RAOC Gazette - page 302
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 |
Combat Supplies Battalion ; seems so quiet at the moment that it seems debatable that Battalion still exists! Most of 43 and 49 Companies are . .iv on Exercise Autumn Sales and 44 Company continue to ;-.Je in the woods. It is, however, rumoured that they have k once again gone on to the manufacturing of stones in boxes * presumably tor use with the new age of military weapons—giant catapults, and oversized stings! Forty four prefer to call it simulated ammunition—a fiendish device designed to test MHE (and tempers) and to make RCT trucks use more fuel. With Autumn Sales came the advent of Autumn (or vice versa). Autumn is settling in peacefully and the weather con- tinues to be fine, much to the delight of 43 and 49 who, I believe, are having enough problems with leaking pillow tanks, : \. \'i occasional casualty and the need for more men! Peace has descended on the Unit—we have sent most of the remaining soldiers away on courses and are settling in for the lull before the Christmas storm — we know that Christmas is approaching because everyone is selling raffle tickets! Our enemy troops have once again defected and joined our side—rumour has it though that they are looking forward to becoming enemy again, (We're only here for the Vodka! or 1 used to be a soldier in the RAOC until I discovered Smirnoff). Two members <of the Unit, Corporals ' Skid' Kidd and Paddy Long, managed to find a slack period in the work cycle - go to a German Parachute School at Altenstadt in Bavaria and earned their Bundeswehr wings. They apparently had quite a pleasant time and were sorry to leave. Our congratulations go to CSM * Wings* Walls and Staff Sergeant Paddy Bell on the award of their Long Service and Good Conduct Medals. The presentation was made in the Sergeants Mess by Brigadier MacDonald. He rounded off his visit to the unit with a Regimental Lunch in the Officers Mess at which Captain Nick Smith and Captain Chris Wraight were lunched out. We wish them both well in their postings, CSM Walls and Staff Sergeant Bell together with their wives, after the presentation of their Long Service and Good Conduct Medals by the DDOS 1 (BR) Corps. Congratulations go to Corporal Guy Nonis and Private Winston Brown on winning the Open and Handicap Doubles and again to Corporal Nonis on his victory in the Men's Singles at the Corps Badminton Finals. Well done. 1 (BR) Corps Troops Ordnance Field Park " OH ? hello sir, nice to have you back at work!" " What do you mean? I've been working since I came back from leave and not a day off since." " What has been happening in my so called absence?" "Well, the Volkslaufers have won a fair few medals at the Zomermars Volkslauf." " I might have guessed! They can't keep up the running." " Mrs Greenaway did a lot of work for it." u Mrs Greenaway?" "Yes sir, you know, Mrs CSM, wife of W02 Jerry Green- away. He's that big guy thundering about in the Headquarters block. No sir, he is not a new posting. You have been away a long time! Then there was the Technical Visit from Colonel Lloyd Jones during which he presented W02 John Grant with his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Those SNCOs get away with a lot, especially when they are stood down to carry on drinking for the afternoon." " Yes, Q was ever a cunning devil. L think we'll miss him." " Then there was the Summer Ball sir. You must remember that, I saw you there." " Of course." '* We took over the Haig School assembly hall (It is rumoured that it was the only way the Deputy Head could get an invitation). The food was delicious—most unusual!" "But what about the CSM's pleasure?" " Oh, you mean the cross-country race. Yes, it went very well, Mechanical Transport and Administration are now sharing the shield. There was only one point though; it is as yet un- decided as to whether * Big John* had a motorised skate board or not." " You mean L Q Moncaster. Well, being Mechanical Trans- port Warrant Officer does have its advantages," " We then went on Exercise Fast Move near the Dutch border, lovely and short," " Yes, I believe I remember that one, I was Officer Com- manding for it!" " Look sir, why do we go through this every month when GAZETTE notes are due? We've been through the whole month's events. You pretend to have been away and then drag me in here and give me the third degree." " That will be all for now lad. Thanks for writing the notes—yes my signature block please." The October notes are the result of delegation to give readers an insight into some of the Section/Platoon activities and characters who may, or may not, be well known. The Stores Section writes thus: In the early days of October, Major Cowell gathered everybody into the Olympic Club, ostensibly for a briefing on Autumn Sales. However, the first lecture was on Life Insurance, which brought on a spate of redundancy claims and cries of " Do we really have to go on exercise?" In hindsight, most people wouldn't have missed it for the world, So, forth we sallied, to do battle with camnet and cooka on Autumn Sales. An all night move, without mishap, brought us down to the Mosel Valley and our harbour area, where we stayed for two hours. When they came to move us they needed whips and sticks as everyone was asleep! We eventually moved in and Vet up for the duration of the exercise, we thought! We eventually moved and crossed the Rhine to set up in the middle of a village. At the time of writing, we are still sitting there. The PC and A Platoon continue the story: The exercise has finished and the enemy totally wiped out, due to our efficient stores back up. The art of camming up has improved, with Office Wagons looking like cement mixers and Land Rovers like * RLs/ Congratulations are in order for Private Keith Edgar on his marriage to Anita. A sad farewell to W02 John Grant, who leaves us, and welcome to W02 Ollie Brown, who takes his place. Captain Dewhurst has disappeared to Morocco, but more later. The Mechanical Transport talk about Mechanical Trans- port: Sergeant Fred Stopford has got his redundancy and can be seen walking around with a permanent smile on his face, There is 'John Junior' Corless now sporting stripes three and * Little John' Parker selected for his promotion (also three stripes). Corporal Brian Asher and Private * Warren' Gee are at present sunning themselves in Morocco. We, the poor workers, have received two postcards from them complaining about too much sun and cheap plonk. The writer of these notes is pleased to note that * Land Rovers Two' are still motoring strong in Morocco. Private Jeff Lewis is pleased with his posting to Viersen. Private Trev Knight drove the Pub Mk 1, otherwise known as Headquarters Logistic Service on exercise for a week in Sep- tember, and returned it with a blown engine. As a result, he now has complete control of the twenty one year old Bedford RL Charging vehicle. Private 'Johnny* Johnston arrived on 22nd September and was promptly invited to join us on exercise. He got his revenge three weeks later by putting the Escort through a metal fence. As he said, " I tried to control the skid by steering into it, but made matters worse." Congratulations to Lance Corporal 1 'Pete Mason on his selection for further promotion. A new hand will have assumed the pen for the next notes> but a Happy Christmas to all from 1 Ordnance Field Park. 229 — |
| Book number | R0246 |