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RAOC Gazette - page 283

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Corps RAOC
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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 attack and was rushed off to the Medical Officer to check his
blood pressure when rumours circulated that the annual Corps
ski-ing exercise at Nethy Bridge, Scotland was to be cancelled.
Glad to say that these fears have been dispelled. The MO's
diagnosis turned out to be ' suppressed anxiety neurosis.'
Corporal Gordon Everard of the Royal Engineers was re-
badged by CRAOC on transfer to the Corps as a Supply Clerk.
Corporal Everard started life as an Apprentice Boy Sapper
at Chepstow. We wish him much success in the Corps and are
glad to have him with us.
Sub Officer Albert Hopkins of the Army Fire Brigade Middle
Wallop was recently presented with the Fire Service Long
Service and Good Conduct Medal. Sub Officer ' Frank' Hop-
kins enlisted into the Army in 1953 and served with the Gloucester
Regiment until 1956. He joined the Army Fire Service in 1960
and served in Middle Wallop, Marchwood, Netheravon and two
tours in Northern Ireland.
North East District
STORES
PLATOON
16 AIR DEFENCE
REGIMENT
WORKSHOP
EXCLUDING our Block Leave period for
seventy five per cent of the Stores Platoon,
which passed under the psuedonym of
Exercise Crusader, the other twenty five
per cent being at the new Butlins Holiday
Camp situated at Kirton in Lindsey, there
is not a lot to write about this month.
It was a busy month for the Platoon with the Regiment
deploying on Crusader, but everyone kept a cheerful face and
personality under the stress and strain.
The writing of these notes sees the first contingent having
deployed to the Hebrides for Firing Camp. (Farewell Corporal
McGuire, Privates Renfrey and Bellamy-Wood. It's a cruel
world!)
Corporal Simpson has been presented with his Long Service
and Good Conduct Medal by Lieutenant Colonel Gordon RA,
Commanding Officer 16 AD Regiment.
Welcome to Sergeant Berresford, Corporal Crosby and
family, Privates Ellery and Van Nuil and family. Lastly farewell
to Sergeant Jolliffe and family and Corporal Simpson also
Lance Corporals Stirling and Swan.
STORES SECTION 38 ENGINEER REGIMENT
WORKSHOP
CORPORAL GEORGE LINDSAY is currently sunning himself
in Belize surrounded by sea and sand. Spare a thought George
for those of us left behind to tackle the shorter tours and
suffer the European winter. One such detachment was the
annual pilgrimage to Guttersloh by Staff Sergeant Bill Gregory.
This time however Private Pete Combes went to keep an eye
on him but in fact spent three months watching Sappers digging
holes in the runway.
Corporal Mai Scott and Private Keith Stubbs played with
some Harrier aircraft at Haltern. Private Stubbs spent most of
his spare time at the local nudist beach and now suffers from
failing eyesight.
Everyone will have a Crusader story and though ours was
a quiet exercise, we had our share. Perhaps the best was the
TA Officer who was told that " The CV was just past the one
hundred and sixty pounder." Oh, he said " I didn't see a gun on
the way in."
We say hello to Sergeant John Scott, Lance Corporal
Forrest and Privates Stubbs, Whittington and Combes.
7 Field Force
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
UPON our return from Germany the Stores Park looked as if
the battle of the Little Big Horn had been reenacted, the floor
had turned crimson; (the red-lead fiend had struck!) The
presentation might have been better had the culprit used a brush
and not a squeegee. Needless to say red paint can now be found
throughout the Company Lines, and in some of the most un-
usual places at that, including the OCs car and his office.
The PC and A didn't go unscathed during Crusader either.
A wall had been purposefully and expertly (?) knocked down,
much to the non-appreciative comment of DOE.
However,
Sergeant Dave Jones came to the rescue with his brick-laying
skills, and managed to save the PRI having to fork-out £500 for
a ' wall replacement.'
Personalities within the Stores Park are many and for the
purpose of this small pen-pushing exercise have been listed in
'pecking order' so you may more easily guess relevant hiding
places.
