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RAOC Gazette - page 118

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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 ANGLO-GERMAN
CAMARADERIE
THE transport being used by Major A. C F. Smith seen here
leaving Ironside Barracks, on relinquishing command of 7 Ord-
nance Field Park, (see February GAZHTTK) is not only unusual
but significant.
It typifies the close bond that has existed between the OFP
and 34 Panzer Battalion who have for some time been their
next door neighbours in Scheuen.
7 OFP has now been amalgamated with 1 1 OFP to form
1 Armoured Division Ordnance Company.
Any donation large or small will be welcomed and should
be sent to Williams & Glyn's Bank, Holt's Branch, Kirkland
House, Whitehall, London SW1 for the credit of the account
for Commemoration of Great Soldiers Fund (Account Number
33365805).
Cheques should be made payable to " Com-
memoration of Great Soldiers Fund," Every effort is being
made to cut down administrative costs and donations will
NOT be receipted unless this is particularly requested.
Should there be a surplus of funds after the Memorial is
completed, this will be donated to the Army Benevolent Fund.
VEHICLE
SUB-DEPOT
MOENCHENGLADBACII
Photo Sergeant J. Dickson.
Some thirty years on
COMMEMORATION OF GREAT
SOLDIERS OF WORLD WAR TWO
THERE has long beeu a need for National commemoration
of the military leaders of the Second World War. The Royal
Navy and the Royal Air Force wish to commemorate theirs
separately so the Army has decided that it should erect a
Soldier's Memorial.
The Memorial will be formed of ten plaques round the
walls of the chamber in the Crypt of St Paul's Cathedral
which contains the Duke of Wellington's sarcophagus. Each
plaque will commemorate individually one of the ten dis-
tinguished soldiers, who were created Field Marshal during
or immediately after the war. These are:
Field Marshal Viscount Alanbrooke, Field Marshal Earl
Alexander, Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, Field Marshal
Sir John Dill, Field Marshal Viscount Gort, Field Marshal
Lord Ironside, Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery, Field
Marshal Viscount Slim, Field Marshal Earl Wavell and Field
Marshal Lord Wilson.
The plaque to Viscount Slim is already in position having
been sponsored by the Burma Star Association. Happily Sir
Claude Auchinleck is still with us and knows of the project.
There will also be two dedicatory plaques in the Chamber
which will show that the memorial is intended to commemorate
all—British, Imperial and Allied—who served with the Field
Marshals in war. A taped commentary will be available in the
Chamber for visitors and will outline the contribution the
Field Marshals made to victory.
It is intended that the memorials will together create a
shrine in this part of the Crypt and focus attention on soldiers
who have served their country in war.
The estimated cost of the memorial and its dedication is
£35,000. No public funds are available to meet any part of this
sum.
All branches of the Army are subscribing what they can
towards it, but they have no great funds at their disposal and
cannot meet the whole cost. It is therefore felt right that all
who served in the war, all who had close connections with the
Field Marshals, and the public in Great Britain and the Com-
monwealth should be given an opportunity to subscribe to
this National Memorial at St Paul's.
TO
CLOSE
VEHICLE Sub-Depot Moenchengladbach consists of two sites,
North and *outh Parks. The present administrative and barrack
buildings, in what is known as Ayrshire Barracks, were formerly
a boys reformatory and an adult mental institution. The open
storage area in North Park was a Luftwaffe airfield during the
last war.
At the end of the Second World War the area was occupied
by the Royal Canadian Air Force and later by 7 Medjum Regi-
ment, Royal Artillery. RAOC took over in 1949 with 17
Vehicle Battalion, which in turn became 17 Rear Vehicle Depot
in 1959; then 17 Base Vehicle Depot in 1969.
The Vehicle Depot was merged into 15 Composite Ord-
nance Depot in July 1974 when it assumed its present title.
The Unit issues and handles in transit all types of vehicles,
from a tank to a staff car, there is therefore a tremendous
variety of vehicles for the Vehicle Specialist to work with.
For years Moenchengladbach has been the scene of many
main Corps (BAOR) functions, namely the BAOR Corps
Athletics Meeting and the St Barbara's Day celebrations; it has
also been the venue for the Annual Moenchengladbach Station
Charity Fete.
It is indeed sad to learn that the Depot is to close as a
result of BAOR reorganisation and that yet another episode of
Corps history, albeit relatively short, will pass into the archives.
However, I am sure that we will hear more on the subject
from Vehicle Sub-Depot before the day finally dawns.
Private David Kennion a Vehicle Specialist itt Central Receipts
Section checking a new Chieftain into service at Vehicle Sub*
Depot Moenchengladbach.
A
DRAMATIC
REQUEST
CAPTAIN A. C. MITCHELL has written to T H E GAZETTE
with an unusual request. He is engaged in research involving
Shakespeare's plays and, as a consequence of this, is com-
piling a list of actors and actresses who have appeared in
alt the thirty seven Shakespeare plays. Any leads would be
appreciated but direct to Captain Mitchell at 5 School Lane,
Tiddington, Stratford-upon-Avon.
336 —
Book number R0246a