RAOC Gazette - page 55
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 |
TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT DIVISION DONNtNGTON THERE is nothing unique these days in having soldiers carry- ing out fire fighting duties, but that is no reason why ours should not be worthy of mention. Sergeant Colin Knight is one of our frustrated firemen at the moment; he says that every time he goes off duty the alarm belt rings or else they are turned back before reaching the scene of the fire. Sergeant Steve Swales, Corporals Brian Wilkes and Gypo Walters are the members of our other team, and they have had more excite- ment. Their biggest fire was at a shoe repair shop, and be- cause of the size of the fire another Green Goddess had to attend the conflagration. They have also been called to put out chimney and rubbish tip fires. We are happy to be able to report that Corporal Dick Parkinson has been granted acting rank. We thought that Captain Brian Nimmick's relief had al- ready arrived when we saw a Captain with a striking resemblance to Brian drifting around the corridors of F l ; We thought he had a double. Our joy was short lived, for we soon realised that it was Brian after all. He does look different, however, ladies, and really quite handsome now with his newly shaped proboscis. Headquarters of the Directorate of One or two favoured personages from Technical Equipments Division were invited to attend this year's DGOS's Study Period. Supply Management (Army) We wondered why Lieutenant Colonel John Gentle was so S MAN 1 keen to go, and most uncharitably we thought it was because He had forty two boxes all carefully packed, Colonel Lloyd Davies had had an invitation, or even, as some With his name clearly printed on each, thought, he wanted an excuse to miss the RAOC Association But, since he omitted to mention the fact; dance. It was not until his return that we realised our mistake; They were all left behind on the beach, Colonel Gentle only wanted to go so that he could see at first Lewis Carroll—Hunting of the Snark. hand what a fine job Corporal Mick Earthy was doing back- stage at the Study Period. We hope that Mick does not succumb THE ' move * from London to Andover did not l result in any of to the delights of Blackdown and delay his return for he is the boxes succumbing to the fate of those in the Snark'—much badly needed back in Communications Branch to help with the to the relief of the security officer. All the grey and terra- issue of one or two radio sets. They do seem to be making a cotta boxes, and there were considerably more than forty two fuss about radios in Communications Branch these days. We of them, arrived safely in Andover to be stacked in piles— think they are called Clansman or something like that; perhaps reminiscent of the North Face of the Eiger. They were then a few Scotsmen would help. But what's in a name, and after all taken away with much speed—it was near five o'clock—to S Man Vs new homes. S Man la and the Colonel S Man 1— radios are supposed to be their business. Colonel J. R, Liveing—are installed in what is euphemistically It's so nice to have that wanted feeling now and again and described as the Lower Ground Floor of the Main Building. to feel part of the family. We all know how busy the COD is Well, we could see the sun—if it ever stops raining and the fog these days with Fair Value and all that stuff, and we do like clears—by peering upwards at right-angles with one's neck to be able to help out. We hope, however, that we are not pressed hard against the window. S Man lb, on the other hand, going to be accused of making a takeover bid for the Officers live in antiseptic conditions in Block 66 a few hundred yards Mess Committee. Communications Branch now fill the three away. With them, on detached duty is Major John Baker (Retd) posts of PMC, Assistant PMC and Entertainments Member. and S Man la(l). It's all very convivial. Those who are Engineers Branch were basking in reflected glory the other required to wear uniform do so, and your correspondent can no week for the Shropshire Star did a half page feature on the longer claim to be working in some remote corner of First COD, and there was the Commandant, standing feet astride, Avenue House in a civilianised branch when things appear a bit arms akimbo, and obviously omnipotent, photographed amidst hectic. a sea of DMHE. It gave Engineers Branch quite a fillip to On the subject of uniform, the last word must be mentioned know that so much was thought of some of the equipments regarding berets—which rather than being an exhausted topic they manage, and to think that if they had got rid of all those of conversation is one of great novelty to persons so newly fork-lift trucks that Planning Branch wanted, then the Com- back in uniform. Among distinctive styles recognised are the mandant would not have had that imposing backdrop. ' Basque Onion Seller/ the * Flemish Painter * and the * plate Perhaps the lack of news from Weapons Branch puzzles or look' of the beret newly issued from stores. even worries some of our readers. Let's put their minds at rest The bachelor element amongst the Executive Officers have all by saying that it is not just that they never seem to do any- settled down well in the country, having bought or rented thing, but also because tie military strength is only four and houses in the area, Mr Paul Henson of S Man la(3) now lives they are all Officers, and everyone knows that Officers like to in Tidworth overlooking an Engineer Regiment's lines. It be kept out of the limelight. has come as a bit of a shock to him to see the equipments he The annual Christmas Draw in aid of Children's Homes in looks after being so roughly dealt with. John Bentiey and Ian the Telford area was held as usual in Building Fl, and was Blakesley having forsaken the pubs of London are now look- again very ably organised by Mr Frank Emms of Forms and ing for a reasonable local brew. From latest reports John Publications. Seventy seven fine prizes were donated and they Bentley's quest has so far been unsuccessful although Ian seems came from just about every building or department within the to have discovered somewhere called the White Horse, where Depot. The sale of tickets raised £680 for the Handicapped the ceilings are so low that those who feel unsteady can jam Children's Homes of this area. their heards hard up against the roof in an effort to retain No doubt there will be a much fuller report on the dance stability. of the Donnington Branch of the RAOC Association else- S MAN 2 where, but we would like to compliment the Chairman of the Episode 8. A new era begins Association Captain Jock Forrest (Retd) of Publications Scaling In our last episode, we were just about to move to Andover Agency for organising such an enjoyable evening. —Well we made it all in one piece. Those last few words have particular significance as in Building 200 where we are in LE(A) we have almost the whole branch in one corridor which Training Centre makes us the odd men out. Sad to relate that there were no CENTRAL VOLUNTEER HEADQUARTERS good tales of the move (save the- fact that the truck broke THE corridors of power are rather empty at present, with down in London); perhaps it was because certain members of the nearly all the staff of Headquarters, both officers and soldiers, branch were not with us but at the DGOS Study Period in- assisting in the current fire fighting emergency. stead, including Colonel John Skinner, who gave the presentation on "Towards a Logistic Corps???" With perhaps all the preplanning for the 1978 training year completed, Captains Burrow and Rowland and WOl Hendry the We have had many changes in personnel especially among RSM are looking rather smug and cheerful We hope it's a good the civilian staff and during the next few months we will intro- year! duce them to all. very successfully. His deputy is Staff Sergeant John Worrall who has been in the branch since March 1977. Soon after arriving •he DM(A) presented him with the BEM which he was awarded in the 1977 New Years Honours List whilst serving in Head- quarters Rhine Area. The last military member is the SPSO's clerk, Sergeant Tony Grace, who has been with us since Sep- tember 1976. Many readers will be interested to know that the civilian staff still includes Mrs Kate Hall and Mrs Triss Barnett who have been in the branch for eleven and eight years respectively and still think of many of the Corps' senior officers as sub- alterns and captains! The other members are Mrs Jenny James who has been with us for four years, Mrs Rose Heame and Mr John Black. Now you know our names perhaps telephoning AG9 will seem less daunting. A lot of our work is done on the tele- phone and we are always pleased to see anyone who cares to make the trip out to Stanmore, so that we are able to put a face to the name. Next lime we write we will try and include a slaff photograph, but it might frighten you off! 281 — |
| Book number | R0246a |