RAOC Gazette - page 76
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 |
also to Staff Sergeant Kerr and Sergeant Martin on their pro- motion to the ranks mentioned. The Commandant, Colonel K. A. Berresford, presented the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to Corporal P. J. Clark on 20th May in the Prince Rupert Club. Our warm con- gratulations go to him on this well-deserved award. And now to our sad farewells. WO I Alex Christie, after many years of fine service, has gone to join the civilian world, We shall certainly miss his cheerful manner in the Depot, and wish him and his wife every happiness in their retirement. Staff Sergeant John Blackburn most certainly deserves a very special mention. After thirty five years excellent service he and his wife were dined out in splendour in the Central Mess on 20th May. One hundred and fifty guests were present to wish Staff Sergeant Blackburn, the longest serving Am- munition Technician in the Corps, and his wife every possible happiness and success in their retirement. Petroleum Centre MAY had always promised to have a busy start but not to the degree that actually occurred because of the heavy packing and issue challenge that had to be met. The first week was particularly active and its content may interest those who know the Centre and we leave them to draw the appropriate conclusions! It's not all work, fortunately. The 1st saw the Centre in the finals of the Willis Morgan Charity Football Cup, but unfortunately we were beaten 2-1 by Tarrant Gunville. The 2nd was highlighted by a visit from Mr Ledger of Shell UK. His subject was North Sea Oil and other exploration activities. He held a large audience captive for some two hours and the visit was concluded with a supper party in the Officers Mess, Tuesday started wet and was relatively quiet with the OLPC working at the EOP site and the arrival of Lieutenant Colonel R. Fages, the French Liaison Officer from the Staff College. He toured the Centre and after a meal stayed the night with us. Wednesday saw the Corps flag flying and an abnormal degree of bustle. The French Liaison Officer gave his excellent presentation to the Officers Long Course. Concurrently five Egyptian Senior Officers were being briefed and given a conducted tour. All our guests met up for an international luncheon party after which we bade fare- well to our French guest and the tour of the Egyptian team continued. They saw the OLPC surrounded by all the equip- ments that make up the bulk refuelling concept and after a ' light water' fire demonstration, toured the Depot. (By now the degree of activity was extreme because extra RPC had arrived and everyone was putting heart and soul into meeting various deadlines. It really was a sight to behold.) Thursday was to have been a routine day but for reasons well known, the * Rotary Cow' did a twelve hour run which should have gladdened the makers heart. Some twenty six vehicles were loaded and the whole was a really impressive performance. Friday included a visit by the Senior Officers of the Dorset Fire Brigade, planning a joint training exercise and the Depot was still working at maximum pace. At the end of that work- ing day the Officers and Senior Ranks met in combat for the annual attempt by the Officers to leave the wooden spoon in the Sergeants Mess. In spite of the good boat race win and some fine tactics at fives and three and that fifteen-two fifteen- four game, it is sad to note that the Saturday morning saw the spoon back in its corner of the Officers Mess. Inevitably, Saturday turned out to be a normal working day with news that the QMG would drop in next week. On the 10th May we had a flying visit from the Quartermaster General, General Sir Patrick Howard Dobson, and he spent his hour's visit behind the ' wire' viewing the Petroleum Depot in full swing and meeting the majority of the staff. On the 15th May Lieutenant Colonel David Strong with personnel from 183/383/883 Petroleum Filling Platoons RAOC (V) arrived at the Centre for the start of their Annual Camp. At the time these notes were written a representative part of an RP Fabric Tank Farm had been installed, and fuel was being introduced into the system successfully. This is the first time that our new training site has been used and we are very pleased with the results. It is now only a matter of getting some more equipment and with plenty of TAVR to train we will be content with that part of our contribution to the defence posture. We welcomed Staff Sergeants M. Kelly and R. McWilliams, Corporals K. F. W. Smithson and P. J. Fitzgerald, Lance Corporal J. M. Spicer, Private P, Taylor, all RPC from Bicester and Corporal H. Rumbellow. We also welcome back from detachment Corporal N. C. Robertson and