RAOC Gazette - page 16
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1981 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1981 |
| Late date | 1981 |
| Transcription |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR BRING BACK THE DADOS From MAJOR D. ST. J. EVE IN the old days, everybody knew that DADOS was a Greek word meaning * You cannot have it.' Now that we are all SOs2, people expect us to give away Ordnance resources; but everybody knows that Ordnance materiel belongs to Ordnance and it is procured and stored by us for the benefit of ourselves and not for the Army in general. In a more serious vein, I have found that since the term S02 came into being we fall between two stools. Ordnance is a Staff Branch in its own right on the ' Q ' Maint side. On the other hand, for example, we lowly SOs2 Combat Supplies are purely and simply Service advisers to the Staff and Units under the latter's administrative command. It is disconcerting there- fore to be told by Staff Officers of Grades 1 and 2 level that s we SOs2 are all * sq earning and should participate fully in their burden at the expense of our * natural function.' The point I am making is that the term * S 2 ' is, however judiciously contrived, a misnomer. In UK, certainly, neither the Staff understand nor do our units; this is evident from not only Staff remarks but also from units reactions. Units direct letters * willy-nilly' to the Staff—playing Staff Branch against Staff Branch—and often get the wrong advice; similarly the Staff tend to look upon us as equals and do not believe that we have anything further to offer until we are presented with an almost irretrieveable nonsense. It is high time that the RAOC regained its identity. CRAOC and DADOS's were always respected for their individual talents— as SOs2 CRAOCs Staff have regrettably lost a cherished identity. KOREAN VETERANS From MR O. J. RIDDLE Dear Sir,—On Sunday 5th April some seven hundred of us members of the National Association of Korean War Veterans (UK) attended a memorial service at Coventry Cathedral on the thirtieth anniversary of the battle of the Imjin River. As for us I know there were two of us ex-RAOC at this service: Mr A. Stokoe and myself, who had served together with the 1st Commonwealth Division OFF. I urge all Corpsmen who saw service in Korea to join this Association, which is growing fast here, and has such excellent aims, With best regards to all Corpsmen past and present TIMES REMEMBERED From LIEUTENANT COLONEL W. O. E. DOWDALL (RETD) Dear Sir,—The story of the escape from Greece of Maurice Brewer and Freddie Hughes, having been taken prisoner in Crete in 1941, which appeared in the February RAOC GAZETTE, stirred in me, memories of forty years ago. I am sure it must also have done so for all ex-Middle Easters of that time who knew these two pre-war soldiers of the Corps. Freddie alas, died a few years ago. He retired as Lieu- tenant Colonel in 1964 and this was followed by some years of employment as an RO at RAOC Records and AG9, I knew Freddie well, since boys service in 1927 and our paths crossed frequently—Palestine, Egypt and latterly when I took over from him at Headquarters Western Command on his retirement Always the life and soul of any party, given any old piano— and those of the NAAFI were invariably old—Freddie was truly the * Russ Conway * of his day. Maurice Brewer I did not get to know quite so well until we served together as Staff Captains at the War Office in the immediate post war period. However, although my recollection of their escape from Greece is now a bit hazy I do recall that because of the illness that afflicted Freddie, it was Maurice who really bore the brunt by comforting, carrying and sustain- ing his sick comrade on the incredible long journey to safety. Maurice, modest fellow as he was. could rarely be drawn to talk about it in the later days when I knew him. He also had a brother in the Corps but I alas lost trace of Stanley Brewer just after the war. The last news I had of Maurice was in 1964/65 when I learnt that he had retired as a Major and stayed on in Kenya. The escape story of Maurice Brewer and Freddie Hughes depicts the soldierly qualities of determination, initiative and esprit de Corps at their best In fact among their contemporaries in the Middle East at the time it was considered that the escape well merited official recognition by an award. With all due modesty, I would assert that the standard of most RAOC pre-war soldiers was above that of any other Arm or Service. Anyone who reasonably successfully managed to survive the rigours and discipline of either three to four years of boys service—or as a private soldier in those days between the wars, benefitted from the experience which did much to mould their character and future careers! This, I think more than anything else, is borne out by the large numbers who went on to warrant and commissioned rank between 1939/45. Such were Maurice and Freddie. I would very much like to know how Maurice Brewer has fared and to meet him again if he is in this country. May I therefore, Sir, request the courtesy of your columns to make this enquiry known—in the hope that an address will be forth- coming. N E W R E C O R D B Y THE STAFF B A N D IN response to many requests from Corps members, the Staff Band will be cutting a new LP /Cassette this year to be on release in November—just in time for Christmas presents! The recorded material will be in two contrasting styles. Side A will be ceremonial in content including favourite marches and featuring the new Fanfare Trumpets purchased with the proceeds from the Band Appeal. The layout of side A will be such that it could be used for parade rehearsals, incidental music to lectures and presenta- tions or for Mess functions. The B side will feature the Band in its concert role and include popular items from the band- stand repertoire. As the recording will be primarily for sale to members of the Corps we would like some suggested items which you might like to hear. Welcome also, would be any original ideas on the cover picture and the title. The Director of Music would be grateful if members would complete the attached pro forma to indicate demand for the first pressing. It is estimated that the cost will be about £4.00. Send no money now, a further bulletin will give the release date, To: The Director of Music RAOC Staff Band Blackdown Barracks Deepcut Camberley Surrey GUI6 6RW. From: Please reserve me copy/copies of the new Staff Band (LP/Cassette) state preference. This does not bind me to a purchase but will reserve me an order. *Cover Ideas *Title Ideas * Suggested items for inclusion *Flease complete as necessary. If you do not wish to deface your information in letter form. GAZETTE please forward this |
| Book number | R0250 |