RAOC Gazette - page 12
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1978 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1978 |
| Late date | 1978 |
| Transcription |
Uttttrg to 4* Ctritor THE GREEN GODDESS SAGA FROM BRIGADIER A. H. FERNYHOUGH r CBE,MC (Retd). Dear Sir,—It is nothing new for the British Army to tackle, .vithout complaint, dangerous tasks using inadequate equipment -although it is reported that at first the Gurkhas rejected the Green Goddess demanding instead "A little yellow god with a green eye,'" It is however, rare for the troops to be praised for this. When, in war, the British Army is denied up-to-date equipment which has previously been sold to the enemy in aid of our balance of payments, representations have been greeted with the curt reply " If you really want the stuff so much you had better capture it." Of the three Services whose duty it is to protect the oublic, two (police and firemen) have drawn attention to their grievances by the threat or practice of industrial action, Presumably the Army is next on the list Such an emergency cannot be ignored and I am told that there is a contingency plan, or knock-for-knock agreement, whereby the National Fire Service will undertake bomb dis- posal. They cannot of course use Wheelbarrow or other complex equipment for which lengthy training is essential and which could be dangerous in inexpert hands. However, simpler equipment, now in mothballs, could be issued from War Reserve. This is Wheelbarrow Mk I (or Green- finger), which consists of the ordinary garden wheelbarrow on which could be placed a portable TV s e t Carping critics have suggested that this equipment would be useless, but surely it is better than nothing, and would be invaluable in the case of false alarms or hoaxes which make up a high proportion of EOD incidents. A. H. Fernyhough. CORPS RUGBY FOOTBALL FROM LIEUTENANT COLONEL N. S. BRUCE. Dear Sir,—I am requested from time to time to keep ex- Corps Rugby players who have left the service up to date with the progress of rugby in the Corps. I think that many of your readers will be interested in my latest letter which outlines some of the difficulties that the Corps are facing in its fight to produce a rugby team worthy of the RAOC, Perhaps some of your readers would support the argument that in this time of overstretch and productivity agreements the time has come to withdraw from major sporting events. I would suggest that true sportsmen, be they gladiators or keen club members, never take this defeatist line. We must return to first principles and maintain the quality of life for the soldier which includes amongst other essential things, the time to play sport. As requested here is the latest news on Corps Rugby. Please exeme me if I paint a gloomy picture but after being beaten by the Gunners, Pay Corps and the Engineers, the latter beating us by forty eight points to nil f it is hardly surprising. I was asked to become a Corps selector this year and naturally I said yes, let's face it the odd Wednesday watching my favourite game and then joining the lads for a beer after- wards is a pretty good way of escaping from the 'In' tray. The enjoyment at the moment is being suppressed by the know- ledge to both myself and the players that we can, in fact, produce a far better team and win our matches. I maintain that it is not for the lack of talent, morale or effort that the team is losing but because the Committee is not receiving the support that it deserves from some units. Players are not being released from their place of duty to play for their Corps. Consequently instead of fielding the best possible team from first choice players our selection has been reduced in certain positions to second and third choices. From this situation it is inevitable that players reach the conclusion that sport is no longer considered essential for the morale of the soldier let alone assisting him to keep fit to fight You will realise that because we do not always have the players we want and that their availability fluctuates, there is no chance of moulding the team into an excellent combination* My feelings also go out to the players who are deprived of earning their Corps Colours. It is also embarrassing and annoy- ing when Army selectors attend to watch players who have failed to turn up because of non release. Well that's the situation so far this season and I don't need to remind you that it is at least nine years since we have beaten REME. I feel the time has come to take stock, either we put the fun back into soldiering and work hard and play hard or else we stop trying to compete in a league where it is plainly evident that we require our top players to be released to have a chance of even matching our opponents. I am sorry for such a gloomy resume but there is no hiding the facts. Look forward to seeing you at the Army\Navy game on Saturday 4th March. Norman Bruce, THERE was other correspondence in this vein. Readers who follow these pages will know that the Corps is doing well in most sports though the Rugby Report on page 209 of the December GAZETTE was indeed depressing and in spite of some optimism showing through, the losing pattern has unfortunately, continued. However, there are always, at least, two sides to every issue and I hope that in this instance* the right to reply will be exercised.—Editor. Report ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL THE CORPS EARX A FIXE DRAW AGAINST THE SAPPERS RE—2 RAOC—2 THE annual match against the Sappers was played at Chatham on 18th November in cold but sunny conditions. Both teams were weakened with the absence of their Army players, but the standard of play was extremely high and the sporting manner in which the game was played was a great credit to both sides. The Sappers dominated play during the first half and only the superb goal-keeping of Horner and the determined tackling of Dagnell and Langley stopped the opposition scoring a hatful before the interval. In the event, a lone goal by the opposing striker in the forty first minute was the only score in the first half. The Corps found their true form early in the second half and Crouch and Whitehead went near to scoring after excel- lent work at the back from Ruddick and Longfield. It was entirely against the run of play that the Sappers scored their second in the sixtieth minute when their speedy wing broke away from inside his own half to score a fine individual go ah In the seventieth minute both teams brought on substitutes and Sutcliffe from COD Bicester made his presence felt with a superbly taken goal only a few minutes after stepping onto the field. This was the signal for RAOC to mount considerable pressure on the Sapper defence and after Whitehead, Hussey and Cheeseman had all gone near, Langley levelled the scores with a well judged low volley into the corner of the net. Overall, this was a fine performance by a comparatively in- experienced Corps team. Langley, as ever, was superb in mid field whilst Ruddick and Longfield were a formidable barrier at the back. Whitehead too, had a good game in this his last appearance as a soldier. We wish him luck as a driver with the National Bus Company. The Corps team was: Lance Corporal Horner (CVD Ash- church), Lance Corporal Longfield (COD Donnington), Private Smith (7 Field Force Ordnance Company), Lance Corporal Hussey, Lance Corporal Gardiner (CAD Bramley), Corporal Cheeseman, Lance Corporal Dagnell, Lance Corporal Ruddick, Lance Corporal Langley, Lance Corporal Taylor, Private White- head, Private Crouch, Private SutclifTe (COD Bicester). — 241 — |
| Book number | R0246a |