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RAOC Gazette - page 124

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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1977
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Early date 1977
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Transcription We have had 153 Regiment RCT (V) with us. The week-
end for the Regiment held the delights of a visit lo Amsterdam
and a seven-a-side football competition, with teams from the
squadrons playing teams from each of the station units, 154
FAD won a very tight final against CWC, After the football
we were treated to Beating of Retreat by the Pipes and Drums
of the Regiment, The second week of the visit started with
a Military Skills Competition with 154 FAD acting as con-
trollers and we were much impressed by their keenness and
knowledge. All in all a very enjoyable fortnight for those in
154 and we hope equally enjoyable and useful far 153 Regi-
ment.
We welcome Captain Paul Henwood, Staff Sergeant Dave
Wood, Sergeant Derek Marley RAPC, Sergeant Ken Thomp-
son, Corporal Joe Martin, Privates Paddy McVeigh, Bob Forrest
and Terry Murray and say farewell to Captain Roger Bicknell,
Captain Roger Atkey (flying visit). Sergeants Nick Bayes RAFC ?
George Arthur and Corporal Keith Sharpies.
We also say
welcome back to Sergeant Bob Monday and Private Ron
Holden on their return from Northern Ireland.
1 {BR) CORPS VEHICLE
COMPANY
OUR gallant team of Table Tennis players attempted to take
the RAOC BAOR Table Tennis Championships by storm. The
team, comprising: Lieutenant Allen Singer, Corporal Budgie
McArthur and Privates John Carroll and Ken Gilbert, all did
well but alas, didn't quite achieve their aim. Corporal Mc-
Arthur was just beaten to third place in the * Open Plate.'
Well done lads and better luck next time.
Many of the Company were involved in the Fifth Inter-
national March of the Royal Gendarmerie Academy in Brussels.
The forty two kilometre march (twenty one kilometres of
which was cobbled) was enjoyed by the majority but there
were a lot of fragile bodies walking around the place with
blisters or hangovers for a few days afterwards.
We even
managed to get one of our REME stalwarts, Sergeant Dave
Siggs, to tag along,
During the past month the Unit had two games of foot-
ball against the local civilian police, losing both times rather
heavily, 4-1 and 5-1. However, the games were played in
good spirit and as a consolation to boost our morale we did
win the final Boar Race!
We welcome back Lance Corporal Pritchard from his
emergency tour in Northern Ireland and congratulate him on
his recent promotion.
We extend a warm welcome to Privates Harrison, Beedon
and Morton, Lance Corporal Smith, Corporal Reed, Lance
Corporal Watson, Corporal Hadley, Private and Mrs Skidmore,
Private and Mrs Hay, Corporal Allan and Private Goodier, and
wish a bon voyage to Private Kennet who has returned to
UK and civilian life. Private Clark and Corporal Budgie Mc-
Arthur leave us on posting.
Congratulations to Sergeant Keith Wick and to Corporals
Graham and Tomlinson on their recent promotion. Also to
Corporal 'Dodge 1 Allan on making the grade in the Corps
soccer team.
A somewhat busy time is being experienced in preparing
ourselves for our Naming of the Barracks ceremony when our
hitherto un-named barracks will be known as Preston Barracks.
The ceremony has been marred by the death of Lance Corporal
Tom Wassail who was fatally injured in a car accident. Lance
Corporal Wassail will be sadly missed by all the Military and
Civilian staff of the Corps Vehicle Company.
7 GUIDED MISSILE COMPANY
THIS month the Unit has been involved in many tasks but
the month has been dominated by our parent Regiments' Dis-
bandment Parade. The Parade was formerly called the Syrena
Parade and served to commemorate the links between the
Batteries of 36 Heavy Air Defence Regiment and the 2nd Polish
Corps during the Adriatic Campaign of 1944. The Syrena
Mermaid of Warsaw was adopted as the motif for the Regi-
mental Shield of 36 Regiment, being the last surviving Gunner
Unit associated with the Polish Corps. The parade marked
the last time that all Units of the Regiment would parade to-
gether prior to disbandment.
