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RAOC Gazette - page 287

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1980
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Colour Yes
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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription 1 Ammunition Inspection and Disposal Unit
EXERCISE FELIX FOCUS 1 is currently in progress with all
detachment personnel attending for one week. The exercise,
being held at Tenby in North Wales, is full of adventurous
and military training. Meanwhile back at the ranch, preparation
for SATO (E) licensing exercise is in hand. Corporal Mick
Finan is busy preparing one thousand and one devices to defeat
even the most intrepid 'ATO,' since he has just returned from a
Pre Operational IED course at ASA, yours truly is demanding
circuit diagrams of all devices and will not be caught out!
W02 Paul Mitchell, a close season signing from ASA, was
recently called out to something that went ' Bang * in the night
at Cowplain in Hants. After searching woods and fields all
morning nothing was found, and the mystery remains. Was it
a backfiring UFO or an exploding cowpat from Cowplain? We
shall never know
Also from Aldershot Staff Sergeant Des Kerr has been in
and out of hospital in the last month. He hasn't said much but
he. walks slowly, and sits gingerly on cushioned seats. Me-
thinks it was a base job.
SATO (E) is about to become ATOless, ATO Aldershot
has said farewell and now, as Major Alan Glasby, sits on high
as SATO North, our congratulations and sincere good wishes
go to him and his wife. Captain Trevor White ATO Colchester
is currently ' sorting 'em out' in 321 EOD Unit and Captain
Jonathan Rollason is about to depart on his JDSC course at
Warminster.
(Good luck on that one Rollo from ATO
Edinburgh).
The No. 1 Joint Service EOD Report Centre continues to
function despite the shortage of Corporals', for the past month
two stalwarts in the form of Corporals Morris and Kettle have
been stagging day on day off. Corporal Don Granner has been
to Edinburgh on detachment and has returned with a new car;
claims must be good in Scotland! Corporal Rob Wharton has
tied the knot and been honeymooning on the Norfolk Broads.
Good luck to both Lesley and Rob for the future. Corporal
Glen Stott still languishes in Belize and Corporal Dave Fordyce
and Dave Wildmore are detached to 321 EOD Unit.
Word of the Month—Moratorium—Military meaning: you
can have nothing, move nothing and do everything as usual.
Actual meaning: Authority to defer payment!
Management Services Unit UKLF
WE welcome into the fold W02 Ron McCaffrey.
He was
latterly of the Employment Training School but arrived via
BAOR and Exercise Crusader. Time to put away the books of
learning and to understand the real problems of life! He is now
assisting WOl Dick Cheesman, who in turn is assisting Ord 4d,
who in turn are assisting UKLF (and so it goes on
), into a
Supply Management Study into the Accommodation Services.
We feel they will soon both be able to sing " We've Been
Everywhere Sir."
Our gallant Second-in-Command, Captain John Humphreys,
having finished the audit of his account and having procured a
new luxury motor, the two we hasten to add are not connected,
has left us for a while to learn all about health and safety at the
School of Ordnance. We await to see an issue of thermometers
and safety shoes upon his return.
WOl Matt Hudson is obviously training to be a politician
when he leaves the Services. Unable to supply MHE and modern
storage media because of the aforesaid moratorium he appears to
be holding everyone at bay without upsetting anyone. Mind
you once the ban is lifted we expect the customers to give
him an unmerciful time.
Meanwhile WOl Eddie Bullock has almost become a
civilian. He is now the proud owner of a red plastic wallet
which holds a few of his job descriptions. Armed with that we
are sure no prospective employer will turn him down!
Our Ordnance visitors went away fitter and more bronzed.
The Chief Ordnance OfTiccr, Brigadier Berrcsford, was in the
running for Victor Ludorum at the Sports Day, and our CRAOC,
Lieutenant Colonel Tony Beaumont, valiantly upheld the image
of the Regular Army by taking part in the PT on most morn-
ings during his visit. Major Allen Pollard skulked in the back-
ground dreading that he would be asked to run along the beach
carrying a pack full of pebbles again. Even the journey back
from camp on the ferry was not without diversions and Lieu-
tenant Bob Neeld has the photos to prove it!
Notable week-end training has included a walk up Snow-
don. Some of us went up the hard way in the pouring rain
but, once again, the organiser, Staff Sergeant Frank Brown, was
forced to stay in a warm dry vehicle all day to monitor the
teams. One of our Regular Army PSIs, Sergeant Colin Williams
has been disappearing at week-ends with large numbers of
vehicles and men on ' driver-Training.' Current fuel restrictions
have put paid to this activity and Colin is now trying to get
hold of sixty bicycles. Our other PSIs are Staff Sergeant Jim
King and W02 Les Dalton who continues to rally round for
the Army.
• (Your excellent photograph is being retained for possible
future use as a cover.—Editor).
NOTICES
(Continued from page 219)
FIELD
REMEMBRANCE
FOR
SALE
RETIRED MAJOR has house in Camberley for sale in pleasant
secluded position but not isolated.
Inspection is essential to appreciate all that this house and
its setting have to offer.
Accommodation comprises:—four bedrooms, bathroom,
separate WC, large entrance hall, cloakroom, very fine drawing
room, kitchen, dining room, utility area, garage, gas central
heating, garden about one third acre mainly wooded.
Viewing by prior appointment with Major and Mrs G. C.
Holdorf in residence. Telephone: Camberley 25210. Price
£72,000 freehold. Vacant possession. Numerous extras included.
*
*
*
FROCK COAT, No. 1 Dress, No. 2, 3, 4, and 6. 2 x Lieutenant
Colonel Mess Kits including Wellingtons, W/Spurs and White
Jackets, British Warm, Jodphurs, Riding-boots, Sword, Hats.
Height six foot, chest forty two inch, waist.thirty four inch, feet
nine. Can be seen at Blackdown—everything must go. Lieu-
tenant Colonel N. Carter, Brighton 608664.
VACANCIES
COLDSTORE OPERATORS
MR FRITH of Tiefkiihlhaus Viersen, has informed me that
vacancies for Cold Store operators exist at the Viersen plant
(West Germany). The posts would be particularly suitable to
ex-Servicemen with RAOC/RASC trade experience. Further
details can be obtained by writing to: Mr, M. C. Frith, Cold
Store Manager, Tiefkiihlhaus Viersen, Sittarder Strasse 34, 4060
Viersen 1, Deutschland.
*
TERRITORIAL ARMY
52 Company RAOC (V)
OUR Annual Camp this year was a regimental one and spent
near the fleshpots of Jurby IOM. The weather was extremely
bracing and Staff Sergeant Ken Lawrence has not stopped
telling his friends how much he enjoyed the three day exercise
in the mountains. One visiting Senior Officer, who shall remain
nameless, asked if there was somewhere warmer to stand while
he talked to the troops.
OF
UNITS of the Corps donated the sum of £574.24 to the Royal
British Legion Poppy Fund in being represented on the Corps
plot at the Westminster Abbey Field of Remembrance.
OUR
*
COVER
*
*
PICTURE
IN some respects it is sad that coincidence should make this
theme the subject of our December cover, no doubt to be
received at a time of traditional festivity and of rejoicing—of
peace and goodwill.
Yet perhaps it is fortuitous that we are also reminded, at this
special time, of mans inhumanity to man and of the role which
the Army and in particular our own Corps, continues to play
in containing and reducing the impact that acts of violence have
upon others—even at Christmas.
— 230 —
Book number R0404