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RAOC Gazette - page 256

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Publication date 1980
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Early date 1980
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Transcription come to Cyprus Denis we hope you will enjoy your tour with
us and that it's not too much of. a shock after Deepcut.
I think our typist Ann Robinson ought to get a mention
too, she works very hard in a hot office and always is a cheerful
soul regardless of the pressure of work, thanks Ann and keep
your pecker up.
After much confusion and panic Headquarters BRITCON
finally managed to get the United Nation's Medal Parade off the
ground and hopefully a good time was had by all—especially
after the Parade. We all heartily tucked into an enormous
barbeque and saw the celebrations out in style and to say the
least, all of us are looking forward to the next one.
UNFICYP ORDNANCE DETACHMENT.
Well hello once
again from the Bondu boys, yes the weather is still hot and
sunny. Our annual turnover is nearly complete apart from our
new OC who arrives next month, then it will be a case of roll
on the next six months.
Congratulations are in order for Sergeant Ken Nixon who
received his substantive promotion, good luck Ken. Our volley-
ball league is completed and all I've got to say about that is we
didn't finish last, let's hope we do better in the ten-pin bowling.
Captain Norman Stack has still got this problem with the
budgies but things are looking up, they've not produced any more
(touch wood).
We welcome Sergeants Van Spall and White, also Lance
Corporal Murray. We hope they enjoy their stay with us.
UNFICYP SUPPORT REGIMENT.
The visit of the UK Vice-
Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Logistics) General Sir
Patrick Howard-Dobson was an enormous success. The General
was particularly impressed with the standard of our ' field
conditions' dining hall.
The UNFICYP Flight AAC has recently bid farewell to
Sergeant Dave Wilboume and family who have departed for
3 Regiment AAC at Soest and in his place we welcome Sergeant
Bill Merrills and family. Sergeant Merrills is quickly learning
French in preparation for ordering Allouette spares.
Three members of the Regiment recently received the UN
Medal (Cyprus), they even had to draw out tropical combats
for the parade! Those on the medal parade were Corporal Dave
Blagg, Lance Corporal Mick Beverley and Private John Heaney.
The Quartermasters department have recently had a trau-
matic experience, with a changeover of Quartermasters, which
required Boards of Officers and Handover boards etc. Our
newly weds Lance Corporal and Mrs Greenaway are rumoured
to be enjoying their camping honeymoon. Our other newly
married and newly arrived soldier, Private Compton who thought
he was immune to sunburn—carry on suffering.
British Forces Hong Kong
At the end of the game, sad to say,
Though we upheld our good name.
We were the beaten finalists, although we took pride, .
In the fact it was a very close game.
We got hammered really, but it didn't rhyme!
No more poems please—they take up too much space.—
Editor.
Composite Ordnance Depot Hong Kong
THIS month we will start with the sadness—the leaving of the
Headquarters scribe Sergeant Joe Addis and also the Quarter-
master scribe Staff Sergeant (W02) Pete Fellowes. By the time
the regular readers are wiping away their tears at the above news
the CQMS—sorry CSM and wife will be driving around Germany
in his tax free car, and Sergeant Joe Addis will hopefully be
driving around Bicester in his tax paid second hand banger.
Now to the workers! The order came to Vehicle Group—
"All Hands To The Grindstone." The new resident Battalion
The Royal Regiment of Wales invaded the Depot for their
vehicles, true to form the group issued without hiccup, and, well
ahead of time.
Sergeant Ricky Parkes has been seen recently taking up
various jobs, ie Eager Beaver bashing, scrap metal remover,
docker and swimmer. He does all this whilst studying for his
EPC 'A.' Sergeant Brian Tomlin is back to Orienteering' and
reading his paper on Exercise Route.
Our resident rugby player Corporal Ron Audrain has the
following to report. Hong Kong v. Workshops was a recent
very hard game. Unfortunately Hong Kong was defeated in the
final quarter by a narrow margin of thirteen points to four.
Rugby in the Colony is now at a very high standard and his
Warrant Officer-in-Charge has great expectations.
The Depot will no doubt be more widely known than it is
now—if that is possible for Ron was recently photographed with
his wife and daughter relaxing off duty—for—wait for it—the
1981 Army Calendar. Congratulations Ron, I'm sure with all the
publicity and the rugby either TV or films will be your second
career.
This years Summer Camp was held at Erskine Camp in the
New Territories. The camp was split into two phases. Half the
Unit attended the first weeks camp which began with the No. 3
Typhoon signal being hoisted whilst many were out either
Orienteering or trying their hand at Absailing. As the week pro-
gressed the weather improved so much that by the last day
everyone was feeling the heat. Bob Mason tried the Orienteering
but quickly decided it wasn't his scene. Ian Powells team ap-
proached the Command task with reluctance but on being told
they could leave one person out of being lifted over the twelve
foot wall had no hesitation in deciding who to leave out, (Good
old Ian). They then proceeded to carry out the task in good
time whilst their group leader looked on more grateful than
reluctant. Sport was also part of the Summer Camp but the
basketball matches looked more like a rugby match whenever
Staff Sergeant Major Matt Matakitoga's team played. One can
only assume what the small HKOR thought when faced with
' Big Matt.' Sergeant Tony Munn did try to face Matt but was
soon sent off.
Between the two phases an adventure camp was held for the
children this proved to be very successful with the children enjoy-
ing all the facilities their parents had. Most of them got a little
more suntanned and Calamine Lotion was in evidence all over,
even so the children finally left the camp exhausted but contented.
Our congratulations this month go to Major Monty and
Brenda Wood on once again—yes again—becoming grandparents,
the CQMS just can't understand how they do it. Also to Lance
Corporal Ip our lifesaver on his promotion to that rank.
We have welcomed into the Depot Captain Raymond Carey
and have said fond farewells to Captain Martin Hicks, Staff
Sergeant Ken Worrall and their families.
Let's have a bash, Ray Dawson said,
At the Blood Trophy Volleyball Comp
So he got together a stalwart bunch
And we went off with ceremony and pomp. •
He pressganged Tony Dales, the
Sergeant Mat,
;
And Phil Buxton from the branch of Ord.
Gorgeous Graeme Hillier from ALS,
. So nonchalant,he looked quite bored.
He included Keith Woods from Transport and Movement,
Yes, we had help from the RCT.
But as we needed a secret weapon,
He then got little old me!
As " Dawson's Dozers," otherwise "AQ.' :
We were one of a group of nine.
With Royal Marines and Matelots,
We were in for a very rough time.
Despite playing against some very good teams,
Who sometimes gave us a fright.
We fought our way to the top of our group,
With at last the final in sight.
BATUS Ordnance Company
We played the Elite G Force,
WE recently announced to a startled world that
In a very tough semi-final game.
in future editions of our GAZETTE notes we
But with tactics and planning (and lots of luck),
would feature articles on the different Platoons
We upheld our very good name.
and Sections within the Company. Try as we
Fraught with tension, we played the final
might it is therefore impossible to to avoid men-
,
Game in the Volleball match.
tioning our Stores Platoon, a highly over-sexed
Against 5 Gurkhas and 1 Brit from the QG Sigs,
organisation whose members seem to spend their
They looked a professional batch.
off duty hours attending each others weddings.
The whistle blew, the game began,
The mere sight of a well filled pair of jeans seems
Good grief, these lads have played it before.
to send them crazy. Even Corporal Tony Smith-
We thought, as we fought for each and every point,
Hollins is going to make an honest man of himself.
Me thinks this could turn into a war.
— 205 —
Book number R0404