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RAOC Gazette - page 178

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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 the Dutch Military Academy who were paying their biennial
visit to Sandhurst Next year we go to Holland (a little wiser).
Congratulations go to Lance Corporal * Geordie' Robson who
recently acquired his first stripe. He is Gus Curry's right-hand
man.
Over in Victory College where Sergeant Ron Carr holds
the reins, things have been fairly frantic. No wonder, can you
imagine what it entails trying to teach Doctors, Padres, Den-
tists, Vets and Lawyers, both male and female, to be soldiers?
In running Victory he has been ably supported by Corporal
Charlie Richmond who leaves us this month for BAOR.
Thanks and best wishes go to the Richmonds.
Northern Ireland
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HEADQUARTERS
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gazing at the blank wall in front of me
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some kind of inspiration. Apart from
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Y whote body is a mass of heaving
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Manners to get the Ordnance Branch Staff
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up to the required fitness to make this
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three mile run, something which I do
believe people enjoy.
The Headquarters itself is running
smoothly as it always does and as one walks through these
corridors of power one is met with the friendly smiles of harassed
staff officers and RAOC personnel, that is if you can recognise
them in civvies and long hair. I have found that the greatest
form of identifying a person is to look at the K9 (Dr Who
fan) following him. Of course when the mating season is on
one must really be careful as normally the K9s have a staffing
problem (they follow each other), WOl Malcolm Edwards,
our Superintendent Clerk is frequently attacked by Boris, who
incidentally is often seen dragging Sergeant Alan Hall down the
corridor into G. OR. Of course our intrepid photographer
Staff Sergeant Alec (Snapem) Turner and Printer Sergeant John
(known as Jack) Smith are always ready to record such exciting
moments.
pasting to Hong Kong). The operations room staff being
Sergeant (my posting is in) Dewsbury and Lance Corporal (is
my posting in) Phil Arlely. Of course Staff Sergeant Dave
East (playing football again) and Corporal Tony Dandy (1 have
a lovely tan and just married smile) are our Q Branch represen-
tatives. Despite military manning cuts Ordnance Branch still
has real RAOC personnel on strength, there have been rumours
that the Ordnance Staff Officers were going to be replaced by a
automatic answering machine which repeats the phrase " Sorry
no stock " but this idea was abandoned because they could not
find a machine which said * Sorry' sincerely enough. Staff
Sergeant Eddie Mayes, Sergeant Harry Hill and Private Billy
Coubrough are managing to keep Ordnance Branch running,
There has not been any movement since the last issue in fact
the only really fast movement in this Headquarters was WOl
Dave Brunt when he heard his posting order was in. Of course
the real movers of this Headquarters are our beloved civilians
who move at the speed of light at 1650 hrs daily.
Our photograph shows the CRAOC, Lieutenant Colonel
O'Dea presenting Long Service and Good Conduct Medals
to WOt Alec McRea and Staff Sergeant Eddie Mayes in the
SSD Ward Room Club.
HEADQUARTERS 8 INFANTRY BRIGADE
LT has been a couple of months since we last contributed; we
have had a number of inspections and visits but the main
event was the annual FFR. We had an idea that it was going
to be a tough inspection as Corporal Iain Aird brushed the
dust off his cigar which he permanently keeps in his mouth.
The inspecting officer was Brigadier Myrtle, who visited the
Clerkorium and asked us a number of questions about our
jobs and welfare. He seemed quite satisfied with our answers,
and the inspection went off smoothly.
In G Branch we have had two new arrivals, Corporal
Mick Hopkins from BAOR and Private Bill Currie from the
Regimental Depot. Private Bill Currie thinks it's great here as
with his extra Northern Ireland pay he can buy lots and lota
of smarties,
From the depths of AQ Branch and Ordnance and EME
Services, there is a new saying going around; I quote "How
long have you got to do " as Corporal Iain Aird has received
his posting order to Headquarters BAOR, and Corporal Joe
Rimmer has got his posting to Hong Kong. There is no truth
in the rumour that Corporal Rimmer will be paying super tax
with his extra LOA. There has also been a new arrival in AQ
Branch namely the new CC AQ T Sergeant Bob Bate, who came
to us from AFCENT, I believe he is starting work after the
rugby season has finished. Our BOO, Captain Tony Dalby-
Welsh, is fit now after his accident at rugby, the plaster is off
his leg, but he will not be playing any more rugby this season
(well people do play these rough games).
On the stores side of the Brigade Headquarters and Signal
Squadron, Sergeant Henry Stewart has received his posting order
to (wait for it) Headquarters British Forces Hong Kong, Who
says us Technical Clerks don't get any good postings. We con-
gratulate Corporal Jesse James and his wife on the birth of
their twin daughters.
We say farewell to Sergeant John Gallagher who has gone
to the Regimental Depot, Corporal Evan Douglas to Head-
quarters 6 Field Force and congratulations on promotion to
Colour Sergeant—sorry Evan, to Sergeant, and Lance Corporal
Keith Cammack to Cyprus. We also say farewell to one of our
Brigade Watchkeepers, Captain D. A. Wright back to UK after
spending a six month tour with us over here.
Lieutenant Colonel CTDea presenting Long Service and Good
Conduct Medals to W O l Alec McRao and Staff Sergeant Eddie
Mayes.
Ordnance Depot Northern Ireland
W02 Malcolm Wilde our civilised Geordie is wielding the
whip (or is it scented booklace) controlling the G Branch crowd
ably assisted by Staff Sergeant Alan Macarthur and Penny (I
promised to mention Penny), Staff Sergeant Pat Beale (Pedro),
Corporals Dave Lovick and Ian Taylor. While in G, Sy (or
Sshh you know who) Staff Sergeant Dick Hill is frequently seen
sliding quietly around the Headquarters. These are all kept well
supplied with classified material by Sergeant Alan Keating and
Lance Corporal Bob Mays. Of course we must not ever forget
our PAs (bless them) for where would we be without them, Staff
Sergeant Mark Cockram who is often seen dashing around
clutching a piece of paper to his breast (it has been rumoured
that it is always the same piece of paper) and of course Sergeant
Bill (I've been to SHAPE) Roche.
Moving on to A Branch we will mention W02 Kevin
Hartley (who is learning the Chinese language in view of his
WE have all been preparing for the ARU, all that is except
Corporal Kevin Lewis and Lance Corporal Mark Jones who
managed to wangle an education course. The inspection was
conducted by Colonel Cubis, the Colonel AQ, who must be the
best qualified officer in the Province to judge our performance.
The verdict was that the Depot provides a service second to
none and that this view was shared by all units in the Province.
All we can say is thank you Bicester, Chilwell and Donnington
for your understanding and support.
One of the notable sporting achievements of the season was
chalked up by the rugby team who beat RAF Bishopscourt, our
deadly rivals for the wooden spoon. We welcome Private
Neil Anderson who will bring an additional touch of class and
skill to the team. Success obviously leads to greater things
and the team have been challenged to a Charity Match against
the * Greenfinches' of 10 TJDR. Competition to get into the
side is intense and even Sergeant John Griffiths seems prepared
382 —
Book number R0246a