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RAOC Gazette - page 112

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Publication date 1977
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Transcription have won the race. Sergeant Bob Boughcn one of several
athletes from Force Headquarters who ran For the Unit,
obtained double honours, winning both the 800 and J500
metres. Lance Corporal Fox made it a 6 Field Force double
in the 1500 by gaining second place. In the 2000 metre steeple-
chase Private 'Alan' Holden gained his second cup by coming
second, he had previously also ended up as runner-up in the
pole vault, he was followed in, in third and fourth places by
Sergeant Pete Morrison and Lance Corporal Steve Kemp. In
the shorter distances we did not do too well, our athletes per-
forming creditably and the OC, Major Dan P u t t at thirty six
certainly the oldest man in the 100 metres, squeezed in at sixth
place. In the relay our team of Major Putt, Corporal Sumner,
Sergeant Boughen and Corporal Webster came third.
In the field events, Lance Corporal Cyril Wright managed
sixth place in both the shot and the discus, with Lance
Corporal Andy Palmer gaining a fifth place in the shot. Corporal
Gary Sumner jumped superbly to take the runner-up position
in the long jump. Backing the successful athletes were Lance
Corporal Ken Stuart, Privates Pete Lloyd and Max Massiah
and the Admin Officer, who though they gained no points,
certainly gave of their best
Unfortunately, this year the events at which the Unit were
most successful, that is the 5000 and 2000 metres plus the pole
vault, did not count for points towards the Travers Clarke
Trophy, had they done so we may well have won it.
Our congratulations go to Lance Corporal Tony Gardiner
on his award of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal.
It was
thoroughly deserved.
At least eight of the Unit arc in a state of some euphoria,
because the final approval for their adventure training exercise
in the United Slates of America has just been received. The
expedition leaves next month to walk along part of the Grand
Canyon in Arizona and a full report will hopefully appear in
the September edition.
We have lost, or rather are just about to lose, four of our
stalwarts, Sergeant Paul Fairclough our Pay Sergeant, Corporals
Ray Seabrook and Pete Greenough REME, and Corporal Pete
Rodgers; are all leaving the Unit within the next four weeks,
Their combined farewell party was held last week in the Field
Force Club which turned out to be a roaring success.
Wicked Whisper. Which member of the Orderly Room
Staff was it, that at a recent Sergeants Mess Happy Hour, tried
to crack the Administration Officer with neat Glenfiddichs but
alas could not stand the pace himself. And him an ex-Queen's
Own Highlander—what shame.
We welcome: Staff Sergeant Dennis Grumley, Corporal
Peter Holmes and Private Benny Goodman,
Out going: SQMS Sam Devine, Sergeants Andy Brath-
waite, Paul Fairclough and Mick Costen to Belize for his third
tour—how does he do it? Corporals Ray Seabrook, Derek
Harrold, Pete Greenough and Private Steve Bolton.
10 Ordnance Support Battalion
JUNE was relatively quiet for the Battalion when one con-
siders how busy most months are. Various individuals still
found time to carry out RPC training in Lydd, adventure
training in Penhale and involvement in the Aldershot Army
Display and the Bath and West Show.
The highlight for most must have been Exercise Massacre
in Glencoe Scotland. The exercise was named after the 17th.
Century Massacre of kilted warriors, although some clearly
considered it referred to the muscular pains brought about by
seven days of goat-like activities. The exercise involved three one
week exercises for twenty all ranks at a time. The first four
days in each case were spent tackling local mountains, in-
cluding:—Aonach Gagach, Stob Gabhar, Ben Nevis and Na
Grunrcuan.
One group even managed to climb Ben Nevis,
whose tourist track even in May, was covered in snow above
3500 feet. The final three days were spent under canvas or in
climbers huts on 4-6 man expeditions. Carrying 30-40 lbs in
most cases produced a few grimacing faces, but the weather
stayed fine and even the twenty four hour man packs tasted
splendid.
Sergeant Bob Boughen and Lance Corporal Freddie Fox shoulder
to shoulder during the 1500 metres in which they finished up
as winner and runner-up respectively.
Before we finish the subject of Travers Clarke, a mention
must be made of our tug-of-war team literally selected from
volunteers on the morning of the competition. Without train-
ing of any kind, they pulled superbly, defeating three other teams
to reach the semi-finals of the competition before being defeated.
It was quite an achievement for the team who were, Staff
Sergeant Pete Mudway, Sergeants Len Ross and Ken Bartlett,
Corporal Taffy Owen, Lance Corporal Jock Hood, Corporal
Ray Seabrook, Privates Dave McDonald and Colin Brothwell.
While our athletes were sporting, Sergeant Geoff Moorhouse
ably assisted by Lance Corporals Dave Jones and John Holmes
and Private Pete Drysdale were bulling up vehicles and other
assorted equipment ready for display at the Aldershot Army
Show, Now that the show has ended they are back in the Unit
suffering from the symptoms of battle fatigue; a good percent-
age of the 100,000 people who attended the show visited the
RAOC stand,
Bisley has also just started and as well as W02 Keith
Watson, there as a competitor, the Unit has also had to find
seven men to work in the Butts, plus the 21C who is running
a range.
The first four days were spent tackling local mountains
Book number R0246