RAOC Gazette - page 58
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 |
The prayers of the Buddhist monk were answered by the first ever win by our rugby team who finally managed to steamroller the opposition. The few broken bones and numerous bruises now seem more worthwhile to our gladiators. Another victory has left the football team in a comfortable mid-table position and looking for better things in the New Year. Meanwhile the hockey team continues to do well having only one league defeat so far this season. Congratulations to Lance Corporal Horsman on obtain- ing an *A* grade on the Packing and Preservation course he recently attended and to W02 Crosland on the award of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Congratulations also to Lance Corporal McKinnon on his recent marriage to Miss Caroline Stewart. We wish them every happiness for the future. We welcome Corporal Thomson, Privates Glynn and Smith who have been issued with their Northern Ireland Specialist Kit (Umbrella and Wellies), Farewell to Corporal Morea and family who have gone to Hong Kong and to Privates Hammond, Holland and Wed- lock who have returned to civilian life, This month we feature PC and A who produced the following: During October /November we finally made the big time headlines through the medium of the "Visor" (Northern Ireland's News Service), We were accused in print by the Second Battalion Coldstream Guards of issuing Bowls Horse/ Mule Feeding, instead of bowls hand washing, After an emergency investigation we weie able to answer their DR with: We all know the story of the ** Coldstream " mules, Writing to the Visor to make us look fools, But after a check, when over our fright, We found what they got was really alright, Bowls wash they wanted, Bowls wash they got, Once called Bowls Feed—or had they forgot? Mules also wanted, but alas no can do, What would you have for an " issue in lieu" Within days of the article appearing in the news the Commanding Officer Second Battalion Coldstream Guards received by " special delivery," not by mule train it is hastened to add, one missing ** mini" mule, plus fodder (used as pack- ing material in transit), with our compliments. As a result of promotion Corporal Kevin (Adolf) Lewis was transferred (?) from Group 2 (Mechanised Transport Stores) to Group 5 (Technical Stores) and placed under the watchful eye of the rugby playing, raffle arranging, course partaking Sergeant Bob Brien, who shortly departs on three weeks hard earned leave. North East District THERE is a laxge board boldly headed 4 Senior Ordnance Officers Northern Com- mand* which in the fashion of a memorial plaque, dominates our CRAOC's office. The list kicks off with the years 1877— 1831 when a Lieutenant Colonel A. H. Young rejoiced under the title of Senior Ordnance Stores Officer (SOSO?). The subsequent years up to 1904 were a lottery of ranks from Colonel to an Honorary Captain and then things picked up, reaching a plateau of Brigadiers (there's a nice phrase for you) from 1939 to 1972. Now it seems that the wheel has turned full circle and we are back a century later, to a humble Lieutenant Colonel. If any young officer aspires to the job then may we suggest aiming for 1992—it should be a very good year! DGOS visited us during early December and accompanied by a much bereted CRAOC he embarked on a whistle stop tour of some of our Ordnance units. In particular we were very pleased that he and Mrs Callan were able to visit 50 Ordnance Support Battalion (V) at Middlesbrough where Lieutenant Colonel Ron Daniels and his staff organized a very good dis- play of the Unit at work and play. General Callan presented well deserved Efficiency Medals to Sergeant Slattery and Corporal Crone. Unbeknown to the recipient he also had a Territorial Decoration for Major Barton who commands the Leeds Company. This lack of previous announcement safely ensured that George was improperly dressed and thus liable for the first round in the Mess. We were also able to hold a small gathering of the clan, courtesy of Major Jim Mangham, at Barlow Officers Mess. This was a most successful evening apart from that inevitable incident during any visit by senior officers when something goes wrong. Who told CRAOC that Selby Bridge never closes at night? In the field of human achievements our previous CRAOC, David Wisdom, celebrated his last day in the Army by taking his car round a ninety degree bend at forty five degrees. The subsequent difference of opinion with an oak tree which declined to give way put the car BR. As Monica told us, ' on his last day of flying he wrote off an aircraft so this was the least I could expect * Colonel Wisdom is now warmly ensconced in a Retired Officer post at Catterick. Just before Christmas, Headquarters RAOC held a Luncheon at the Edinboro Arms. Major Joe Padley did an excellent job of organizing it right down to a seating plan which placed him next to our youngest lady guest. Perhaps he thinks we didn't notice. We did. DOWO also discovered that he is no longer our youngest member and spent the rest of the day trying to look very senior. Major John Hambly has left us for Hong Kong and pro- motion. He obviously put both hands in the lucky dip. Captain John Dale has reluctantly bought a new car, put his country before himself and gone to Dulmen. W02 Ron Moore is making similar sacrifices and packing for Berlin. Our best wishes go with all of them. Welcome to Major George Ash- croft who has taken the chair in Combat Supplies and is still looking for his predecessors handover notes—perhaps he took them with him? South West District ALL THOSE, who on receiving their GAZETTE, immediately turn to the " Wyvern " sign, will in future only see an entry every other month. Although disappointed for one month, the following issue will contain all the latest gossip from sleepy Taunton and its environs. Our squash team had mixed fortunes at the championships. We were knocked out of the Inter-Unit in the first round. However, Captain Simpson reached the Quarter-Final of the Open and to everyone's delight Private Maclean was runner up in the U-19 Championship. The last two months has been high-lighted by three occasions. Firstly, WOl Elstob received his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal from General Lyon, GOC South West District. We all congratulate him on those many years of undetected crime. After forty six years* service to the Army, Mr Gerry Mist finally retired on 16th November. He first joined in 1931 and after demob in 1946 he rejoined the Civil Service. In 1962 he was posted to the TMP at Taunton where he has served for the last fifteen years. He has retired locally and we all look forward to seeing him from time to time in the Taunton area* At his final presentation his colleagues gave him a splendid decanter and glasses, Colonel Carruthers made the presentation at the TMP, which was virtually his last social occasion at Taunton. He has now left for Leicester and we have welcomed Colonel Bromham. Major Duncan has arrived to take over the post of Staff Captain (Accommodation Services) temporarily held by Mr Ron Hart. We thank him for his hard work. He has returned to Barrack Services Taunton—a journey of at least thirty yards. Maureen Hill held her farewell party one lunchtime only to be told during the afternoon that she is staying until March. *' Maureen you owe us!" We wish all our fans the best of luck and nice postings in the New Year. Eastern District THE fire emergency of course continues to involve most of the Headquarters Ordnance Branch staff day by day. Our farflung LOs, Majors Dicker and Markham and WOl Benton, re-appear at Colchester from time to time as front-line circumstances permit and travel claims demand. We were pleased to welcome COO UKLF, Brigadier Smith, who paid us a two day visit in mid December. Brigadier Smith met some of the senior District staff officers at a lunch given in Headquarters Mess and spent the remainder of his visit on a tour round most of the District Ordnance units, with CRAOC, Lieutenant Colonel David Venning, Captain Bob StafTord-Curtis, who should have been away to Belize for sub-aqua training, did not in fact go for obvious reasons. So Bob was able to hand-over as OC Supply Depot — 284 — |
| Book number | R0246a |