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RAOC Gazette - page 268

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Publication date 1977
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Transcription of considerable confusion are still remembered locally, but with
ureal charm and aplomb he managed to extricate himself from
v-hAi could have been a tricky situation!
His off-duty pastimes include playing cricket and golf, both
o: which he does well. He will be remembered for sharing
an opening stand of over one hundred and seventy runs with the
late Brigadier Alan Parnaby playing cricket against RAMC,
and for *' holing-in-one" on the Goring and Streatley Golf
Course and incidentally helping to keep " the Trough " at Head-
quarters DOS!
When he retires he will continue to live in the Didcot area
and the Army will continue to have the benefit of his experience
and expertise when he takes up his new appointment with the
Ordnance Board as the Secretary of the Explosive Storage and
Transportation Committee, All his many friends will join me
in hoping that he and his wife Nickie will enjoy a long, happy
and active retirement.
MARCHE INTERNATIONALS
YAL DE MARNE
Lieutenant Colonel Patrick receives the silver cigarette box from
Baron E, De Selys Longchamps (right) and M r H. D. NewEyn.
A TEAM of thirteen from Headquarters UKLF recently took
part in the International March in the Mame Valley on the
South Eastern outskirts of Paris. Corps representation in the
team was Sergeant Neil Jamieson (G Ops/Plans), Corporal Tony
Hutchinson (JWE) and Corporal Alan Meight (HQ AAC).
As they had entered the special military category; twenty
two pounds in '58 pattern webbing, combat suit, boots and
puttees was the order of the day. Thirty kilometres was the
distance aimed for.
Setting off from Wilton on the evening of the 23rd Septem-
ber, arrival in Paris was at about 1000 hours on the following
day. With ' duty free * hangovers and cramped bodies it was
discovered that thirteen people plus kit and webbing do go into
a fifteen seater mini bus—but with very great difficulty!
by Ammunition Technical Officers of the Corps in Northern
Ireland, In particular it records, in an engraving on the lid, the
action of Lieutenant Colonel Derrick Patrick in removing a
device from one of the Petrofina petrol tankers on 28th March
1977. The accompanying photograph shows the cigarette box,
held by Lieutenant Colonel Patrick, with the Chairman of Petro-
fina—Baron E. De Selys Longchamps, and the Managing
Director of Petrofina—Mr H. D. Newlyn. A proud moment for
all members of the Corps,
THE END OF AN ERA
The UKLF group hold a pre-march coordinating conference.
*
Accommodation and messing arrangements were made by
the organisers. Food on the whole was substantial, but it is
rather puzzling when cereal bowls are filled with coffee or
drinking chocolate at breakfast!
The March route followed the River Marne and was well
marked and organised, with the Gendarmerie and French In-
fantry controlling the traffic as required. Over three thousand
participants, civilian and military, took part and the comrade-
ship, enthusiasm and friendliness, was superb.
The team finished the course (as a team) and blistered and
sore feet were forgotten as No. 2 Dress was donned for the
International March Past. Weariness was instantly dispelled as
the coveted medals were collected; the office seemed a long way off.
This was the first Headquarters UKLF marching team
effort and many friends and much valuable experience was
gained for the next one. Look out Nijmegen.
A PRESENTATION
AT
DIDCOT
ON 3rd October the RAOC Officers Mess at Didcot received,
on behalf of the Corps, a unique piece of silver in the form of
a lovely cigarette box, in recognition of the work carried out
The end
Murray
Sergeant
Stressed
of a proud era in rhe history of RAOC* Major J. G. L.
RCT (OC Aerial Delivery Section, JATE) and Staff
W . O 1 Flaherty RAOC, on completion of the last Medium
Platform (MSP) Installation Cheek by a member of
RAOC Heavy Drop.
SYMPOSIUM
AT
WEST
MOORS
THE Petroleum Centre at West Moors witnessed a unique
occasion in the history of the RAOC when, for the first time
since the McLeod Reorganisation, officers holding the ' p i '
qualification were called together for a POL Symposium spon-
sored by HQ DGOS (Ord 2). The aim of the Symposium was
to examine current problems associated with POL in the Army
in peace and war. The main topics were Bulk Refuelling and
the role of the TAVR in the POL supply system. For this
reason, the Symposium was held over the Friday and Saturday to
enable as many TAVR Officers as possible to attend.
Over fifty officers from UK and BAOR involved directly
or indirectly in POL in the Army attended over the two days.
In addition to the Director General, the Deputy Director
203 —
Book number R0246