RAOC Gazette - page 285
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 |
Contessa presented a typical Australian picture to the Officers Mess. On the Headquarters and Admin side Major Pincher is progressing with his self-help rebuild of the Unit .22 range. The CSM was let loose to run a successful Regimental Training exercise. It is said that in the early pre-dawn hours a slow moving deer caused a section to stand to, until a wit from an- other trench commented that the CSM doesn't move ' even ' that fast. Having switched him on however, it's difficult to stop him as he now has everyone practising on the square weekly for the Remembrance Parade. From the Permanent Staff this month we say goodbye to Captain McNally, Sergeants Candy and Burchell (he went on loan and they decided to keep him). We also say farewell to WOl Mick Tillotson who has left us to join civilian life. We wel- come Sergeant Ross from Middle Wallop. Central Vehicle Depot HEADQUARTERS FROM postings in this month we have gained three new officers, Lieutenant Colonel J. Neale as CVPO, Major Roger Bensaid as DSMLO and Major Henry Ford to take over our Work Study Branch. I'm told that with the ever increasing fuel costs we are going to open a Central Cycle Depot and that WOl Foster and his team, Privates Bembenowicz and Paddock have volunteered to get students of cycling up to Bl standard. He and his team took Ashchurch to victory in the Army fifty three kilometre team trial and the Army hill climb and now sport their Army colours; well done. VEHICLE DEPOT ASHCHURCH THE Unit had their annual Summer Camp at Penhale in Corn- wall. Thirty five junior ranks attended each week, each party following the same training programme. The seven days started for each group by being 'welcomed' at Newquay Station and . even the local Constabulary joined in the attempt to make the welcoming more pleasurable. Each morning was spent on some form of military pursuits; either orienteering, a cross country run or command tasks, while the afternoons were either deep sea fishing, canoeing, sailing or climbing. The weekly run to Perranporth along the beach was not without its share of excitement; the tide was coming in and the party had to wade/swim through four feet of water to get round the headland. Needless to say, our CSM was called all the names under the sun but even he had to admit that time and tide wait for no man. The orienteering course was devised to test each group thoroughly as the ground, sand dunes resembling the surface of the moon, was very difficult to navigate over. At least that was the thought of our Officer Commanding. One morning each week was set aside for the command tasks. Each team of five had to run down to a mine shaft, collecting helmets, rope and a stretcher on the way. This is where the fun started; one member of the team had to manu- facture a raft from inflated inner tubes and the stretcher and paddle over a freezing cold underground pool whilst the remainder of the team made their way along the mine shaft to a large cavern. To everyone's horror, the teams then had to descend a chimney into freezing water and link up with the raft man to make their final exit That was providing the raft hadn't sunk. The terrifying screams as lower appendages were buffeted down the chimney and into the water were of great delight to the permanent staff. The afternoons were in the main spent off Newquay harbour either canoeing, sailing or deep sea fishing. We were of great entertainment to the local crowd, especially Lance Corporal Marshall who was constantly practising his capsize drills or at- tempting to sail his boat upside down! The surf city canoeists enjoyed themselves ' wiping out' frequently, even to the extent of Corporal Tommy Allen who managed to wipe out a canoe (don't worry Donnington—not one of yours). All in all this year's camp was a great success and the OIC Regimental was so impressed with the way our TA hosts ran Penhale Camp, he has decided to join them. Many thanks to the Ashchurch permanent staff and the Unit pentathlon team for all your efforts to make the two weeks so very enjoyable. VEHICLE DEPOT LUDGERSHALL PRE-EXERCISE work for Square Leg included planning for an internal FTX built into the CPX called Exercise First Gear. An educational and tiring time was had by all filling sandbags and digging holes for defences around the Depot. To top it all the OC, Major John Rose, had us all sitting in our nuclear shelters (CVRfT)'s surrounded by sandbags) in full NBC kit, whilst Captain David Patcrson went around spraying the air with CS gas to ensure respirators were worn. We have now all learned a little of what to expect in the event of the real thing. BFT for the second part of the year is upon us and bodies of all shapes and sizes can be seen each evening puffing and panting around the depot in preparation for the final day. We congratulate Major Humphrey Jones on his promotion and wish him well on his posting to Germany. We also congratulate Staff Sergeant Geoff Patton who was presented with his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal by the Commandant. Postings out are Captain Mike Hartley to Germany for three months and then to Headquarters AFCENT. Lance Corporal Mumford to BATUS for six months and Lance Corporal Woodruff to Northern Ireland on detachment for four months. Postings in are Captain Malcolm Miller from MOD, Private Garlinge from ODA, Privates Naughton and Price from the Depot, Private Burns from Chilwell and last but no means least Corporal Stone from Cyprus. VEHICLE DEPOT HILTON THE good things in life seem to be the preserve of Com- mandants ; this month we offer for publication a photograph of our ladies netball team. The girls have since changed their game to rounders but they still look just as lovely. The ladies with the departing Commandant. Congratulations to Mrs Joan Plume on successfully com- pleting Support to Management Course and to Miss Jane Allen, Mrs Joyce Baugh, Miss Sally Vaughan and Mrs Jane Winter on passing First Aid Proficiency Examinations. The Work Study Team of Cherryl McCreadie and Bob Harris have received the Auditors Report and have proceeded to give the Depot Cost Centres ' the works ' ; they are seldom to be seen in the office these days. Nice to see our Gardener, Mr Norman House, back with us after a lay off due to illness. Farewell and good luck to Mr George Cole on retirement. Central Ammunition Depot Kineton SOME three hundred plus military person- nel, both male and female, took part in two separate Cross Country competitions, the girls running a shorter course. The afternoon was a great success with 'A' Company landing the inter-Company trophy. The individual prize went to Lance Corporal Starbuck of Headquarters Company and the winning WRAC entrant was Lance Corporal Brown. For the second year in succession Staff Sergeant Orchard triumphed in the over forties section. Next is the turn of the rugby team—the Kineton Ironsides who have seen mixed fortunes over the past month. Two narrow defeats by fourteen to four and sixteen to fourteen against RAF Stafford and Alcester Arrows respectively and wins of forty eight to three against the Prince of Wales Division Lich- field and fifty four to nil against 10 Ordnance Support Battalion. — 228 — |
| Book number | R0404 |