covers and clearing the coffee cups out of the filing cabinets; we were pleased for his sake when all went well, and pleased for ourselves when he gave us our keys back and we could get into our offices again. The only signs of the imminence of Winter (it never seemed to leave us this year) was the first rugby match of the year with its usual aftermath of bloodstained officers. Captain Alex Sturdy seemed rather proud of his misshapen face and even tried to convince us that he had lost some weight, we've heard it all before. Lance Corporal Terry McGovern has transferred into the Corps from UDR—Welcome. Staff Sergeant Pete Dimmock has been promoted internally and posted as PA to CLF and Sergeant Keith Tomlinson posted internally from G Int as temporary PA to the GOC. Arrivals: Lance Corporal Swann and Corporal Smart. Departures: Lance Corporal Paul Carlton, Corporal Mick Shepherd and Staff Sergeant Skidmore. Enjoy Yourselves. — 321 EOD Unit WOl MICK HEATH our SAT for the past year has departed in his mobile home for the camping grounds around Herford. Congratulations Mick from us all on the well deserved achievement of being selected for SRC next year. His replacement WOl Clive Lambert did not have far to travel—he joined us from Headquarters Northern Ireland just a few yards away! Our section at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast are all suffering from shock and thus are unable 187 — |
| Book number | R0404 |