First and foremost is of course OIC Tech, Captain Paul
Henwood, who is at present in the final throes of handing
over his duties (of which he assures us there arc many) to
Captain Martin Hicks, a recent arrival from Hong Kong. Then
follows WO Tech, W02 Noel Barker, who is the overseer of
the Stores Park. The SNCO PC and A is Staff Sergeant Arthur
Armour who is ably supported by Sergeants Chris Davies, Dave
Jones, Jim Robinson, Corporals Hollinshead, Kelly and Batty,
Lance Corporals Drury and Davies, Privates Hart, Barrie and
Sheppard. Our Sup Specs arc headed by Staff Sergeant Paul
Sutterby, who is in turn supported by Sergeants Gillespie, Mackay
and Elliott, Corporals Austin, Kidd, Lawson and Bisson, Lance
Corporals Geddes, Frost, Hawksby, Valler and Wignall, Privates
Balch, Beasley, Hodgson, Black, Brown, Cheshire, Clarke,
Czapski, Grimwood, Page, Roberts, Wade, Boulton, Stoodley,
Thomson, Hiscock and Conway.
We say farewell and wish the best in their new posts to:
Captain Henwood, Lance Corporal Davies, and Privates Mc-
Luskie and Robinson. And hope for happy (and exciting!)
tours to our new arrivals: Captain Hicks, Lance Corporal Dick,
Privates Cosgrave and Wojack.
Our closing congratulations are extended to Staff Sergeant
and Mrs Arthur Armour on the birth of their baby daughter
Fiona Alice, and to Lance Corporal Boots Hawksby and Mrs
Hawksby on the birth of their baby daughter Jennifer Elizabeth/
Central Ordnance Depot Donnington
THE flower of the nation's youth returned triumphantly to Don-
nington, bearing proudly the spoils of war viz: Crusader Duty
Frees. The Home Fires were kept burning brightly by the Over
Forties and the entire rear party guarded the Depot against
surprise' attack by parachutists, boat-raiding parties and Fifth
Columnists so successfully, indeed, that the Depot Bonus Scheme
survived intact. And so they returned to a Place Fit for Heroes
to Live In, complete with twice-weekly PT—when one of the
afore-mentioned youth commented in the rich and descriptive
language of the realm: "
running with the Over-Forties,
they go too
fast."
The DGOS fulfilled a long-standing wish when, as DGOS,
he returned to Donnington where he had earlier served as SPO.
Besides marvelling at the wonders of advanced storehouse
technology, he dined royally in both Messes on successive even-
ings and was last seen moving off in the direction of Andover
muttering: " Fantastic,"' " Superb," " Eye-opening," " Mind
boggling " and other understatements.
Two of the Depot stalwarts recently embarked on Exercise
Bromhams Way, a two hundred and fifty mile plus trek over the
Pennine Way from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in
Scotland. Colonel David Parker and Lieutenant Colonel Ray
Holland joined colleagues from our sister Depot at Chilwell in
this marathon hike over some of the most desolate and hazardous
country in England. The exploits of this infamous expedition
will be recorded by COD Chilwell due entirely to the paucity of
information that can be gleaned from the now slim line members
of Stores Wing. An attempt is being made to procure photo-
graphic evidence of their holiday for a later edition of THE
GAZETTE.
The football team qualified for the Army six-a-side cham-
pionship as Western District and Wales champions.
Un-
fortunately, the same success was not met at Aldershot in the
championship proper. The Garrison rugby team have kicked
off to their new season in optimistic mood once again. No
member of the team can be found for comment on the results
to date. However, eight members have been selected to play for
Newport RUFC, the Shropshire county champions.
The new training officer, Lieutenant Iain Cassidy, has
reported for duty and maintained the standard of those previous
by being to the fore in the latest BFT run. Another fit one!
Private Bill Redmond is currently running the Garrison
Mountaineering Club which uses the fire tower for its purpose.
The attendance is good, but falling (sic!).
Corporal Tom Jamieson says he will definitely not be run-
ning a hotel when he leaves the Army. This little gem stems from
the sudden increase of new arrivals, and with more on the way
Tom is running out of five star accommodation to offer and
hair to pull out of his head.
Now-that the administrative aid, however slight, to Crusader
80 is finished, the pens are clicking drafting nice little letters
about next year's FFR (we've only just finished this one) and
preparations are in hand for the various Christmas functions. The
— 226 —
Book number R0404