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RAOC Gazette - page 81

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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1977
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Early date 1977
Late date 1977
Transcription THE
7/11
ORDNANCE
FIELD
PARK
BASKETBALL
TEAM
Winners: 1 Division Minor Units Championship.
Runncrs-up: RAOC BAOR Championship.
Back row from left to right: Private Potter, Staff Sergeant
Webster, Staff Sergeant Rule, Private Brechin, Sergeant Wadley.
Front row: Private Perry, Major Thomas (Corps Troops East),
Staff Sergeant Hesketh (Captain), Lance Corporal Ettridge* Lance
Corporal Outhwatte.
Well, to cut a long story short we won by three goals to
o .e, thanks to our new arrival Corporal Alan Frampton scoring
r.vo goals and to Private c Stitch ' Hone who has continually
reminded us that k * It just came on me right foot so I hit it"—
a stitch in time saves nine? ! It was a fast flowing game and full
marks to 20 Ordnance Field Park for being worthy opponents.
Needless to say one and all were in a jubilant mood on return
to camp and here we must express our humorous thanks to
Corporals Chris Donal and Bill Wreyford (and crutch) for the
memorable highland fling rumours of who came a cropper then?
Oh not me sir " It just came on me right foot so I hit it.""
We are currently hosting 44 Parachute Ordnance Field
F rk who arrived from the United Kingdom on their Summer
Camp and would you believe it they challenged us to a game
of football, resulting in a win by twelve goals to two jumps,
or falls or something.
Congratulations are extended to Sergeant Ron Chapman,
Lance Corporals Trevor Savory and George Szkoda on attaining
substantive ranks and Corporal Brian Wilkes on promotion to
A/Sergeant.
We welcome Privates Alex McAulay and Mick Trayner
(who joins his brother Des) and to Corporal Scottie Irvine and
family.
Farewell to Corporal Alan Kelly and Lance Corporal Pete
Clint who have left us for Donnington and Deepcut respectively.
2 Division
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ORDNANCE
COMPANY
THE
main feature
of the month of May
as
6
h
been the semi -voluntary' period of
prohibition that we have indulged in. For
the three weeks that it took to completely
rebuild
the Unit club, faces have been
n
m tne
l° S
evening but in the mornings
it has been noticeable that there has been
a fresh spring in the step of some of our
members on their morning runs. At the
eventual Grand Opening on 21st May the new premises were
packed as large numbers of guests came to marvel at the plush
surroundings with quilted bar, pannelled walls, fitted carpets
aM
sophisticated, dimming lights. The finished result is a
r
«* ^lLt to all those who lent a hand, mainly in their own time.
•'-nly thanks must go to Lex Moo too, Roger Bowden, Eric
Hunter, Stu Brooks, Alan Ashcroft, Eddie Lawson, Barry Jones,
Larry Evenden and Ray Toplass. To all others who have
contributed, including those wives who ' l o s t ' their husbands
for so many evenings, a big and heartfelt thank-you.
The
message is now clear—keep the money flowing in as our bank
balance is looking far from healthy.
Whilst all this activity on the building front was taking
place we continued to take part in other events. One such
was the participation of a team of ten runners from the Unit
in the Annual Relay Race round the Aasee. The race is run
with many classes of competitors, from toddlers to totterers.
We were in the Special Class II, which includes soldiers,
police and firemen, etc. Each of our runners had approximately
650 metres to run before handing over the baton,, in some cases
with an obvious sigh of relief! Taking part were: Corporal John
Selkirk, Lance Corporals Ossie O'Hara and Pete Learmonth,
Privates Smudge Smith, Terry Stokes, Carl Rosario, Andy Girvan,
Bill Morrison, Roy Blythe and Craftsman Paul Rope. The team
managed to achieve fifth place—a gallant effort. Messrs Selkirk
and Learmonth enjoyed the event so much that they promptly
entered a local race at Senden. In the Open Class over ten
kilometres they managed twelfth and thirteenth with a time of
forty three minutes. An excellent effort. However, lest anyone
think that we are a Unit of pedestrians it must be added that
Sergeant Bill Farrant scorns the use of feet. He tells us that
it costs him points if he even puts his foot down at all; yes
he rides motor bikes in Trials. To date his most successful
appearance has been in the German Army Munster Garrison
Championships. In Class 2 (NCOs) he took first place against
eighty seven other riders including several highly rated British
riders. A great individual effort by Sergeant Farrant.
Lastly may we extend welcomes to Corporals Jimmy James
and Mick Higham and their respective families; and to Privates
Carl Rosario and Paul Glen. The only farewell being to Corporal
Dave Clelland who has decided to opt for the pleasures of
civilian life. Farewell and good luck.
87 SUPPLY DEPOT
IN a flurry of last minute MFO boxes, Major Graham Browning
has departed and we welcome our new OC, Major Garry Smith.
So far, we have not started Rugby training, but then we are
only thirteen Military strong and until the new OC can push
through his establishment amendment for a hooker and a wing
three quarter to be added to our strength, we consider our-
selves safe.
Major Browning's farewell in the Unit Club, was a spark-
ling affair which included a Cabaret provided by Mrs Jacqueline
Campbell, wife of Sergeant Eddie Campbell. The surprise of
the evening was a ' This is Your Life' presentation by mem-
bers of the Unit to mark Major Browning's farewell,
W02
Eddie Hillan was type cast as Eamonn Andrews and a major
achievement was to get a reluctant Sergeant Bob Hooson to
appear in drag as a Chinese lady of doubtful morals. Our
CQMS Staff Sergeant Tug Wilson, on the other hand, needed
no prompting to don female apparel, in fact he quite likes it.
In March we were visited by the members of 8 Regiment
RCT Wives Club, who were shown around the Depot and were
suitably impressed by the excellent presentation of our wares
arranged by W02 Hillan and our Master Butcher Sergeant
Geordie Harker.
In April we were hosts to the German Civil Service Head
of Wehrbereichsverpflegungsamt III, the local German Supply
Depot and his two deputies. After a briefing on our role,
they were shown around the Depot and expressed surprise at the
range of our activities compared with theirs.
Farewells have been said to Staff Sergeant Jan Duftus on
his departure to Cyprus, Sergeant Eddie Campbell to civilian
life and Corporal Trevor Asquith to Hong Kong.
We welcome in their place Staff Sergeant Tony Arkle,
Corporals Bob Sidgwick and Graham Mullarkey.
4 Division
I
I
' I
HEADQUARTERS
RAOC
^ — ^ ^
EXERCISE DOUBLE TAKE very nearly
^ ^ • ^ ^ ^
provided us with our first exercise fatality
^ ^ H ^ ^ ^
for many a year, in the form of Major
*^^5^^^B
P a t Fleming acting as umpire to 20 Ord-
W^K^^^m
nance Field Park.
Whilst following a
^^^^^^M
20 Ordnance Field Park patrol through
^^^J^^r
a fairly dense wood he was somewhat
surprised by a number of unfamiliar rifle
shots. Assuming them to be from our
4
enemy * provided by 2 Royal Irish he did his * umpire bit * by
making notes and passing constructive remarks on the pro-
cedures carried out by the patrol. At this point he was rather
Book number R0246