RAOC Gazette - page 72
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1977 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1977 |
| Late date | 1977 |
| Transcription |
Eastern District IN May some sixty TAVR Officers from all over the country gathered in Colchester for the Chief Ordnance Officer's latest exercise. Among those present were Brigadier Gordon Newark and Colonel John Gregan from HQ UKLK and Colonels Bob Manders and David Jolley of RAOC TAVR, Six Officers came from Scotland and one from far away as the Channel Islands. The programme consisted of a series of lectures and demonstrations on the role of TAVR RAOC in war, framed mainly in a BAOR setting, with speakers from HQ DGOS, HQ BAOR and the School of Ordnance. The Officers visited SCRDE where Lieu- tenant Colonel David Hall, RE, the MLO, explained the variety of projects undertaken there on clothing, equipment and camouflage. On Saturday evening the Buffet Supper which is rapidly becoming traditional at these gatherings was held in the Garrison Officers Mess and was well up to the standard of ACC in Colchester. Sunday started with a lecture on the effects of restructuring of the Army followed by a visit to 19 Brigade Ordnance Field Park deployed in a wet and muddy Friday Wood. Courses appear to be much in vogue with Major Tony Rowe surviving the Formation Ordnance Representatives course including the battle-hardening circuit training — an absolute ' M u s t ' for a DADOS (C Sups) in a District Headquarters. Major Tony Hill taking time out from his furniture Sale-of- the-Century activities has recently attended a Unit Security Officer's course at Ashford, and an erudite study at Bristol Major Ken Walker, having received an offer he could not refuse, has decided to call it a day and is to retire in Septem- ber. WOl Barlow our energetic Chief Clerk is pleased at the prospect of his posting to 17 Port Regiment at Marchwood in January next year where he could well join the other ninety per cent of the Corps who regularly bob up and down on the Solent. Barlow is the sort of chap who, while out for a routine run in the evening, is invited by a local Unit to join in a Football match which he does with great enthusiasm, con- tinuing his training run at the end of the match* In April, Major Eric Welch made his annual pilgrimage to Majorca returning with a tan appropriate to the season. Very unfortunately Mrs Welch allowed her washing machine to remove the top of one of her fingers, causing her much distress, but she too benefited very much from her visit to Chopin's Isle. We have recently welcomed Mr Bill Crawshaw as DFA in the place of Mr Frank Tadman. Bill Crawshaw came to us from HQ UKLF and after a very short time in Eastern District, has concluded that the only car with which to cope with this part of the world is a TR7, which he has now ordered. these stalwarts the Battalion team was entered for the Corps Shoot and our major prize there was the Chilwetl Plate which was won by Lance Corporal Kirk. ' D * Company WRAC Rounders team has been practising hard for this season's matches in the South East District league and their latest result is a fifty to nil win! Central Ordnance Depot Donnington AGAINST a background of soldiers struggling to the bank with their new pay rises, we have successfully negotiated an- other month. This one has contained, among other things, our Athletics meeting, the award of two Long Service and Good Conduct medals, a Regimental Weekend and some shooting. Our Athletics Meeting was memorable chiefly for the first public appearance of Major Sid Pincher our new Regimental Wing Commander. He has exchanged appointments with Major Graham Macdonald, now in Germany, and took com- mand only at the end of April. The first event in the morn- ing was the 5,000 metres and after a few laps it was only really a question of who would be second. He looks a great deal more relaxed in our photograph, being presented with his trophy by Mrs Toni Short, our Garrison Commander's wife, than he did at the end of his race, but the cheers of the assembled soldiers, officers included, were mingled with the openly ex- pressed fear of more and better PT, the need for which was so clearly expressed in his win. The opening race was an omen for the' rest of the day, since ' B * team, which included Major Pincher, were overall winners with a fair sprinkling of remark- ably energetic ACC cooks. Their win in the tug of war com- pleted a clean sweep for ' B." Central Ordnance Depot Bicester DURING the period we have had the honour of welcoming Lieutenant General G. L, Chopra, the DOS India, and his wife, who paid a visit to the COD and to 16 Battalion. Brigadier J. S, G. Roycroft, the Commandant COD Bicester, carried out tile 16 Battalion Annual FFR In- spection during which the Battalion emphasised the adventurous training activities they are involved in and 4 their ever improving flat * concept of single accommodation. Major Jim Ashcroft, ran a course for a group of civilian blind sailing students. The course was a great success and all students became very competent crews by the end of the week. In the Battalion Skill-at-Arms Meeting, the Headquarters Company team had a good day with Conductor King (on his last day of service), Staff Sergeant Rowlands, Lance Corporals Walters and Williams winning the Falling Plate competition, Lance Corporal Bruce winning the individual SMG and SLR, and Captain McNally and Sergeant Hockborn taking the LMG Pairs. Lance Corporal Kirk of * B * Company won the Pistol and Private Norton of *A' Company won the Young Soldier events and kept 4 their Companies on the board. In the team events however, B* Company took both the Pistol and SMG and 'A' Company the SLR so reversing the platings. From — Major Sid Pincher receives the 5,000-metres trophy from Mrs Toni Short. Our full-bore shooters have been out on the range to good effect over the past weeks. Fifth overall in the District shoot, we provided the Individual SMG winner in Sergeant Trevor Bozie. At the Corps shoot, we had three members in the Corps Forty and were winners of the Rank and File Trophy. We extend our congratulations to all those who trainee! so hard and competed so well. Two Long Service and Good Conduct medals were presented by the Commandant recently, to WOl A. Graystone and Sergeant J. C Roche. Our congratulations go to both recipients. The 14th and 15th May were memorable for Donnington because of the quite frightful weather which was provided for our Garrison Fete. Originally, this had been planned for 21st May, but the decision to extend the football season and the selection (after us) of that day as Cup Final Day, made a change of date vital and we had to go forward. In retrospect, the 21st was a glorious day, of course. The Donnington Fete has become an integral part a of the local calendar, and the " It's a Knockout Competition is in high demand for New Town and County Youth Tournaments. This year we were lucky enough to have the Corps of Drums of the Royal Corps of Transport, whose turnout, drill and expertise were astonishingly high. 50 — |
| Book number | R0246 |