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RAOC Gazette - page 288

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Publication date 1977
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Transcription saddle sores. The exercise was a great success, even though
they were all glad to return to ACC cooking—-Compo rules
OK!.
The unanimous decision was that another exercise must
be held in the near future.
Our congratulations to those members in the Depot who
have been awarded Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.
W02 Mick Smith of 522 Company RPC, W02 Ken Dickson
and Sergeant Jim Brady received their medals from Colonel
Berresford in the Sergeants Mess at the end of October.
Corporal Alan Smith has left us after twenty two years
service.
The end of a busy October leads us to an even more hectic
November and December as the winter sports matches come
thick and fast, and the Depot looks forward to the many
Christmas activities due to take place.
Central Ammunition Depot B ram ley
The Ki net on Tennis Team—from left to right: Major Bennett,
Sergeant Smith, Lieutenant Colonel Bhabutta, Colonel Berresfard,
lieutenant Colonel Hendy, QMSI Jones with Major Roach at
the back.
half Private Harper picked up a free kick from Staff Sergeant
Terry Kitchen just inside the box and levelled the score.
Private Geordie Bannister scored the winning goal shortly before
full time, making the final score 3-2 to Kineton.
Our second match during October was again played against
an RAF side, this time RAF Creddon Hill, at Hereford. An
untidy start in which we missed many chances, was soon rectified
when Lance Corporal Dave Vann put Kineton in the lead half-
way through the first half. Private Geordie Bannister again
proved to be Kineton's saviour as he pulled Kineton back to
the lead at half time after Creddon Hill had scored. With half
time over Kineton played good football, passing the ball
accurately and finding the gaps in the opponents defence. CADs
fitness became apparent as the Creddon Hill's goal keeper fell
to a very hard shot from Private Steve Sayers. Both Private
Paul Grimsley and Staff Sergeant Terry Kitchen scored to
make the final score 4-2 to Kineton.
The rugby season has also got off to a busy start with the
Inter Company Sevens competition and the first round of the
Army Cup.
The Companies in the Depot produced six teams (one of
these being a guest team from CEP Long Mars ton). The prize
of a crate of beer was well contested between C/HQ Company
and 522 Company RPC 'A' team. A very hard match pro-
duced only one try, by the Pioneer team, and this carried them
to victory. This competition provided a nucleus of players from
which the Depot team can be picked.
In the Army Cup we met 1 WFR at Kineton. A good
team effort, and a long and hard forward battle during the
second half, gave Kineton a 13-8 victory. In the next round
we have drawn a bye.
To complete the round up of our more energetic activities,
finally a word on our adventurous training exercise. This month
thirty foolhardy members of the Unit bared their bodies and
souls to the elements as they trekked up to Aviemore to com-
plete seven days of mountaineering, canoeing, walking, pony
trekking and orienteering. The Gods produced an Indian Summer
and all our emergency survival kit seemed pointless.
W02 Dave Young took most of the party on a seventeen
mile expedition up the Spey river. Major successes of this
exercise were Corporal Kevin Jolly who was presented with a
certificate by Dave Young on his successful completion of five
geological surveys of the river bed! ! He preferred, it seems,
to canoe upside down! Sergeant Jerry Vickers of the Royal
Australian Army Ordnance Corps waltzed up the river, that
is when he wasn't feeling homesick by also going down under!
Major Robin Watts and Major John Musten, a guest with
the party, took the ' lads' rock climbing. The only disaster of
the day was Private Gavin Stewart who had vertigo on heights
over three feet
Sergeant Andy Smith took the word ' adventurous' at its
literal meaning and accompanied five WRAC girls from the
Depot on a days pony trekking. After attempting many im-
pressions of John Wayne he eventually returned suffering from
AS ever Bramley remains busy with fewer people left to do
the work. The rundown plan, much to everyone's delight,
seems to be working well, even if a trifle mysteriously. The
Bramley Fire Service won the Reynolds Shield for General
Efficiency.
The Shield was presented on 14th October by
Mr G. F. H. Mitchell who is the Chief Army Fire Service
Officer. The Commandant, Lieutenant Colonel Elliott, and
Captain John Fox both accepted the DGOS Fitness Challenge
and both successfully passed the test.
The Inter Depot Angling Match between Kineton and
Bramley was fished in September with CAD Kineton winning
and taking back the Cup.
On 22nd October the Bramley Angling Championships were
held on the River Loddon—early this year to enable as many
people as possible to fish. This was a five hour match which
was well attended, the winner being Mr Elliott, and in second
place the RQMS, W02 Corney.
On the sporting side the football team has been unlucky
as so many of last years good team have been posted. They
did reach the second round of the York and Lancaster Cup
but unfortunately lost Corporal Pat Gardiner and Lance
Corporal Phil Hussey both attended the Corps Football Trials.
The Hockey team has had even greater problems as only
three of last year's team remain* However, due to great efforts
by W02 Bob Harvey, more people are beginning to learn the
game. When required some of the players from Didcot come
and lend their much needed support.
We say farewell on discharge to WOl J. Weatherstone, who
has been here since March 1972 and to Private Fisher, W02
Douglas RE ME, Sergeant Johnson, Corporals Ormandy and
Smithers, Lance Corporals Gibbons and Hughes REME have all
been posted to their respective new units. Our congratulations
go to W02 Corney on his promotion.
1 Ammunition Inspection and Disposal Unit
HEADQUARTERS AND ATO OLD SARUM. Since our last
newsletter we have bid a fond farewell to Lieutenant Colonel
Fitzsimmons and welcomed Lieutenant Colonel Archer. He has
by now visited all of his detachments and met most of the
personnel, stand by for a ' rash * of posting orders! His numerous
visits to the Naval Base at Plymouth are not to be construed
as an attempt to set up a detachment there, although their
oxygen bottle recharging facilities are excellent. Neither is
there any truth in the rumour that we can now undertake
EOD tasks well below the low water mark. Our long awaited
A/CATO has arrived in the form of Major King, all two metres
of him, and he now has his feet firmly under the table, to
the consternation of everybody trying to manoeuvre around his
desk.
At last the Headquarters has acquired an SAT and ATO
Old Sarum has lost one, (Alas rank must have his say).
Vibrations or should one say contortions are already being felt
from Lands End to John O'Groats and no AT, however well
concealed, may any longer consider himself unnoticed.
Life with the Old Sarum detachment
continues unabated.
l
Captain Pearson and his dogsbody Lt Rufus' are wondering
. how to fit in his posting between all his canoeing, parachute and
ski-ing courses. Sergeant " Sailor' Whitford has returned from
his debut as a f Naval EOD operator at Plymouth Tattoo and
Staff Sergeant Tony * Pearce has returned from Belfast while
Staff Sergeant * Barry' Allen mutters about his approaching trip
to the Emerald Isle. Bets are being laid as to whether W02
* Clive' Lambert will turn up at the right address when he
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Book number R0246