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RAOC Gazette - page 29

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1978
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Early date 1978
Late date 1978
Transcription set sail for Richmond, Yorkshire. As Wembicy was on route
they managed the England v Italy football match. Team morale
was high after the result Sergeant Dennis Price and Corporal
Pete Sharpe made up the team. tBnglands team? No you fool
the canoe team).
The football and hockey teams are running neck and
neck to break their league ducks, played four, lost four,
played five, lost five respectively. The rugby team are keep-
ing their results secret. A moment of pride on the sporting
scene being the soccer team's four to one win over 5 Field
Force Ordnance Company in the OFP/Ordnance Company
Cup 1st round. Willie Williamson and Tony Cope scoring
a brace apiece. Demands for tickets for the second round
should be made to the Duty Clerk.
Not content with their trip to Munster, the footballers
have now drawn to play in Berlin in the 2 Division Cup second
round. We managed a very tight bye in the first. I shall be
reporting the result second hand next month, as only seventeen
can make the trip, which is the exact number in a football team,
I am reliably informed (he means it).
Our farewells this month are limited to Lieutenant Alex
Sturdy to the Depot (Higgins will follow). Lance Corporal
Mitch Mitchell to Bicester. Lance Corporal Derek Roberts to
Ashchurch. Lance Corporal Steve Sugden to Cyprus.
We welcome Privates Kevin Bellerby and Melvin Bellamy
(who would be an Orderly Room Clerk). Lance Corporal Marv
Walden, Lance Corporal Rick White and Private Cliff Conway,
Congratulations to Lance Corporal Dennis and Julie Baldwin
on the birth of son Edward.
This month we highlight the MT, No one else does, so
say your piece lads.
To most of the Ordnance Company, Mechanised Transport
is the place where applications for transport are refused. Little
do they realise that Mechanised Transport are heavily com-
mitted to details for soccer, rugby, cross country, running, canoe-
ing and skiing. We use the sports afternoon for PRE prepara-
tion, daily details and making a fleet of one hundred vehicles the
pride of the company. Ah it's an easy life. So much so
that an extension of the working day from twenty three hours
to twenty four hours has been requested by all.
Second Lieutenant Paul Wilson, the MTO, aided by his
chief henchman, Staff Sergeant Ron Bridgmount, ensures that
time spent in Mechanised Transport will be an experience to
remember,
Corporal Ollie Barrel I in charge of servicing is now known
as the man from the pit. Lance Corporal Taff Rees, as details
clerk, obstinately refuses to have a nervous breakdown before
Christmas, despite the efforts of drivers Andy Lavender, Steve
Manning and David Kelsall, none of whom can speak Welsh,
Lance Corporals Dave Ferguson and Colin Cowling en-
sure that drivers working in the Vehicle Park lose all track
of time as they hurry from, one task to another. Cries of
laughter can be heard as these two NCOs read through
drivers applications for leave. The story that Driver Taff Miles,
when told to jack a vehicle up for a detail, took the wheels off
is only half true, he could not find the brace.
Privates Tony Cope, Tony Oliver, Bruce Bryant and Willy
Wills have bought a canoe, as a spare time activity? Good
luck lads. Please come back.
This hard pressed, job a minute, empire is supported by a
jack and the skills of our ever present REME detachment led
by Sergeant Dougie Czeschel who was last seen trying to ex-
plain to Lance Corporal Taffi Foster that yon cannot kick a
puncture to effect the repair, despite Corporal Pat Donovan
nodding in the background while Craftsman Taff Marriott is
not sure who to believe,
that half our soldiers didn't exist. The Staff Paymaster came
and checked out the Pay Sergeant, Stu Shaw, and the PR[ ( ^
both are still no nearer their trip to the Bahamas!), and finally,
2 Armoured Division Ordnance Company came and knocked
the spots off our football team, winning four to one. Private
1
Shaggy' Shadbolt opened his mouth so wide the Referee
considered him a danger to shipping and sent him off.
