RAOC Gazette - page 223
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 |
Still on the subject of those concerned with ihe welfare of old comrades many readers will be interested to know that Major General John Sheffield retired recently from the post of Commandant of the Star and Garter Home for disabled Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen at Richmond. General Sheffield retired from the Corps some ten years ago and became the Secretary at the Home; he was later appointed Commandant. The General's connection with the Star and Garter Home will, however, still continue as a member of the Board of Governors. COIIS'CIDKNCE WHILST attending the Base Organisation Cup Tennis Com- petition at Chilwell in July, Brigadier Macdonald, Commandant COD Chilwell and Brigadier Roycroft, then Commandant COD Bicester, talked of old times and discovered in passing, that in the hectic days of the war, both had attended the same Officer Cadet Training Unit and not only that, both were on the same course. Interesting but Then coincidence took a step further when a look at the group commissioning photo- graph, taken in April 1944, showed Cadet Roycroft on the left and Cadet Macdonald on the right—standing next to each other! One to be commissioned the next day into the East Surrey Regiment and the other into the Seaforth Highlanders. Colonel John ShirclifL En route from Bicester to Rheindahlen on a sponsored cycling trip, using an issue bicycle, he had disembarked from the LSL in Antwerp Docks at first light, We were on hand to offer sustenance, embrocation and such similar ministrations as may have been required, assuming of course that he had managed to negotiate the kamikaze Belgian drivers twixt Docks and Depot. Arrive safely he did—albeit at the back gate while the reception committee was assembled at the main entrance—and he appeared in remarkably good form. Staying only as long as it took to have breakfast and his sponsors certificate endorsed, (he refused the offer of a quick rub-down with the Sporting Life!), he was back in the saddle and on his way to Leopoldsburg which was the next 4 natural break-point' on his journey. We subsequently learnt that the intrepid colonel had reached Rheindahlen safely. The A in U bike must come out of this with its reputation enhanced! A I wonder what odds a bookmaker might have given those thirty three years ago on two Infantry Officer Cadets, by chance standing next to each other in that photograph, becoming the Commandants of two out of the three Central Ordnance Depots of RAOC in the year 1977. Pretty astronomical I should think, photograph that at first glance might turn of the Century. well belong to the A PR release lust received tells me that: Lieutenant Colonel Shircliff was travelling on posting from Bicester to BAOR; the bicycle was on issue from Bicester to Rheindahlen and the exercise was to raise money for the Queen's Jubilee appeal. Sponsorship promises something in ihe region of £200. Well done. 500 MILES FOR CHARITY FIVE NCO's of the Training Centre have completed a run of one hundred miles a day for five days—not only to prove how fit they are, but also to raise money for kidney research. They are Corporals Jack Lonergan, Dennis Tones and Peter Knocks* Sergeant Roger Gill and Corporal Phil Ritchie. The second photograph, again by coincidence standing in the same order, was taken at the Chilwell Garrison Summer Ball. FULL CYCLE I AM indebted to the Ordnance Depot Antwerp for this un- usual tale. One could be accused of slight exaggeration if one was to describe Ordnance Depot Antwerp, as the sin centre of Belgium. 'All singin*; all dancin' * it certainly is not. However, the tempo of the Depot was heightened significantly on the morning of 23rd September, as we awaited the arrival of Lieutenant — Back at the W h i t e Hart Frimley for well earned refreshment. 1 70 — |
| Book number | R0246 |