RAOC Gazette - page 191
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 |
ON BECOMING ;/y/: folio wing paragraphs were sent in by a recent recruit iitut are reproduced unedited. The nine weeks since the beginning of our basic training have literally flown, and here we are, awaiting the commence- ment of our Passing-Out Parade. Our Big Day! Mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters and friends are already 1 seated, eagerly searching out their very own ' pride and joy, From lime to time they point and wave in our direction, but our training has taught us not to be distracted, and so with our eyes fixed straight ahead, we control our natural enthusiasm, i'-ut longing just the same to return their proud recognition. We have marched on following the band. Our NCOs are just as apprehensive as we as they offer quiet words of en- couragement and prepare us for what is to follow. Stand- ing at ease, we await the arrival of the Inspecting Officer. Over the weeks starting from day one, when we drove with trepidation through the gates at Blackdown, the Army has organised our every waking hour, gradually changing us from somewhat remiss young civilians to soldiers of now consider- able bearing. At first it wasn't much fun. We lost our crown- ing glory—so painstakingly grown, and now lying like a carpet c( fur on the floor of the barber's salon. We hung up our jeans and T-shirts, replacing them with trousers, green barrack dress, and pullover, heavy wool, and we swopped our trendy platform sole shoes for army boots. My jeans had never been introduced to a smoothing iron, but these trousers must at all times appear with a knife edge crease. My plastic plat- forms never felt the need for polish, but these giant black brutes on the end of my legs seem to have an insatiable appetite for blacking, THE JOHN PEDLER TROPHY A Bed-making has become a mathematical art. At home, left to my own resources, the routine would have been in and out of bed for days on end without even smoothing the covers. The disarray of my civvy wardrobe was comparable with the results of a bomb having hit it. Just one garment out of place in my military array and the bomb would have been under me. During the first few days we were issued with kit, and drilled in the art of doing everything army fashion. Our spare moments were very few, but those we did have were filled with thoughts of home. The home sickness soon passed, and we learned to become self-sufficient, self-assured and remarkably more mature. PT and battle endurance training were hard and tiring, but our endurance grew with our physical fitness and all the many absorbing activities we met up with—shooting and sports, fieldcraft and first aid, more than compensated for the efforts of keeping fit. We gradually became a closely knit, loyal team, which showed not only in our activities on the parade ground, but also on Battle Camp as we helped each other with digging trenches and building bivies and it became more apparent in our recreational periods. Our platoon is the best, and no one dares to suggest otherwise, So at long last the longed-for day has dawned. With the arrival of the Inspecting Officer we were brought to attention and we have given the general salute. Soon the actual in- spection will commence and we..are all concentrating on giving of our best, Personally I feel it is time to stop reminiscing, and in- stead, begin to look forward confidently to a worth-while career built on the firm foundation of my basic training. THE READERS will be interested to know that Lieutenant Colonel John Pedler who recently retired, has presented a silver cup to the Apprentices College to be awarded annually to the Apprentice who best displays the qualities of leadership. It was won, for ;he first time, by Apprentice Sergeant Smith. SOUDIER DGOS TO THE FITNESS OVER CHALLENGE FORTIES The undermentioned have successfully completed the distance. Captain R. J. McCartney OSU Barlow Major A. G. Jeffries Composite Ordnance Depot Hong Kong Staff Sergeant J. E. Brookes Lieutenant Colonel P. G. Clayton ... ... 16 Battalion Lieutenant Colonel R. N. Arman ... Lieutenant Colonel M. J. H, Connolly 15 Composite Ord Depot Conductor Edwards Lieutenant Colonel M. J. M. O'Dea Northern Ireland Captain J. E. Bolt ... Captain J. A- J. Humphreys Captain A. Parry Captain D. Matthews Colonel R. W. Thornton COD Donnington Major S. Pincher Sergeant H. E. Bentley Major N. Pendlebury, RAPC altd. Major R. Vincent Supply Depot Cyprus Major J, D. Taylor 16 Battalion Captain L. Wright Ordnance Depot Antwerp WOl T. E. Holland ... Headquarters British Forces Hong Kong Captain D. M. Mackay Ordnance Services Berlin ' . > * & • • • ; ;.&i& DEAD-LINE DATE FOR RECEIPT OF COPY WILL ALL contributors kindly note that the deadline date for receipt of copy at THE GAZETTE Office really is the 29th of the month for publication a month later. The John Pedler Trophy for Leadership. 145 — |
| Book number | R0246 |