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RAOC Gazette - page 29

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Publication date 1977
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Transcription ig a Requiem Mass during which Brigadier D, Pontifex, the
'hief of Staff, read the Lesson.
Colonel Richard Cooke is now seated firmly in the boss's
iair at least figuratively speaking. He has taken his first steps
ound the parish and rumour reports that arduous itineraries
.ire being prepared which should test the abilities of both the
Units and the DADOSs and not least the CRAOCs own
physical stamina,
The DOWO, WOl Fred Maskery has been on leave again,
probably to avoid writing these GAZETTE notes. He did scrutinise
them, however, and pointed out that his selection for appoint-
ment to Conductor on 1st June 1977 had been omitted. Con-
gratulations are also due to WOl John Chesnaye on receiving
•i similar honour. WOl Chesnaye is in the process of taking
ver from WOl John Couperthwaite in the Stores Section of
;3 Command Workshop and we wish them happy tours in their
new appointments.
Our good wishes for a happy retirement go to Major Fred
Pearson and his wife Jenny. Fred retires on 4th June and he
has already handed over as OC Supply Depot to Major David
Hancock to whom we extend a cordial welcome. David's powers
of comprehension are being tested to the full for in his first
week of office he had to deal with not only an IE inspection
but also a visitation by a large party of senior Egyptian Army
Officers.
3 Division
A
HEADQUARTERS
APRIL closed with Exercise Second
Barrel; this involved the lessons learnt
from Exercise First Shot and brought in
6th Field Force and 19 Brigade (acting as
7th Field Force). All Headquarters 3rd
Division were involved and migrated—
just for a change—from Salisbury Plain
to the Yorkshire Moors. Captain Rick
Ginn has achieved fame by actually moving a convoy in both
directions at high speed without one loss.
Congratulations go this month to Sergeant Rick Delamont
and Corporal Dave Burrell on their recent promotions and to
W02 Bob Edge and W 2 Derek Redpath who have been selected
for promotion some time in the future. Congratulations also to
our CRAOC, Lieutenant Colonel David Cornwell for stopping
smoking—we think!
19 AIRPORTABLE ORDNANCE FIELD PARK
THE OFP has continued to be busy with the Technical In-
spect ion followed swiftly by the Staff Log demonstration and
Exercise Snow Plough.
The Staff Log demonstration saw the Unit deploying to
Hawley Lake area and explaining their role to the Staff College.
This was very successful apart from the C Sups men who
decided to take a short cut out of the training area—they never
left the area and some four hours later were recovered by
RE ME. Corporal Brian Volton still goes a delicate shade of
pink when reminded of the incident. For some the end of the
Staff Log Demonstration heralded the beginning of Exercise
^now Plough, and Captain Mike Biggs and members of C
::applies were soon on their way to meet up with Staff Sergeant
Frank Pratt and the advance party in the Cairngorms.
The highlight of the week apart from seeing Captain Mike
Biggs and Staff Sergeant Pratt unceremoniously ditched in the
stream by flying tents during the gale reported elsewhere, was
the buffet towards the end of the week. Sergeant Angus Mans-
field, Private Neil Young and Lance Corporal Taffy Evans
put on a splendid spread, and throughout the week the food
was excellent.
Block leave is now behind us and the Unit is preparing
:or the annual adventure training exercise in the Isle of Man.
Captain Mike Roberts, Staff Sergeant Ken Storey, Sergeant
Dave Pritchard, Corporal Robertson and Lance Corporal Stew
Briggs have 6 left
and Force
Captain Ordnance
Mike Davison,
Second Lieutenant
Field
Company
Alan Inions, Staff Sergeant Douglas Bo shier, Sergeant Douglas
\S from
31st Corporal
March 1977,
5 (Airportable)
Brigade Allen
Ordnance
Pike,
Lance
McGuigan
and Privates
and
eld
Park
passed
into
the
annals
of
history
and,
indeed,
the
Maguire have arrived.
^rmation of 6 Field Force Ordnance Company set out upon its
own course to make its own history. 6 Field Force Ordnance
Company has been formed from what was 5 (Airportable) Ord-
nance Field Park, in toto, the Stores Section 3 Field Workshop
and in part from the disbanded 16 Parachute Heavy Drop Com-
pany and also the Ordnance Squadron of the Parachute Logistic
Regiment. Our location has also changed from Tidworth to
Aldershot, our masters now being Headquarters South East
District and 6 Field Force.
