RAOC Gazette - page 16
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 |
Departed for the delights of Hong Kong are Sergeant Murray and Corporal Matthews and their families having duly ,old their umbrellas and wellies. Planning and Administration. OIC Planning and Ad- ministration was gazing out of his window through the rain contemplating the pile of rubble which had until recently been the Strathearn Hotel, a landmark which had overlooked the Depot since the first Stores Shed was raised, and had served as an Officers Mess, Sergeants Mess and Sandes Home for generations of soldiers—now reduced to a pile of bricks by a terrorist incendiary. Staff Sergeant Bob Watson, the Chief Clerk interrupted his reverie, " It's the Administration and Planning turn to be under u the spotlight," he said, and oh, did T tell you I have been posted to Hong Kong?" A low groan from Corporal Tony Leech newly arrived, buried in A in U, T of E and MT, he raised his eyes to heaven and submerged himself in a 1 pile of ledgers. *' You could mention the Technical Inspection.' OIC P and A back from yet another weekend * across the water' looked up, " I think," he said, " we should mention the people who make it all possible; the civilians in the department who count their Depot service in decades, the storemen, fitters and drivers in the Unit Garage and Yard who keep the wheels turn- ing. the Traffic and Freight Section, the civilian patrolmen and dog handlers, the ladies in the Orderly Room and Typing Pool, the Gardener, Painter and Carpenter and do not forget the Cleaners. We cannot mention their names, but those who have served in the Depot will remember them—for there have been few changes. We must also mention our RPC soldiers who guard our gates, keep the Depot immaculate and 1 drive the MHE and of course the Royal Signals bleeps. ' He stopped, " OK Staff, can you do something on those lines?" OIC Planning and Administration returned to his reverie. Eastern District JL . ^§% $fe? J^Sk J V J A ^ v P ^ ^ * ) / TJ^=^^jMf ^ ^ — ^ y y§^^=^3 6c[_____3§ h£* "~^A l^ ^\ THE fire emergency is so much with us days t n a t scarcely any of our regulars are kft t o on * er m e ' r GAZETTE contributions. Majors Carl Dicker and Derek Markham, for instance, are serving as AFLOs in IpS- wich and Lincoln respectively. However, Carl was both seen and heard on a tele- vision interview for Anglia TV local news; n e iS reported as appearing purposeful, cogent and very good-looking. And that's quite enough about Carl, Major Tony Rowe becomes an ersatz Q Operations Officer as the occasion demands, fully aware that this is an opportunity for a young, or even not so young, officer to carve his name with pride. WOl 'Alfie' Barlow is often to be found in the Headquarters Operations Room; WOI Len Benton is stand- ing by for duty in Northampton; W02 Bob Hubbard is on tenterhooks; others not mentioned should be credited with a heightened sense of immediacy. Captain Bob Stafford-Curtis, with his promotion exam safely behind him, is preparing to handover as OC Supply Depot next month and then to travel to Belize for sub-aqua training. It is not clear how Bob manages all his jaunts and naturally he plays things very close to the snorkel, Despite a cartilage operation, which meant he missed the initial hectic period of the emergency—not to mention the England v Italy soccer match—the DFA f Mr Bill Crawshaw, is now on his feet and back in the fray. Of course, he may not play football again but when you're pushing fifty this is not such a blow. While Bill was in hospital, Jim Rollo, SFSO I from Headquarters DGOS, joined us temporarily. So far as fire advice goes, we have never had it so good. AIDU (East), located here in Colchester, does not often get a mention so it is pleasant to report that WOl Peter Crick, of the Nottingham detachment was recently presented with the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal by CATO UKLF, Lieutenant Colonel Archer. Staff Sergeant Gavin Bailey, partnered by Sergeant Phil Gadsen of the Headquarters, reached the final of the Squash Team Championships at Black- down. And, lastly, the Unit was visited by the GOC Eastern District, Major General Watson who was shown round by the ATO, Captain Trevor Wilson. RAOC Stores Section 27 Field Regiment Workshop in Ulster "HAVE you written it yet?" he asked breathlessly. "Haven't had time with PRE o n " I replied—actually I'd forgotten all about it, so here goes; a minor epic of six stout yeomen of England defending the motherland against Johnny Turk—oops, sorry—wrong war, About six months ago the Commanding Officer of 27, decided he needed some professional help in his coming tour of the Emerald Isle, so, naturally, we six volunteered (who wouldn't when faced with an eight inch howitzer!), we six being Staff Sergeant Alan Hunter, Corporal Trevor Hallett, Lance Corpora] Tom Kyle and Privates Andy Hull, Gary Shipley and Phil Plowman. While Trevor, Andy and Gary practiced being commis- sionaires with the Long Kesh Gate Troop (with the aid of several REME and RA types), Phil was the only real hero of the team. He served with 1st (Lemon) Troop of 6 Field (The Guard Battery) RA, whose main claim-to-fame is' having survived since 1743 without doing anything noteworthy. Like the rest of us at Kesh, he's done the usual round of VCP's, searches, patrols, etc, ad infinitum, but being with ' shiny six' he's done more than most, poor lad. By the way, congratula- tions to him on his wedding next July to Cathy. Meanwhile back at the main gate the three guardians of Bog Lane were hard } in the running for the GPO's 'most letters delivered in a month award, and as they can supply no further information, that's all I can say about them. Through all this Alan was growing his hair and doing impressions of Franco Zefferelli in his role of assistant PRO. Now a qualified marksman on the video camera, he's kept the periodical films between pads going, done marvels with the 1 27 News' (watch out CORPS GAZETTE !) and dented the door of 1 his * spy' Land Rover on a motorcyclists head. Which brings me, last but not least, to Tom. When the Commanding Officer picked his six best he men- tioned FAMTO in relation to Tom. Now, as then, Tom can be seen leaping around lower Maze shouting "FAMTO What's that?" or words to that effect. Having smashed the 3 Brigade record for 06 demands, blown up the Portadown comcem by sending eighteen signals at once, and keeping the QM in fits of laughter (a break here for a conversation: BOO 3 Bdex "Who's this lunatic doing one hundred and fifty demands a week? Some * ! ? * Gunner I expect?" QM 27 Fd RA: "No, he's RAOC!"). He's still not been mentioned in despatches, but equally he's still trying. (QM: Very trying). — tnese Captain Trevor Wilson shows the COC some of the tricks of the trade. 19 Airportable Ordnance Field Park LIFE has certainly been quite hectic just recently (since the departure of Lieutenant Harry North, even the subalterns have had to work hard). A short deployment exercise in the local Friday Wood, raised the wrath of the OC Major Manuel who subsequently took the unit to ' sunny' Thetford for a thoroughly successful exercise. During the course of the week we practised infantry tactics which, although quite a change from our normal role, was undertaken with great enthusiasm and provided invaluable lessons to all. Captain John Withers and the merry men in the Stores Section (which sadly we may be losing command of again), must be thanked for providing a most realistic enemy. At the moment we have a large detach- ment of personnel on Exercise Avon Express which combined with fifteen potential firemen, a glut of normal duties and 245 — |
| Book number | R0246a |