RAOC Gazette - page 170
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 |
• STORKS PLATOON 71 AUK RAIT WORKSHOP AT the risk of being finally overwhelmed by the legions of paperwork advancing from all directions and pouring out of our terminal printers, I will divert my pen in [he direction of the monthly newsletter, The root cause of this excess is our annual summer train- ing camp held this year near Sehweinfuri, Split into two phases to enable a rear guard element to attempt the mam- moth task of keeping the Army Air Corps in the atr. Fresh from the firsl camp we have Corporal Graham Whittington, Lance Corporal Dave Middleton, Privates Paddy O'Keefe and Mike Pope. I was about to mention Sergeant Jonah Jones and Lance Corporal Ivan Sangster, but they deserted us for the athletic arenas of the United Kingdom, On the stores side Sergeants Mike Mays, Willie Clydes- dale, Corporal Duncan Morley, Privates Pete Mundy and George Turnbull complete the manpower. We congratuiate WO I Chuck Roberts on his appointment to Conductor and Staff Sergeant Dave Tandy on the award of his Silver Jubilee Medal. Sad farewells to Corporal Andy Vinicombe on posting out to Chilwell, his green fingers will be missed in the Platoon garden and Lance Corporal Yorkey Wightman on his departure to civilian life. Our Officer Commanding, Lieutenant Eric Pitchforth, never did beat him at squash. We welcome Private Dave Laney from Bicester. Stack- ing main rotor blades will make a change from blankets! Corps Troops W e s t HEADQUARTERS RAOC IF any soldier was to be asked what has been the event of the month, or indeed the year, the reply without hesitation would be Her Majesty The Queen's Silver Jubilee Review at Sennelager. The Review has been well publicized but must not be allowed to pass without notice in this contribution. Much of the preparation, and detailed work in support of the troops taking part, was undertaken by RAOC, and Corps Troops West was well represented by Major Frank Beaumont OIC Barracks Sennelager, Corporal Sharrock, Butcher, from 86 Supply Depot, and Private Williams, Storeman, from Stores Section attached to 36 Heavy Regiment Workshop. It may also be appropriate to mention the fortitude dis- played by the twenty five thousand spectators who endured the heat, noise and dust with considerable forbearance during a very long day which, for most people, started very early in the morning and ended late at night, However, it was indeed a privilege to be a spectator on this occasion which impressed British and German alike by its splendour, magnificence and precision, the like of which may never be repeated on such a grand scale. This review was truly a ' Royal occasion." Silver Jubilee medals were presented to representatives of minor units in Dortmund Garrison and the CRAOC, Lieuten- Lieutenant Colonel Morton presenting Sergeant Hamilton with his Jubilee Medal. Also in the picture arc Major Dempsoy and Staff Sergeant Jones. ant Colonel Morton, in his role as Station Commander, acted on behalf of the Commander Dortmund Garrison. The parade was commanded by Major Dempsey, Second-in-Command Headquarters RAOC. and RAOC recipients were: Staff Sergeant William Terrence Jones, 86 Supply Depot, and Sergeant Patrick John Hamilton, Headquarters RAOC Corps Troops West. HEAVY AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT OPPORTUNITY was taken on the visit of the Corps Com- mander I (BR) Corps Lieutenant General Sir Richard Worsley to Dortmund Garrison when a parade was held at 36 Heavy Air Defence Regiment at which WO I Brant OWO Corps Troops West was presented with his Long Service and Good Conduct medal. The normal upright posture in the swagger of Mr Brant's marching has taken on a temporary list to port until such time as he becomes accustomed to being weighted on that side. STORES SECTION 61 STATION WORKSHOP AFTER a busy and eventful three year tour, we have said good- bye to W02 Alex Gray, our WOIC. At a small and moving ceremony, the Stores Section gathered to express their thanks to Alex for his work amongst us and to wish him and his wife Betty every success in the future. The toast was joined by W02 John Woodward our new WOIC from Berlin and we wish him every success in his new appointment. Congratulations to Miss Connie Coombs, our Clerk/Typist on her marriage to Private David Jubbs RAOC at Dortmund. Welcome to the Corps, Connie, British Forces Hong Kong HEADQUARTERS AT last a volunteer to share the writing of THE CORPS GAZETTE notes for the Head- quarters! The handover/take- over was completed in a record time of exactly two minutes twenty five seconds, total -cost being one Naafi break and a cup of coffee; Captain Hugh McCormack was now in charge! However T H E GAZETTE file was brought to my attention on the (5th of the month and to my dismay I was informed that Captain McCormack was away on a two week Sub Aqua Course in Sek Kong! After tearing up the handover/takeover certificate, recording dues in of one coffee/Naafi break in my diary, I began to wonder whether his last posting had been as Planning or as Administration Officer! We welcome Staff Sergeant Patrick Craig as Chief Clerk Ordnance Branch replacing Staff Sergeant George Stephen who is moving to Camberly and the RMAS. Congratulations on the grant of acting rank, the tour with Ordnance Branch should be a memorable one! Congratulations to the Chief Clerk * G, 1 W02 Malcolm Jenkins, on his provisional selection for SRC in 1978. Statistics and Records have been unusually quiet this month and I called in the other day just to ensure they were still there. W 2 Malcom Edwards has recovered from his broken right arm but he does not seem to have yet recovered from the shock of Sunderland in the Second Division next season. HEADQUARTERS GURKHA FIELD FORCE IT has been a long time since this Headquarters produced notes for THE RAOC GAZFTTF-:, SO here we are hoping to make amends. At the moment we are extremely busy keeping the CCA at bay and making molehills out of the mountains of paper- work that accumulate; we can only promise to try and main- tain a regular feature. After such a long time, where does one begin? Owing to the fact that we have recently reorganised and redesignated from Headquarters 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade to Head- quarters Gurkha Field Force, we would not expect many of our younger readers to know that such a Unit exists, so perhaps we should begin by giving a rough idea of where we are and an introduction to the * workers,' Headquarters Gurkha Field Force in the picturesque location of the New Territories Kowloon, surrounded by rolling hills and luscious green trees (in the summer}. We are some fifteen miles from the Hong Kong/Chinese Frontier, 132 — * |
| Book number | R0246 |