RAOC Gazette - page 79
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 |
Lieutenant David Thompson who was in charge of the duty crews describes the scene; — We arrived in Deal at 1545 hours, after an exciting drive clown the motorway. The sight of the Green Goddesses on the sea front caused a lot of local interest as we made our way over the shingle with lights blazing, blue lights flashing and two tone horns sounding. The sea front looked like a disaster area. Typical of the damage was a ear standing in a living room, having smashed its way through a large double glazed french window. Within a very short time all crews were deployed to the flooded areas around Deal, Three crews were directed to the seafront where conditions were far from ideal. Two more were despatched to pump out houses and flooded roads. Conditions were so bad that two vehicles had to be extricated from deep shingle and thick slimy mud. At 2359 hours all crews were withdrawn to 41 Royal Marines Commando for a hot drink and rest. A force ten gale was expected with an over tide and at 0215 hours the crews were called out once again to man the pumps. Relief crews were despatched from Maidstone at 0800 hours the next day (Friday 13th). In the grey morning light the full extent of the damage could be seen—shingle strewn across the roads and piled up against the houses; boats ripped from their moorings and smashed like matchwood or tilted at crazy angles against houses on the sea front Lamp posts snapped off and lying on the ground, walls demolished, homes and gardens flooded. Such had been the fury of the storm. Fortunately the winds had abated and the work of mopping up could continue. From a mobile control office established in Alfred Square the Green Goddesses were directed to the badly flooded areas. Using both the main and lightweight pumps, thousands of gallons of water were pumped from gardens and cellars back into the sea or into the main drains. All day crews worked non stop T moving to a fresh location as each area was cleared. The local people, appreciative of the soldiers efforts came out with hot drinks and food and many crews were handed cigarettes and beer and the odd bottle of whisky. Pumping was continuous for twelve hours and despite the age of the appliances and equipment they never once let us down. The savings are tremendous, not only in the typing, but in "ie checking and amending at the receipt end- Briefs, scripts, vipers and the like can be retyped ad nausea but always the veil presented end product. Tell your boss, perhaps heMI get you one for Easier. The photograph shows Mrs Sue Kelly using the DAT1C 1,000, with Mrs Pat Williams and Captain Jim Houseman looking on. H I G H E S T G E R M A N FIRE SERVICE DECORATION FOR BAOR FIRE CHIEF •VT a ceremony held recently at Headquarters BAOR, the Com- mand Fire Adviser of BAOR, Major A. A. Humphries (Retd), GI Fire E was decorated with the Cross of Honour (Gold) of the Federation of German Fire Services by (he Chief Fire Officer of the Moenchengladbach Fire Service, Herr K. H. Fretloh, In presenting the Order to Major Humphries, Herr Fretloh said that it was the highest decoration of the German Fire Services, of which there were only a few recipients. This was also the first time that it had been awarded to a British officer or to any nationality other than German and it was therefore i token of the high regard in which Major Humphries was held for his efforts in furthering the technical co-operation between the British and German Fire Services during his present and previous tour of duty in BAOR. He had already been awarded the Cross of Honour (Silver) by the Federation of German Fire Services in 1975 and the additional award of the Gold Cross of Honour was therefore a unique distinction of which he and his service could be justly proud, Herr Frerlah presenting the Crass of Honour (Cold) to Major Humphries, with some of the officers of the Army Fire Service BAOR in the background. FROM FIRE TO FLOOD MAJOR BEET, of Training Systems Advisory Branch at Deep- cut, provided this interesting variation on the firefighting story. For the Mobile Fire Column stationed in Kent, Thursday, 12th January 1978, was eventful for two reasons. For those ot us engaged on Operation Burberry it was the day when the firemen voted to return to work. Tt was also the day of the flood warning. The Column, formed from representatives of all the RAOC Units in Deepcut had been sent to Invicta Park Barracks in Maidstone where it was strategically positioned, straddling two motorways, for quick deployment to the Medway Towns, Lon- don or the South East Coast. Its role—to fight any major fire. The first intimation of trouble came at 0215 hours when a flood alert was issued. Twelve hours later the Column was ordered to move. Destination—Deal. During the early hours of the morning, a combination of hurricane force winds and freak tides resulted in the sea break- ing over the sea wall and sweeping down into the lower, Northern part of the town. Hundreds of homes were flooded, roads made impassable, and there was severe damage caused by the weight of shingle carried by the heavy seas. It was the worst flood- ing for twenty five years. — The Under Secretary of State for Air, Mr James Wellbeloved MP, meets the duty crew. Left to right: Private Sindall, Private Vernon, Private Rogers, Sergeant Dagless, Mr Welfbeloved, Lieutenant Thompson. In the meanwhile the local District Council was also hard at work. Gangs of Council workmen with mechanical shovels were clearing lanes through the shingle, windows were boarded up and buildings made safe. The police and Social Services visited every house, especially those where elderly people were known to be living. WVS ladies toured the area giving assistance, and gas and electricity engineers restored supplies. It was a combined effort. Perhaps the most memorable thing however, was the attitude of the crews of the Green Goddesses. Here at last was a task with which they could really get to grips. Their enthusiasm was boundless and despite being cold and wet—nothing was too much trouble. 303 — |
| Book number | R0246a |