RAOC Gazette - page 69
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 |
ouild still have their annual 'shin-dig' in the Sergeants Mess. jolly good night it was too. During the month the Battalion hosted representatives from , her NATO countries attending the NATO Ammunition Experts I onference which was held in the Grey Room at Pombsen. Rumour has it that Captain Barltrop, our Canadian Exchange Officer, will have no difficulty finding a replacement when he is due to leave us. 43 Company (the fighting 43rd) have been holding their own on the sports field (again) by winning two of the three games ihey have played in the Minor Units Triangular League. Per- haps it's something to do with the fact that they have now moved back to Barker Barracks. Major Knipe, OC 44 Company, will insist on making loud ? oises about Staff Clerks, Diaries, Year Planners and such ; nngs. So far we have managed to keep calm and look after him as best we can. I wonder if his forthcoming promotion and posting to Headquarters 1 (BR) Corps have anything to do with it. The highlight of 49 Company's activities must be the OC*s visit to RAOC Manning and Records Office. It must have been a successful visit as there seems to have been a sharp reduction in the number of queries at the Orderly Room. 49 Company Officers and SNCOs together with families were also invited to the Wienachbazar run by Kompanie 3 Panzer Aufklg Battalion 7 at Augustdorf. They all came back uiden with festive knick knacks and beer steins. It was kept very quiet too. There is still no positive news of the Company moving to Obernkirchen. Perhaps a reader who is in a position to make the final decision could come to their aid, Pride of place in the Battalion this month must go to Captain Geoff Tillotson as we congratulate him on being awarded a Mention-in-Despatch following his EOD tour in Northern Ireland. We have said our usual sad farewells this month but must • nention the departure of our WRVS representative who leaves as without replacement. She will be sadly missed in Barker Barracks. A Happy New Year to all our readers. 5 Field Force Ordnance Company ^^^^ ^^H*|fr^^^^ ^^Enjj£^^^^^^^_ ^BK3j£^^^^^^^^^^»_ ^KSKff^^^^^^^^^H^^^^^ THE month began with a long cold trip through the snow, at midnight, on a Sunday. Our destination? The ^ K S U E Z ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ snowy hills around Win- WEjES&J^^^^^^^^^^^^^ terberg. Our Mission? ^2E^£S^^^^^^ A five day escape and ^^^^^ evasion exercise. The result? Enough stories to start a series of books along the " Vet" lines! Like the time CSM Ian Drew and Sergeant Eric Hunter (well, he had to be on the side of law and order) sitting at a level crossing saw the fugitive face of Corporal Tom Stevenson peering out of the last coach of the passing goods train. A hectic chase in the Keystone Kops tradition followed—at one stage the Goodies were at either end of a tunnel and the train in the middle. Another episode involved the Second in Command Captain Jim Morgan navigating and OIC Admin, driving, over some very rough terrain. The snow was pretty deep but even this intrepid pair were surprised to find a couple of girls on skis round one bend. The next bend was even more surprising as a fully operational ski-lift complete with hundreds of skiers appeared immediately in front of them! Faced with the option of going back or going down the ski run, Lieutenant Ian Quarrier opted for the latter. Now lan's not one to complain but, all the passengers decided to walk down rather than enjoy the ride. It was now the turn of the local populace to be surprised—after all, it's not everyday a Long Wheel Base FFR Land Rover enters a Giant Slalom! Then again it's not every day that a Land Rover gets the silver medal for second fastest time of the day! Similar episodes could fill THE GAZETTE, so let us quickly mention a few outstanding performances. The Senior Squad of Staff Sergeant Wes Bolden and Sergeants John Matthews and Bill Farrant who blamed the number of times they were captured on the fact that Wes showed up so well against the snow. Lance Corporal Pete Learmonth for his persistent acts of bravery (?) when faced with capture. Lance Corporal Eddie Laws on and his gang who avoided capture for the 295 whole