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RAOC Gazette - page 40

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Publication date 1977
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Transcription Private Marty Verrill has found a new home at 5 Field
Workshop, whilst Sergeant Joe Hinds, as senior slurcman.
takes young Private Steve Lawrence, our newly upgraded B2
Storeman, to 1 Combat Supplies Battalion. All those fans of
Sergeant Keith Kilgour, who have been anxiously waiting with
baited breath to hear some news of their hero and the fate
that awaits him. wait no more. The address you continue to
send fan maii, presents, and babies for kissing is
un-
changed. Sergeant Kilgour has the somewhat dubious pleasure
of being left behind on his own as a liaison NCO.
All of which just about sums it up really. What else can
one say, the end of an era, sad in some ways but none the
less, we are sure that life will go on for each and everyone of
us with renewed vigour. Lastly, but by no means least, our
heart felt thanks go out to all the officers and men of 12 Squad-
ron RCT plus DADOS and his staff, for making our lives
here, in Liebenau, such happy ones.
STORES SECTION 1 FIELD WORKSHOP
THIS month really started well for Corporal Dick Sykes when
he had to help deliver his daughter in the back of the ambulance
on the way to hospital! Our congratulations to both Dick and
his wife Aureen on their performance. Sergeant Dick Brunning
was heard to comment that it was a good job he was first aid
trained!
Our OC, Captain Ron Medley, is on a twelve week course
in UK leaving W02 Jim Sneddon in charge.
At the beginning of the month Sergeant Dick Brunning.
Privates Ray Gammon, Ralph Usher, ' Length' Richardson and
* Scouse * O'Mara set out on Exercise Morning Glory—a CPX,
They all soon learned how to survive guard duties, which came
at frequent intervals, in literally freezing weather.
Private Ray Gammon became a good telephone engineer
and discovered that a 64 KVA generator will run for five and
a half hours on nine gallons of fuel! Private * Length * Richard-
son was also surprised at the Cordon Bteu cooking—so surprised
in fact that he dropped the lot in the back of the Ops vehicle.
The only unanswered question is why do CPXs always end
the same way—with the enemy retreating?
Corporal Carse of MT, can still be seen on the range
roads teaching his wife to drive. He still wants an answer to give
her as to why tanks suddenly take to cross country when she
approaches in the car.
We would like to wish good luck to Lance Corporal Kay
and Private Silcock on being chosen for the RAOC BAOR
Football trials and hope they gel selected for the team.
We say farewell to Staff Sergeant John Nightingale, Lance
Corporal Biffo Brown, Private Jaws Read and Mrs May Win-
field to civilian life also to Lance Corporal Duncalf heading
for 3 BAPD and Private Petrie to Combat Supplies,
We welcome Corporal Chippy Wood, Lance Corporal Ken
Quinton, Private Paul Griffiths and Mrs Lynn Saunders. We
hope they enjoy their stay.
STORES SECTION 45 MEDIUM
REGIMENT
WE have lost Conductor Curtis on commissioning and his
replacement SSM Lawson is now occupying the hot seat, Lance
Corporal John Walsh left us for Kineton and was replaced by
Lance Corporal Dave Jones, Private Wally Taylor nipped across
the road to 1 Combat Supplies and remained there and his
relief Private Brummie Luckman arrived to find the Stores
Shed empty!
Now the reason that the Stores Shed was empty was that
we were all attending Practice Camp at Trauen with the Regi-
ment, an event which despite one or two problems, everyone
enjoyed. Whilst at Trauen visits were made by Stores Section
personnel to the firing point to watch the gunnery practice and
they returned suitably impressed.
We welcome the family of Lance Corporal Jones and offer
our congratulations to Corporal Dixie and Mrs Hale on the
birth of their number one son.
STORES SECTION 21 ENGINEER REGIMENT WORKSHOP
A SPECIAL MENTION this month goes to Lance Corporal
* Scouse
' Downey who although by trade is a REME Driver,
4
was shanghaied' into being our cook on the exercise which
took place during the recent visit of the DGOS, His meals
were surprisingly good but would not have merited the two
star treatment from the Michelin Red Guide although he might
have gained a star from the Egon Ronay Guide,
We are now busy preparing for the Defence Auditors visit
later this month and are keeping our fingers crossed that all
goes well.