Private A. G, A. Blackwell. On the 1st April a few members of 180 Petroleum Bulk Operating Platoon were posted onto cur strength, namely: Staff Sergeant D. W. Cocks, Sergeant M. A. Elson, Corporals M. E, Brumby, J. D. Hopwood and B, R. Slade, Lance Corporals D. J, G, Coate, A. A. Duff, A. M. M. Forbes, J. Handyside, D. C. Holmes, B. K. Kennard and S. W. Oag and Privates M. M. J. Bushell, S. P. Cleverley, A, A, Cook, T. M. Greenwood, D. L Heartfield, D. Herd, I. L. Hulse, D. J. O'Toole, C. B, Ridgewell, M. J. Sellers. M. J. Smith. R. J, Stevens, R. D. White and G. Williams, well I did say a few. We say farewell and good luck in the future to: Staff Sergeant G. Hindley, who returns to Bicester after a very brief stay, Corporal M. E. Brumby to BAOR, Corporal N. G. Willis lo Cyprus and Private T. Corran to Northern Ireland. Congratulations are in order to the following on pro- motion to substantive ranks shown: W02 A. Maltas, Sergeant A, Hatch, ACC, Corporal M. E, Brumby, A/Corporal A. J, Brown (substantive Lance Corporal, well we can't win 'em all!). Lance Corporals A. A. Duff, T. B, Coates, J, D, Hop- wood. J. Handyside and B. K. Kennard. For selection to Con- ductor in June this year we congratulate WOl J. Heeps, and for the 1977/78 provisional selections for promotion: WOl M. A. Tillotson and Staff Sergeant J. D. Watts. These postings in and out, plus promotions have kept the Orderly Room on their toes, not to mention the odd amend- ment to the Chiefs' Nominal Rolls. Stores Section, The RA Range Hebrides " FAILTE bho'n nan Eileannan " (to the non Gaelic speakers that means * Greetings from the Islands.') Yes the Stores Section is still alive and kicking, in fact the Section has been a hive of activity since the LCT has gone back into service for the summer months (fair weather sailors these RCT types!!), bringing in trailer loads of stores weekly and taking back equal loads of items for backloading. The Storehouse side of the section under Staff Sergeant Keith Jones is very full of its own importance lately with the proposed installation of a new packaging bay. Three days last month were spent with Major F. Fuller RA (TGW4) and Messrs Priddy and Smith (Headquarters Base Organisation) in the siting of this * magic piece of kit *—it is completely sealed from the damp Hebridean climate and actually hangs from the rafters—it should be on view later in the year—tickets may be obtained from the OC Captain Thwaite! ! Despite all the technical activities the Section did manage to squeeze in an adventure training exercise. Exercise Caiseinmor (Big Fleet) involved trekking over one of our local mountains down to the cave where Bonny Prince Charlie hid from the nasty English. Apart from the snow storm at lunch time on day one and the subsequent heavy rain when we once again reached sea level, also on the first day, the weather was relatively kind. One great discovery, made by Staff Sergeant Brian Bragger and Sergeant Bob Barr, was how easy it is to make scrambled eggs when in fact you're trying to fry them! Thus eighteen eggs bit the dust—sorry, peat! So crammed full of sausages, beans and, dare T say it, scrambled eggs, the party moved into tents for the night. The exercise came to an end the following day after a total of about eighteen miles trekking, the concensus of opinion was that the exercise should have been called ' Wet Feet' not ' Big Feet' but it was agreed that it had been thoroughly enjoy- able, despite the eggs! For our next venture we hope to take out one of the Range Fishing boats—the OC fancies himself as Captain Ahab. SQMS Pete Jackson is in the process of qualifying as a coxswain so hopefully it will be a totally RAOC effort. The OC was heard to mumble something about 'trans- atlantic ' or ' being arrested by the Irish' but somehow I don't think his dreams/fears will be fulfilled, Lieutenant Colonel L. N. Clifton, CRAOC HQ Scotland, visited the Range. His visit coincided with our RAOC Associa- tion Annual General Meeting and social evening so he was able to meet most of the RAOC soldiers and civilians and their wives, informally, before visiting the Section, SATO staff, and photographers the day after. Lieutenant General Sir David Scott-Barrett, GOC Scotland, visited the Range in March and the Stores Section was honoured by the presentation of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to Staff Sergeant Keith Jones, I am sure everyone would like to offer their congratulations to this extremely hard work- ing SNCO. Since our last letter one or two people have departed, Corporal Barry Dawson, a staunch member of the Unit was seen off to BAOR with what looked like a bag of flour over his head and we wish him and his wife every success in their new posting. 54 — |
| Book number | R0246 |