RAOC Gazette - page 239
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: Private Finlay on his promotion to A/Lance Corporal, Private Curtin on his B2, and finally to Corporal Brechin, Lance Corporals Diggle, and Storey, and Private Doe on successfully completing their RPC2. ' Eastern District IN keeping with both the spirit and the letter of the recently imposed moratorium these notes will be kept to the minimum. Words will not be wasted. Adjectives will not be used. Verbs active and nouns mini syllabic. We are all here and have worked hard in both our peace and war roles. Some of us above ground others below. But life has, for some, not been all gloom. The CRAOC, swimming against the tide of austerity and restraint, despite personal pleas and stern warnings from Mrs Thatcher, Sir Keith Joseph and the Manager of Barclays oank Colchester, threw a right lavish party. Organs played, champagne corks popped. There were flowers everywhere, huge hunks of iced cake, spoonsful of exotic delicacies, lashings of cream, all consumed on the trivial excuse of the marriage of his daughter Wendy. We offer our congratulations to both the lucky couple and to the CRAOC, whose other two children are boys. Talking about congratulations: well done Conductor Garrod, WOs2 Spicer and Lear, all selected for a commission in 1981. South W e s t District AT last we can once again settle down to normal living as Exercise Square Leg is over. The highlight was to see our gallant RAOC Staff Officers (including CRAOC) dressed in their ' now I can't see y o u ' noddy suits and go off to their survival locations. Our two RO's, Bill Griffin and Jim Duncan, beat the time out on the office cabinets and our girls sang " Will ye noo come back again " as this gallant body of men went off to the war. The girls also sent out a box packed with comforts for the troops which included ' Mayfair' for Major Eric Spittal and ' Sporting Life' for Major Ray Vincent. The other ' com- forts ' must remain a closely guarded secret. Major Bob Bracken however, managed to obtain an ' exemption' from part of the Exercise in order to deal with ' exemptions ' from the Mora- torium. Anyway we are all back at our respective desks beaver- ing away with thoughts of the exercise behind us. We were delighted to see that three of our Warrant Officers (WOsl R. F. Cooper, J. A. Johnston and W02 W. J. M. King) have all been pre-selected for Special Regular Com- missions in the Corps during 1981. Well done, we extend them all our congratulations. Our photograph shows Lance Corporal Steve Jarzembski being rebadged by CRAOC from RCT to be a Staff Clerk RAOC. He has finished his probationary period with G Branch Head- quarters SWDIST and has gone off to be a Corporal in G (Train- ing) Headquarters BAOR. We wish him much success in his new appointment. By the time these notes are printed, Major Ray Vincent will have joined 89 Supply Depot and Major Ivor Thomas late of the British Military Mission to the Saudi Arabia National Guard will have joined us as S02 (Combat Supplies). We wish Major Ray Vincent well in BAOR and will sadly miss his infectious sense of humour in the Branch. Captain John Barrow will also have joined the Vehicle Depot Ludgershall to be re- placed by Captain Lawrence Wood ex-BAOR, as S03 (S Man). We know that the Boscombe Down Model Aero Club are de- lighted that Captain John Barrow is near at hand to be able to continue his hobby and still remain as Secretary to the Club. We wish him much success for the future. SUPPLY DEPOT SERGEANT JIM SHARROCK is running the newly formed Bulford Garrison Squash Club and most of the Unit members can now be seen heading for the squash courts with rackets under their arms. Major Jim McLachlan has continued to represent the Corps Golf Team (with mixed success!). Lance Corporal Ray Mabbott has been detached on Exercise Newly joined from RCT. Elbow Room at CAD Longtown and no doubt will return with some hair raising stories! Postings in have included Private Steve Manning from the Apprentices College and Corporal Fred Robbins and family from Hong Kong. North East District IN reviewing our various activities we must mention first 8 Field Force Ordnance Company our TA Unit in Middlesbrough, who spent part of their annual camp busily employed in supporting 8 Field Force during Exercise Square Leg. We note also that ROWO W02 Dick Speirs and a small band of worthy TA volunteers from Queens Own Yeomanry, 2 Yorks and our own 57 Company RAOC did a splendid job at the Sea Transit Centre refuelling some one thousand eight hundred thirsty vehicles at Immingham before these moved on- wards to the Continent by sea. In the Headquarters, not to be outdone, Staff Sergeant Tosh Stokes, our Chief Clerk, in collusion with CRAOC set up an imposing Ordnance Control Centre arrayed with maps, stock boards, Log Sheets and the usual impedimenta, the picture being marred by CRAOC who somewhat heartlessly insisted that it be manned throughout the Exercise. This we did and having set up his shop CRAOC was out and about in the fresh air and sun visiting the troops on the ground. John Hammond, OC Regional Depot Catterick had the best idea, he somehow managed to fix himself with an umpires job at the sharp end, no doubt with an eye on a spot of ' duty free' on the way home, leaving his No. 2 Captain Mac MacGill, to hold the fort on permanent night duty throughout the Exercise. All has not been work and on the social side the happiest event of the month was the marriage of Major Derrick Eve to Miss Jane Greenland in York. We are delighted and wish Jane and Derrick happiness and good fortune together. Congratulations also go to DOWO WOl Bob Prior-Sander- son who is soon to be commissioned. Well done Bob, with your splendid moustache you should certainly cut a dash at Black- down. Finally we welcome Captain George Goodswen now in the process of taking over the Stores Section 31 Command Work- shop Catterick from Captain Harry Jones whom we must bid farewell and wish him all the best in his new job in BAOR, lucky chap. Welcome also to Mr Eric Worsdell into a new appointment of ADFA. Central Ordnance D e p o t Donnington REGIMENTAL WING activities this month include some fascinating paradoxes. Our Orderly Room Sergeant Reg Smith leaves for civilian life, further, the delightful Eileen Blackmore, one of our cleaning ladies, has also moved happily to retire- ment. By contrast, a new Chief Administrative Officer from the COD, Lieutenant Colonel Chilcott, set the Parsonage astir by his eagle eye and relentless questioning at first visit, all doubt- less born out of the excitement of returning to UK from Hong — 190 — |
| Book number | R0404 |