Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 198

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 The CRAOC, Lieutenant Colonel David Cornwell, proved
he has a ' mean * right hand at ten pin bowling as well as at
-.Ticket, by winning the "high game' handicap in the Head-
quarters 3 Division Ten Pin Bowling League, in which the
HQ RAOC team came second.
As this will be our last UK publication as HQ RAOC
3rd Division, we would like to take the opportunity of saying
farewell to all our friends past and present who served with
RAOC 3rd Division and especially to our present units with 19
Airportable Brigade, and former units now with 5, 6 and 8
Field Force.
We say farewell to our previous ' scribe 1 Major Derrick
Eve and wish him every success with the ' Daily Telegraph*
crossword when commuting to Waterloo on his way to the
Ministry of Defence.
To Major Mike Hogg who will be
cementing Anglo/American relations with the US Army QM
School. Our own DOWO WOl (Conductor) Larry Burroughs
on returning to 19 Ordnance Field Park and to civilian life in
March 1978; his knowledge and expertise will be sorely missed
by everyone in 3rd Division. Staff Sergeant A Jim'll Fix It * Cook
to Headquarters 1 Division Regiment RCT and Corporals Ron
Damen and Brian Stoddart on posting to Belize and HQ
NORTHAG respectively. Lance Corporal Stevenson bids us
farewell to join his Maple leaf friends in Canada and last but
not least, Private * Slick" Brown, on posting to 16 Light Air
Defence Regiment Stores Section.
RAOC Didcot
HEADQUARTERS
BASE
ORGANISATION
A NORMALLY quiet period but this
year even more so possibly because of the
impending reorganisation.
The Sergeants Mess held their annual
ball which, to celebrate the Jubilee, was
made a particularly special event and
the marquee* erected for the occasion,
seemed to dwarf the mess building.
Amongst many local guests was the
Mayor of Didcot who has many associations with the Corps.
The officers played Bicester at cricket and felt confident
of winning until Bicester's number nine batsman whacked four
successive balls for four each much to the consternation of
our bowler, Major Richard Shore, the Combined Services player.
Other sportsmen were again able to enjoy the squash court,
completely refurbished, but at the expense of the tennis court,
once the centre of many social occasions but now having
the appearance of a nature reserve.
August saw many unaccustomed visitors to the mess as
Retired Officers now take a turn as duty officer.
Unfortunately not all of our last contribution could be
accommodated and mention of the departure of Colonel (now
Brigadier)* Charles Smith to HQ UKLF was omitted. In his
place we |iave since welcomed Colonel John Alway from COD
Donnington.
Another senior officer move was the departure of Colonel
Aubrey Whent, to COD Chi 1 well, his relief being Colonel Vic
Baguiey from DSM Bicester.
We also said farewell to Lieutenant Colonel Charles Teague,
who retired to take up an appointment with the Botswana
government, and Major Phillip Bomford now working for a
local firm.
Finally we must mention the departure of SSM Stan
Brown and his wife, Daphne, who will be much missed because
of her sympathetic involvement in the work of the Housing
Management Staff. They plan to live temporarily in Bristol.
spection of Hong Kong! Others, more junior, stiil manage the
occasional duty visits to interesting outposts such as Benbecula
and BAOR.
August also sees the demise of the * voluntary aspect' of
fitness training which the Director started in March under the
direction of Captain Robin McDermott and WOl Fred Mough-
ton to train the juniors, and Captain Mick Pritchard, who has
been improving the stamina and physical potential of the
* veterans' (the over forties). One senior ' Veteran ' has been
heard to say that his performance has improved threefold!
From September both juniors and veterans will be doing a
compulsory weekly stint, and it is rumoured that a volunteer
veteran might even be found to take up the D C s challenge.
There is, however, no truth in the rumour that Brigadier
Lawrence-Arc her has volunteered to be the first D C s cham-
pion !
Congratulations are due to Major Fred Cantrell, who leaves
al the end of August on promotion to Lieutenant Colonel as
CATO BAOR; WOl John Burton on the Award of the Long
Service and Good Conduct Medal which was presented to him
at a small informal ceremony by Brigadier Lawrence-Archer,
and to Miss Joyce Dawson, who completed thirty five years
Civil Service on 23rd July—an event which was celebrated by
a small DLSA party,
The officers of the Directorate entertained their wives to a
DLSA Ladies Dinner Night in the RAOC Officers Mess, Didcot
After enjoying an excellent meal, Major Hugh Heap, the
DAQMG Secretariat, arranged highly acceptable entertain-
ment in the form of horse racing and dancing. We are hoping
to plan another similar evening before Brigadier Lawrence-
Archer leaves us on retirement.
DIRECTORATE
OF SUPPLY COMPUTER
SERVICES
THE Directorate was well represented in Corps/Army sport-
ing events this summer. Captain Geoff Cox participated, in
both the Rhine Army and Cyprus Combined Services Parachute
Championships, while Major Richard Shore has played cricket
for the Corps and Army on many occasions. Not to be outdone
Major Ron Rush, following his success in the Army Golf
Championships, has been selected to play for the Army in the
Inter Service Golf Championships.
More moves are planned for September when the next
step in our concentration at Bicester takes place. The first to
leave is Lieutenant Colonel Bob Herdman. He will be closely
followed by Colonel Brian Barratt, Major Kevin Donnelly and
Conductor Pete Atkinson.
In the near future Captain Geoff Cox leaves to join 1 (BR)
Corps Combat Supplies Battalion followed by Captain Phil
Scott who retires on 1st September. We all wish them well.
Other departures imminent are Major Richard Shore who
leaves for Berlin and Captain Mike Roycroft who joins the
Commando Logistic Regiment*
The only recent arrival is
Major Malcolm Hill from Headquarters Northern Ireland.
In June we reported the departure of Bill Crossley on retire-
ment and the photograph shows him with his wife, June, and
Lieutenant Colonel Tom Kemp.
DIRECTORATE OF LAND SERVICE
AMMUNITION
JULY and August have seen the passage of the three week visit
by the Inspector of Establishments (Army) Team looking into
the future organisation and establishment for 1978 when Am-
munition Inventory Branch has moved to Didcot from Bicester,
and DSCS and Base Organisation have both moved out of
the Station. The Base Organisation Work Study Team have
also been busily involved in planning for the future administra-
tive support required for the Directorate as the sole occupiers
of Didcot Station. Needless to say the I of E Report is still sub
judice, but we do not seem to have fared too badly!
At this season it is usual to see suntanned figures returning
from far flung holiday visits or boasting of a suntan gained on
Britain's beaches' Alas, in common with so many others, the
grey skies have beset the holidays, and the best suntan is
boasted by the Director just returned from his Specialist In-
Mr Bitl Crossley
153
and his wife with
Kemp.
Lieutenant
Colonel Tom
Book number R0246