RAOC Gazette - page 152
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 |
* here for some time—unless these notes don't meet with approval. the former until minor electrical faults eventually put iE out on Well I had better take them over to the Colonel and see whether time, in the latter, fifteen stages had been completed in fine style when the gearbox jammed in first gear and once again I am destined for an early posting! Yours as always, Fred, tempus fugtt ' VS. Have just returned from seeing the Colonel and regret to teli you that I wont be home next weekend as I am on a Our QIC Weapons Branch, Lieutenant Colonel John Kostoff, charge for failing to salute him. Honest, 1 didn't recognise led a visit by members from all branches of the Division to him in a beret. the preview day of the Artillery Demonstration at Larkhill. For Mr Roy Edmonds it was all pure nostalgia except that he was disappointed to find there were no horses, polished harnesses Training Centre or limber gunners on display. Just after this Colonel John had a short bout in hospital but has now happily returned to EMPLOYMENT TRAINING SCHOOL us. Major Sidney Pincher, that well known COD fitness MOST newsworthy happening of late has been the tremendous expert and charlatan health adviser to the geriatric, cannot success enjoyed by our three Jordanian ladies on their Ad- wait to start the rest of his recuperative regime on Monday and vanced Clerk and Shorthand Writers Course. Lieutenant Sabiha Friday early dawns. AI-Bitar T Second Lieutenants Nouha Al-Saydeh and Rima Hayari arrived in February this year to face a daunting task. We welcome Mr Bill Box on his return to the fold after By the end of July they were required to learn to type and pass but a short break of seven years in Bicester. Farewells have a shorthand test (in what to them was a foreign language), been made to SQMS Phil Simmons and Sergeant Bernard Sture, attend a series of lectures in the School of Ordnance on Staff Duties and allied subjects. After much burning of the mid- DSM(A) {VEHICLE DIVISION) CHILWELL night oil by the students, Conductor Mike Devaney and our I KNEW that there would be a penalty attached to my passing resident dolly-bird type shorthand instructors Pam and Ursula, the EPCl (Advanced) and it happened yesterday when the they did it all and deserve our congratulations. The ladies Colonel told me that in future, I would be the ' person respon- were lunched out by the Officers and shorthand instructors in sible ' for THE CORPS GAZETTE notes. I had a strange feeling the Headquarters Officers Mess on 22nd July. The Com- that the monthly contribution would prove too much for our mandant, Lieutenant Colonel John Janes, presented them with officers, who are all extremely busy at present trying to make our shield and was in return presented with a magnificent themselves as fit as us. Apparently there is some new fitness Jordanian Army shield. They also managed to fit in a shop- instruction out for them and they appear to be taking it very ping trip to Paris, unfortunately Conductor Mike Devaney could seriously. My mate in the Officers Mess tells me that plum not be released as a guide. It is believed his wife had some- duff, spotted dick and other exotic dishes have been dis- thing to do with that. They all now return to Jordan and the carded in favour of lettuce and other rabbit food, and that the School will never be the same again. smell of embrocation in the dining room is overpowering. We held our Jubilee Barbecue on 16th July. It was Do you remember my telling you last year about the extremely well managed by Conductor Clark and his com- Garrison Fete they held here which stopped my long weekend, mittee. The music was loud, the food plentiful, the drink and how everyone was saying they hoped it was the last one. flowed, what else could you wish for? Well I'll tell you, next Well, blow me, they had another one this year and I am now the year it will be held in summer! It was so cold, the Administration proud possessor of fourteen books of cookery recipes (thirteen Officer was even seen dancing; he was quick to point out the of which I enclose for you as they may come in handy at the blonde was his daughter (he says). local Church fete), three knitted toilet roll covers and a broken We welcome WOl Dave Cornelius, W 2 Elva Madeira aspidistra which I inadvertently acquired whilst waving to WRAC, Sergeants Bob Hood, Les Livesey, Tail Morgan and my friend at the auction stall. Den Nketia also Corporal Melvin Treen, and say farewell and Of course, all the chaps in Vehicle Division did their bit. thank you to Lieutenant Bob McCusker and W 2 Thelma We had a marquee full of fruit machines (that's those things Jacques WRAC. like small computers, but more reliable) and our Sergeants Booth and Jennions were given the task of parting the local children from their pocket money which, knowing them, they did very welh Mind you, our Staff Tipper showed what they call 'real tactical flair' by siting the marquee next to the beer tent,—which helped no end. Not far away, our Major Williams (the tennis officer I told you about) was operating a chess tent. He is a nice chap and was particularly friendly that afternoon: at the end of every game I played with him he called me ' m a t e ' — so I bought him a beer, The Vehicle Branch organised the treasure hunt (which was simply sticking flags in a map of England) and this was all a bit embarrassing as the winner turned out to be the Colonel, much to the annoyance of the OIC Vehicle Branch, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Watts, who claimed that he was nearest but that someone had removed his flag. All T can say is that as his Branch organised the thing, it would certainly have looked like * a fiddle if he had won,—which of course it wasn't! T am told that the organiser, Squadron Leader Cockshott (our globe-trotting sailor), had wanted to put the treasure in the Isle of Wight, but being unable to find the island on the map he chose Felix- stowe instead. (1 am a bit worried about him—he is sailing to Malta next month). Despite the terrible weather we have been having here, summer madness appears to be in the air. A few days ago one of our officers was overheard to murmur that he was preparing to donate his side-hat to the Corps Museum. To us, this seems a pity, for, despite the fact that age and appearance makes the said article a suitable candidate for such an auspicious resting place, the wearing of same adds a touch of sartorial elegance to this particular officer. This somewhat unusual incident was closely followed by a rumour that the jumble room in the Garrison Thrift Shop had been invaded by a horde of officers all asking for second hand berets. All very baffling, but in the spirit of true provisioners, we have advised our 162 WESTMINSTER BRIDGE ROAD brethren in clothing provision of the strange happenings in order that they may take some * timely action/ (Maybe it has LONDON SE1 7RR 01-928 6840 something to do with the lack of headroom in the new staff 198 D R A K E F E L L R O A D , B R O C K L E Y , SE4 01.639 5237 cars.) We have just said goodbye to Sergeant Mike Woolham who has left us on posting to Ordnance Depot Antwerp—lucky devil. Wish I were as fortunate but I have a feeling I shall be WALTER BARGERY LTD • 14 — Printers of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps Gazette |
| Book number | R0246 |