One arrival this month l Private l Dixie * Dean on loan from
7 OFF until July. Private Bob' Johnson is resting in hospital
after damaging his cartilage playing football, he hopes to have
the plaster off in time for starting his civilian job with Sains-
bury's in May.
2 Armoured Division
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
WHILST the majority of the Unit is
cavorting around the Aalborg area of
Denmark, it has been left once again, to
your humble scribe to produce bricks
without straw and detail recent events
within the Divisional Ordnance Com-
pany. This change in role, i.e. supply-
ing a whole Division and not just a mere
Brigade, seems to have given at least one
person illusions of grandeur or some such thing.
A certain Private McVeigh, who will remain nameless,
recently went to the UK on leave. Rumours that he was
spending his leave with friends in the Kilburn area of London
were soon dispelled when he produced his bill for a one night
stay at the Dorchester. The illusion of grandeur quickly faded
when he returned to the Unit and the Pay Sergeant explained
for three days and nights that his food charges did not allow
for champagne suppers or continental breakfast in bed. A
favourable comparison, however, was made between the cuisine
of the Dorchester and the Unit dining hall, with the sole
caveat that the hotel would not allow you to make your own
toast!
On the lighter side we have had B3-B2 Driver Upgrading
and Storeman Upgrading courses. All who sat the tests, passed
and they are to be congratulated. Corporal Gadd has returned
from an NBC course radiating goodwill and promising not to
fall out with the Unit NBC Officer! Second Lieutenant Wilson—
the man of many courses—is at present on his MTO course in
the UK and we wish him luck. Just before his departure he
collected his delayed TR 7 in triumph and seemed happy,
We have recently said farewell to Lieutenant McGhie,
Corporal Seymour and all our Scotts, namely Corporals A. G.
Scott and M. N. Scott and Lance Corporal J. Scott The Unit
is now Scott-free. Cheerio also to Private Kevin Glasspool
and Lance Corporal Steve Thomas, we wish them" luck in Dort-
mund and Benbecula respectively.
5 FIELD FORCE ORDNANCE COMPANY
THE month began with the visit of the new and old CRAOCs
of 2 Armoured Division, Lieutenant Colonels M. F. John and W.
R, Sefton. A recent transfer into the Corps is Private Bill
Morrison (the photograph of the presentation of his lanyard
and stable belt by Lieutenant Colonel Sefton, was unfortunately
damaged in transit). Talking of transfers, we currently have a
Gunner and a Guardsman on approval and are expecting a
Cook almost any day. Must be something to do with our daily
runs or is it the badge that attracts them?
Sergeant Taff Stallard*s departure has allowed a complete
reorganisation (and a lot more room) in PC and A, organised
by Q Lex Mootoo. Rumour has it that they will now be able
to get the whole of Stocktaking in with them.
Easter saw two of our anglers, Staff Sergeants Graham
Robertson and Mick Mullarkey, extend the territorial dis-
pute into Denmark where they took part in the annual BAOR
Angling Competition.
Their team managed fourth overall,
missing third spot by only twelve ounces. Shame—should have
given the fish bigger worms—but perhaps you'll do better next
year lads.
Our contribution to the Detente situation is currently under-
way with a patrol from the Unit checking on the Border between
West and East Germany. We hope to get at least some of them
back. The hard work organising it was all done by Staff
Sergeant Charlie Scott as Lieutenant Tom Briggs came back
from getting spliced one hour before they all left.
Con-
gratulations to both Tom and Jackie, the White Horse Mess will
miss you.
A sigh of relief was uttered by both Imprest Holder and
PRI when Sergeant Stuart Shaw RAPC returned from his long
Division Two Course. The flood of claims that followed
his reappearance was monumental.
To round off with our update paragraphs we must first
offer congratulations to Craftsman Paul Rope and his wife
Carol on the birth of their son at BMH Munster, Also, we wel-
come our new CSM Ian Drew and his family. Private Jim Mac-
26 —
Book number R0246