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RAOC Gazette - page 255

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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1980
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Early date 1980
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Transcription days we are a little envious! Mrs Craig makes excellent
jewellery (she is a real gem) and soon the family will be off to
England on retirement from the Army. This is your life
WOl John Craig!
Congratulations to Staff Sergeant Bob Scrimger on the
award of his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and to
Sergeant and Mrs Dave Monger on the birth of baby daughter
Kelly.
There is also a hail and farewell. The Headquarters has
gained Lance Corporal Bob Day from Sandhurst and said fare-
well to Lance Corporal Kevin Cull who has departed for the
Emerald Isle.
RAOC Gibralfar
A WELCOME visitor to the Headquarters has been Captain
Moody out from LEA Andover, running a diving course at
Coaling Island.
The FOWO, Conductor Joe Johnson, continues to sail his
craft around the Mediterranean, his latest trip took in Marbella
and he did not lose his way!
On the cricket scene Warrant Officers Will Kemp and
Gordon Jones represent the FHQ XI and Gordon also represents
the Army and Combined Services XIs. The DQ Major Lennox
is to be seen running up and down the Rock each day getting
into peak condition in preparation for the visit of the RAOC
Squash Team (and rumour has it that he may be playing rugby
again!).
The Camp Commandant Major Fearn has just returned from
leave, looking very tired and stated that hs was glad to be
back, so that he can rest in order to be fit for his next leave.
B M A T T Zimbabwe
THERE has been great excitement in BMATT this month as
new arrivals swell our ranks, and all the ' old sweats ' proudly
stand beside the new white Pongos, idly discussing departure
dates!
Among the new boys the RAOC element includes W 2
Lee Hayter from 1 Ammunition IDU, who is frantically
preparing for his move to Inkomo. The National Army have a
mounted Unit there, the ' Grey Scouts.' Could it be that we
will see Lee on a horse with red flanks? (But Sir, where can I
put my blue light?).
On the same flight came Sergeant Dave Montgomery from
4 ADOC clutching information bulletins from the Company.
Do you think he may know who his new OC is going to be, or
has Major O'Kelly kept it a secret?
The new trio is completed by Sergeant Bill Dodd (The
Butcher of Schwarzenborn) who has been uprooted from the
Training Wing at Bicester. He promises faithfully that he
will never complain about training aids and facilities again. I
believe ths is in response to the discovery that the black
board has just been introduced into Zimbabwe.
The latter two are also about to be uprooted and sent a
further four hundred and fifty kilometres from home to
Bulawayo to begin their training courses. Never mind lads, at
least you will be half way to Victoria Falls and Wankie National
Park.
Major Kieran O'Kelly (that's two mentions, Sir, who said I
can't creep like everybody else?) has shrugged off our suggestion
that he should assume the post of CRAOC Zimbabwe, with the
comment that such a post is far too limiting for a man of his
calibre. He has instead taken on (or is it has been told to take
on) the post of Chief of Services Training Staff (COSTS) as the
National Army combines our RAOC, RCT, REME and ACC
functions under one ' Services' title. It is a well known fact
that COSTS are rising so watch out 4 ADOC.
By the time you read this we will have lost one member of
the team back to Blackdown, so we will take this chance to say
a fond farewell, to Sergeant Terry Armstrong who has been
under pressure in the BMATT Headquarters to such an extent
that he is now learning to type with one hand. Rumour has it
that Sergeant Steve Babbage our other tame typist is willing to
train other Staff Clerks to fly provided that they are willing to
provide their own Datsun, (Sergeant 'A' has been heard to say
they will require parachutes also).
That leaves your scribe with the Unit Q Duties Training
Team who have not yet had a mention and as I am one of the
team that would not do at all!
You will remember from last months epistle from Africa that
the team is three very senior RQMSs and one very junior Staff
Sergeant, now I won't mention passing the buck, but if you have
not worked out your scribes name, I might make W02 one day!
— 204
WOs2 Gerry Greenaway and Paddy Donery are on a fitness
kick at the moment and are frequently to be seen in natty shorts
and floppy hats jogging around Salisbury. Incidentally, Paddy
has asked me to mention to the Postie at Donnington that he is
at Salisbury, Zimbabwe not Wiltshire. The jungle drums have
passed a message that Gerry has been ousted from his cushy
number at Deepcut and he is now eagerly awaiting a posting
order. Could it be 4 ADOC as well?
W02 Alan Cole is at this moment standing in front of a
class of uniformed civilians attempting to explain how to.account
for fuel. Mrs Cole please don't be surprised if Alan has no
hair left when he comes home, but he has just found a total
lack of knowledge of the decimal point, amongst his students.
Alan has also managed to get his relaxation in on occasion,
but to save time he is trying to perfect golf on horse back.
Now who have I not mentioned? Oh yes, that superb all
round soldier Staff Sergeant Alex Morrison. At this moment
looking forward to attempting to teach students, who cannot
count, to demand and account for Rations. This gives rise to a
plea from the heart—Dulmen please send Sandy Tutor to
Zimbabwe.
Photo Sergeant
Moffett.
Major General J. J. Quinn, Irish Army, addressing the parade
after presenting the UN Medal (Cyprus) to twenty two members
of the Force. Three members of the Corps were presented with
the medal: Corporal Dave Blagg, Lance Corporal Mick Beverley
and Private John Heaney.
HEADQUARTERS
UNFICYP.
Following last months Head-
quarters contribution from 'Personnel/Logistics,' this months
highlight ' Operations.' Chief Clerk Operations; W02 John
Leggett is cooling his heels in his newly re-built office where access
appears to be limited to a twelve by six foot pigeonhole.
Staff Sergeant Ken Johnson is still ' PA-ing' the Chief of
Staff and is only waiting for November when he can rush off
to MOD and put in twenty five hours a day on ASD2.
Sergeant George Moffett, the Force photographer is still
flying around Troodos
waiting for the snow to fall to take his
photographs for : the UNFICYP Christmas card. (What about
some copies please.—Editor).
Somehow, despite our trios efforts, Operations Branch con-
tinues to function and peace remains in Cyprus.
HEADQUARTERS, BRITISH CONTINGENT.
We would like
to say farewell to Corporal Dave Frampton who has left the
island would you believe for Headquarters Hohne Garrison v
and wish him all the best for the future. We have a new Chief
Clerk in Headquarters BRITCON Sergeant Denis Johnson; wel-

Book number R0404