exercise. Finally, the White Stick Award goes to Corporal Stu Brooks and Lance Corporal Bill Morrow's squads who, by fair means or foul, got lost on day one and were not seen again till the exercise ended. The only trouble is we now have to provide them with guides at NAAFI Break! Other news this month seems to centre around the football team who have won twice. This is on a par with General Custer winning the home and away legs at Little Big Horn! The CSM has been away on leave so that may account for the successes, To round off with the Hatch, Match and Dispatch side. We said farewell to: Lieutenant Tom Briggs, Sergeants John Lealh and Terry Wellham and their families on various post- ings. To Privates Dave Bradwell, Mick Stott, Andy Girvan and Taffy Proctor all to Civvy Street, We have welcomed to the fold: Second Lieutenant Keith Sunderland fresh from his successful appearance as Queen's Colour Bearer at Sand- hurst. Staff Sergeant Ray Brooks and family who came just in time for Christmas. Corporal Danny Cullen and Private Dennis Dominey our new cooks. Lance Corporals Andy Knowles and " Syl" Sylvester plus families. Private Phil Handley, weary after his long trip from Wulfen and Corporal Bob Cox at long last back from BATUS. To Corporal and Mrs John Pensom many congratulations on the birth of their son Richard John. To them and all our readers we wish the very best for 1978. Corps Troops West HEADQUARTERS RAOC THIS month sees the departure from the Corps Troops West dependency of many RAOC Officers, NCOs and men whose units have officially disbanded in recent weeks. 7 Guided Missile Company and 36 Heavy Air Defence Regiment Workshop Stores Section have gradually reduced to the " Rear Elements *" which are now being posted away. Captain Dick Oldham of 7 Guided Missile Company has now left for Sandhurst and W02 McGill WOIC 36 Heavy Air Defence Workshop Stores Section for Colchester. To all mem- bers of both units we send our good wishes for the future and many thanks for their hard work in the past The Dortmund Branch of the RAOC Association held a most enjoyable party for the children of RAOC personnel in the Rickshaw Room of 86 Supply Depot. If the volume of laughter was any indication of the success of the venture it was well worth while and will no doubt be repeated. Father Christmas was well! The person best suited for the job. The organisers WOl Brant, W02 Ashdown and the ladies who helped are congratulated on a job well done. STORES PLATOON 22 AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT WORKSHOP THIS is our first GAZETTE notes since our arrival last month in BAOR. The movement of personnel and stores from the UK to Dortmund was successfully accomplished. We are now located in Napier Barracks. Since our arrival the place has been a hive of activity. Down in the stores compound, Corporals John Fryer, Steve Hall and Metcalfe and their teams of storemen are hard at work reorganising the stores and carrying out a pre-handover stock- take for the OC Workshop. A fair distance away, on the top floor of building 85 is the control office and the clerks under Staff Sergeant Kevin Ashworth. Something on the organisation of the Unit: The Platoon is divided into four sections, Headquarters, 42 Battery Section, 53 Battery Section and 11 Battery Section. Each section operates an independent account. The last three sections are geared to deploying in the field in support of their own particular battery sections. Our Officer Commanding is Captain Chris Bradley, who recently returned from*the Ordnance Officers Course. Smiling broadly these days is W02 Ray Candlin as he counts the days to his next posting to Headquarters AAC at Middle Wallop. Also in Headquarters is Corporal Joe O'Rourke in charge of the backloading bay; Lance Corporal Dave Shirley, Privates 'Lofty* Wilson, Steve Du Feu, John Fennell and Steve Edwards, the latest member to join the Unit. Sergeant Mick Stewart is in charge of 42 Battery Section. We welcome Mick from Donnington and congratulate him on his recent promotion. Also in his section are Corporal Colin 1 Metcalfe, Privates Ted Heath, Glenn Hodgkinson, 'Skippy Newman and George Laydon. Personalities in 53 and 11 Battery Sections will be included in our next GAZETTE notes. |
| Book number | R0246a |