Before we branch out with our happenings, we should like
to take advantage of this opportunity to say a sad farewell to
CRAOC 3 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Cornwell and his staff,
to wish them well in BAOR and to thank them one and all
for their splendid support and hospitality throughout our
difficult transition period.
Apart from being involved in Exercises First Shot and
Second Barrell, Easter Block leave; a Recce to the Isle of Man
and having the OC Major Dan Putt away on his ' Learning
to be an O C ' course at Blackdown, our move has gone remark-
ably welt. All the old members of 5 (Airportable) Ordnance
Field Park will be glad to hear that our cool, calm and dignified
efficiency, in achieving the highest of standards in the face of
extremely adverse conditions, stilt continues without a flaw.
Staff Sergeant ' Sammy* Devine has spent the last few weeks
gloating over his new toys, rive not quite brand new Tennies.
Bets are now being placed nationally as to whether or not Private
David Smith can write a tennie off as easily as he has our Land
Rover fleet. Corporal Pete Beaumont is sadly missed from our
MT, he is detached to COD Bicester for three months, lending
his expert hand to sorting out the driver training problems.
The CQMS's department-has taken a hammering during the
changeover: Corporal ' J o r d i e ' Stubbs and his family have
departed for CAD Kineton, whilst the leading light himself,
RQMS * Maxi T Duggan recuperates quietly in Tidworth after
his marathon farewell sessions before quietly (we hope) depart-
ing for the luxurious confines of Ordnance Depot Antwerp. In
Maxi's place arrived Staff Sergeant ' M a c ' Maclean, who, it is
rumoured, looks down on us from about 40,000 feet. When
you next visit us ' M a c ' we'll tell you about Exercise Dry Gulch,
but in the meantime, welcome. Sergeant Brian Scribbins who
oscillated between the Q and Training departments has also
left us for 2 Armoured Division Ordnance Company. Con-
gratulations on your provisional selection for Staff Sergeant
and we would like him to know we'll miss his mud covered
body on our night map-reading exercise.
It's all been happening in the Tech Office, so W 2 Keith
Watson is telling everyone. New scalings have been absorbed
and, cards placed in binders: Lance Corporals ' T a x i ' Walters,
Andy Can*, and * Jock' Stuart, supported by Private * Paddy'
Murray have all been seen burning the midnight oil. Con-
gratulations to Corporal * Shortie * Long on his recent pro-
motion, We bid farewell to Sergeant Orszewski and his wife
who have left us for that haven called LOA land (BAOR). Lance
Corporal Andy Carr has left us for 3 Tank Transporter Squad-
ron also in BAOR. We welcome back to the fold Private
' Jock' Brown from BATUS Canada with many glorious and
enviable memories; and Privates Peter Lloyd and Mark Rich-
mond from the Apprentice College.
Lance Corporal Paul
Goodeve has returned from a successful attendance at the All
Arms Skill at Arms Course. Lance Corporal Goodeve has now
added, his * crossed rifles * badge to his other pullover em-
bellishments. He is fast becoming the nearest thing we've seen
to a walking Christmas tree.
On the Stores side Staff Sergeant Michael Elsie found a
tin of Kit-e-Kat located with a saucer of milk which, when
checked against the account card, were found to be in the
wrong location. Now, however, the Kit-e-Kat, milk and three
new ' mini moggies * plus mother moggie are all in one location
and doing well. Welcome to Lieutenant Tan Turner, our new
Stores Officer. Also to W 2 Whiteley; we wish to assure him
that our stores shed does not always resemble a bombed out
scrap yard.
Sergeants Costen and Moorhouse; Privates Drysdale, Jones
and Craftsman Hold en, have admitted yet another member to
the Ordnance Company's " Hells Angels/ being, the 2 I C Our
RE ME departments Corporals Bo wen and Greenough are still
fitting studs to the 2IC's new leather jacket!
Finally we welcome W O l Barney Appleyard into the CSM's
chair and bid farewell to Captain Chris Jenkins and his wife
Sue who are leaving us for civilian life.
10 Ordnance Support Battalion
MAY has come and gone with the Battalion dispersed in all
directions. Both our Local Resources Sections have returned
from Africa, whilst 48 AMF(L) Company have been enjoying
the sand, sun and bugs in Sardinia. The less fortunate members
of the Company had to be content with Larkhill and Senny-
Book number R0246