While parts of the Regiment
will soon disband, or convert, 7 GM Company RAOC will
linger on to the end and then as the old song goes will 'fade
away.* Before our final departure we intend to hold our own
disbandment parade at Wulfen on 30th September. It is the
one highlight on CSM Burey's horizon, he is a little low after
the joys of the Syrena Parade. For weeks previous he had
been complaining how much he hated parades but the con-
stant crunching of a pair size ten boots and the ear splitting
words of command told otherwise; once an ex-Guardsman
always an ex-Guardsman. On the day of the Syrena Parade
the sun shone and the CSM and his fifty men looked resplen-
dent as Captain M, Oliver abandoned four wheels to lead the
7 GM Company contingent on foot.
The Company was also involved in running a TEWT for
a number of young Gunner Gentlemen.
Captain Oldham
locked himself away for a week with several pens and various
books on tactics. He kept asking for coffee between muttering
about * all round defence' and ' two up.' After several bliss-
fully sunny days of ' recce' for the TEWT, near the banks of
the Rhine, the great day arrived accompanied by mist and
rain:
Map Reading, Question One tl Imagine you could see the
tower over there
"
Question Two "Assuming it is a clear fine day where
would you expect to see
" (We now believe DMS stands
for Dirty, Muddy and Soaked).
This month we have also tested our fitness against the
new PT Test and our regular ten mile company run per
week appears to have paid dividends. Our fleet footed Sergeant
Towers-Clarke was most insulted by having to accept a thirty
second time concession for his age. Needless to say, he did not
need it.
As we commence our run-down the Unit area is taking
on the appearance of a scrap yard. Our CQMS, Staff Sergeant
(Steptoe) Garrick, is looking more worried each day as some-
body else unearths another strange item of kit which nobody
recognises. On the other hand our SAT WOl Doust has been
grinning all the way to our storehouses as he does unmention-
able things to our missile stocks.
Promotion to Sergeant: Sergeants Hayes, Laycock, Lang-
ham; To Lance Corporal: Lance Corporal Moorhouse.
Posted in: Private Fairley, all the way from our fellow
station Unit 154 FAD and Corporal Hunt from CVD Ash-
church : we've put him in charge of the vehicle account.
Posted out: The dynamic-duo from the company MT:
Sergeants Emery and Leggott and the following long serving
members of the Unit: Lance Corporals Haley, Cokayne and
Private Finer.
3 Base Ammunition and Petroleum Depot
THESE notes open with a report on the highly successful
Officers' Summer Ball, held in Bracht during the Corps Week-
end, The Officers* Mess was completely transformed, with its
car park giving way to a large canvas tent in order to house
the two hundred Officers and their ladies who attended. Special
mention must be made of the Organiser, Major Brian Burgess
together with Captain George Hodgson and his merry men led
by Gunter Raschdorf and backed by Mr David Hanks of PSA.
Mrs Musson, Mrs Attrill and Mrs Lillington spent many hours
on the flower decorations assisted by Mrs Atkey and Mrs Hanks.
Their efforts were rewarded by many complimentary remarks
on the night The only regTet was that the Biergarten could
not be used owing to the heavy rain; but otherwise the even-
ing was a great success and enjoyed by everyone.
There has been feverish activity in the Wives* Club
recently, not least of which were two Jubilee outings for the
children. The younger ones were treated to a day at De-
Efteling in Holland, which is a Disneyland type of place. The
elevens and over went to Beeks Bergen, an inland sea and
Safari Park. Both groups thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Silver Jubilee medals have been awarded to Colonel
Musson, Captain Hodgson, RSM Brownlow, Corporals Do veil
and Rothery. Congratulations to all recipients.
After a successful inter-departmental athletics meeting in
which ASD came out on top, the Unit performed well in the
Rhine Area Championships, coming fourth overall.
In the
RAOC BAOR meeting, held at VSD Moenchengladbach, 3
BAPD came a very close second to 15 COD in the Travers
Clarke Competition, in which the overall track trophy went to
3 BAPD.
The tug-of-war ' heavies' won their event as did the
medley relay team. We came second in the other two relay
events. Individually, Private Charlie Stringer won the discus
and was fourth in the shot. Corporal Dougie Hay came third
in the discus, and Lance Corporal Chris Christopher third in the
shot.
We also had two third places in the track events,
Lance Corporal Dave Gelling in the 400 metres and Lance
Corporal Ken Norburry in the 5000 metres.
The cricket team are through to the next round of the
Major Units (BAOR) Knockout Competition, by beating Ord-
nance Depot Antwerp at Emblem. Leading player is Lance
— 92 —
Book number R0246