We also had a Smokers Concert where a guitar playing
singer who retained his clothes, proved more popular than three
young ladies who startetd their acts with little more than the
bare essentials and then promptly proceeded to prove that
even these were unnecessary. So Bold! Still it proved a profit-
able adventure for the PR!—but contrary to popular rumour
the NAAFI doesn't give stamps with strippers.
This seems to be the silly season as far as courses are con-
cerned, We have had people on education—Corporals Jimmy
James and Kev Sault, who both were eighty per cent success-
ful.
Corporal James then went off to Bracht with Lance
Corporals Pete Learmonth, Ben Gunn and Graeme McDonald
for their RPC. It was noted that it seems to be a lot warmer
down there as they all seemed to have lots of hair removed.
To finish with: the various events that keep the Part Two
Order Clerk, Lance Corporal Bob Vallelly, in work. He had to
publish both his own and Corporal Barry Jones' promotions for
which congratulations are in order. He also struck off strength
Lance Corporals Jim Eccleson and * Mac' McDonald ACC to
Donnington and Edinburgh respectively. Last but not least we
welcome Lance Corporal Andy Knowks and Privates Dennis
Dominey ACC and Phil Handley.
PS. Do any of our readers know where we can obtain
a bayonet to fit a .22 rifle? Or would it be easier to declare
the RAPC a non-combatant Corps?
4th Division

1
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HEADQUARTERS RAOC
THE Christmas season approaches, and,
by the time these notes go to print will
be but a memory. The festive spirit
seems to have penetrated with AG9 and
Records a little early this year, with
posting orders 1 being cast in all directions.
L
Chuff Charts are springing up every-
where, with mutterings of ' sixteen and
^
counting/ * thirteen and an early break-
fast ' emanating from dark little corners.
Despite the levity there are some of us under strain.
Sergeants Green and Vowles, the FAMTO and FATSO
Sergeants, are busily trying to consolidate the holdings of our
shortly-to-be restructured Divisional Headquarters and Signal
Regiment.
Sergeant Knight and Corporal Parkes, in AQ
Operations, are also bemoaning their fate. Despite the draw-
ing in of the nights, the dropping temperatures, the pouring
rain and the proximity of the festive season they have been
deployed on exercise Mizzen Mast. The thawing out process
was a difficult and painful one, but they are now quite
recovered.
Lance Corporal Edingborough has left us on discharge, to
return shortly to Australia and Corporal Quin is in Canada
with BATUS for six months- Sergeant Hall is spending sleep-
less nights trying to pacify his new baby, and study for his
ONC in Business Studies. Sergeant Reardon is due a posting
to 15 Field Workshop and WOl Callaghan, our DOWO, leaves
us shortly on commissioning. Congratulations are also due
to Private Bradley on his promotion to Lance Corporal.
We wish you all a Happy Restructured New Year,
6 ORDNANCE FIELD PARK
5 Field Force Ordnance Company
THE visit of Major General Cornock accompanied by Briga-
dier Macdonald combines with our second and final unit move
^^^^^
WE failed to appear
as the most important event of the month. No one is quite
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in print last month,
certain as to which caused the most circling at high altitude,
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This can only be at-
but there is no doubt that for all of us, the most important
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tributed to the fact
event could be considered to be the founding of our new
^ V / £ r a £ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ - t ^ a t t n e author of these
Unit Club and the stampede to empty the first free barrel.
^ E S M E ? ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
notes
was
so
taken
All are now waiting for the official opening.
w
I Q S S E O ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
^ k ^ e appearance
The sporting scene was, however, carefully preserved during
the move with the soccer team playing and losing their last
KJJJSS^^^^
of the formation sign
^^^^
over
the
previous
game of this year's Divisional Cup. Still they live to fight
months notes, he sat and looked at it in awe instead of putting
in other competitions, including the DOS Cup. The rugby team
pen to paper.
is on the up and up with three consecutive wins in a row in-
We have had our share of visits and inspections. The
cluding 20 Ordnance Field Park! The Divisional Badminton
Deputy Inspector Lieutenant Colonel Ellis came in October and
League is also well under way with a win and a defeat
inspected everything. The BAOR Docs team came and proved
recorded. On the squash courts the Officer Commanding and
258 —
Book number R0246a