Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 26

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 VEHICLE DIVISION
\ i-UCLE BRANCH were once again involved in their annual
^..•fcise Wintex with Major David Williams master minding the
Ops Room supported by both military and civilian staff and
including Squadron Leader Peter Autie and the RAF Section.
They also looked after the COD * mob shop'! We welcome Mr
Noel Bacon to Finance Group, Mr Mike Laight to DP
Group, Mr Charles Hill to TRG and Mr Keith Clinton to
Vehicle Branch all in Executive Officer appointments. We
bid farewell to Mrs Lois Hannibal and Mr John Border on
retirement and wish them good luck for the future. We
received visits from Mr Charles Bill am, Director AC A and a
iv/niber of firms representatives including Mr J, K. Gill, Joint
* -oup Managing Director of Lucas Industries Ltd, accom-
p-:iied by Captain R. A. H. Dring RN (Retd).
The post moratorium period and closure of COD Chilwell
poses many technical and staff problems but the old
civilian
v
* stalwarts' in harness with the current military resolutes *
continue to keep the wheels turning!
Directorate of Supply Computer Services
IPS not ALL work at DSCS! At least for the few. Captain
<\irl Hoe has returned from Spain and the one thousand mile
K. ialifying cruise for the Transatlantic Race (one and a half
stone lighter and ten per cent of the time sea-sick—and he
reckons the trip was a success)!
Captain Ron Brown and his gallant Bicester band, which
included Major Richard Bugler and W02 Alex Gordon, went
down to Blackdown for the Bari Cup. After two days of
glorious weather and strenuous but enjoyable hockey, the team
brought back the Bari Plate. Captain Geoff Harcourt as a
member of the organising committee and Major Jim Lawrence,
Royal Signals, our own one star umpire, helped to ensure the
veralI success of the competition. On the rugby front, Major
Richard Shore at the grand old age of forty is still collecting
medals as a player (when he's not refereeing) and was in the
Bicester Garrison side who recently were runners-up in the
South East District Competition.
New terminology has crept into External Systems Branch
since the arrival of Major John Elphinston RAAOC. We now
talk of " bush trials," " walkabouts " and programmes that go
'* crook." Great care is taken to avoid any reference to under-
arm bowling!
SALOME, the on-line system, looms large and is about to
^e divested of the final veil, which perhaps accounts for the
twitch ' in many of her male users,
Yet another rebadging ceremony has taken place In the
Sergeants Mess. Brigadier Lawrence presented W02 Dave
Dance (ex-REME), with his RAOC badges and W02 Tom
Watts (ex-RAMC) with his RAOC and new rank badges, extend-
ing a welcome and congratulations,
Recent arrivals have included Major Keith Hewlett from
the Corps Troops Ordnance Company and Captain Bill Wiseman
from Commando Logistic Regiment. We say farewell to Lieu-
tenant Colonel Bill Bewley (Shrivenham), Major Mike Harris
RBMR), Major Hugh Mundy (Hong Kong), Captain Nigel
Sanks (Northern Ireland and Benbecula—who did he offend?)
and W02 Jack Strachan (Headquarters BAOR).
Directorate of Land Service Ammunition
DGOS, Major General Brown, accompanied by DLSA, Brigadier
Smith and DDQAD(Ord), Brigadier Blackburn, recently visited
the Small Arms and Small Arms Ammunition Testing Centre
<SA and SAA QTC) at Cold Meece in Staffordshire.
The Centre currently carried out Production Proof } In-
Service Proof (for all three Services) and investigations into
tmmunition incidents, for all natures and calibres up to and
including thirty millimetre.
The visit to Cold Meece by DGOS was the first by a DOS
or a DGOS and in view of the Corps close links with the Centre,
spanning many years, the visit created considerable interest
amongst the staff there,
DGOS was shown the full spectrum of Proof activities under-
taken and met and spoke to many members of the technical staff
who were directly involved in the Proof commitment. DGOS
was also invited to carry out a proof firing of a full clip of
thirty millimetre HE rounds at a hard target, and naturally, a
one hundred per cent hit rate was recorded!
The enclosed photographs show DGOS being 4 instructed *
on the workings of a thirty millimetre cannon, by Mr Les
Pointon, the National Proof Officer at Cold Meece.
We welcome Lieutenant Colonel M. D. Hall and family
The DC OS carries out a proof firing at Cold Meece.
from Ottawa and hope they settle in quickly and enjoy their
stay in DLSA.
The Bari Cup competition was enriched by the DLSA
Team who demonstrated the decisiveness of a Staff Directorate
by winning one, losing one and drawing three. However the
weather was superb r the grounds in excellent condition and except
the DQ who mistakenly ate a blackpudding for a hamburger,
everybody enjoyed themselves.
To finish we show a memorandum from one of our
customers. Winners submitting the correct solution will receive
a posting to DLSA.
1. Ref U/04264 dated 24.4.80.
2. Ref 22/04264 dated 24.4.80.
3. (a) Item one above, we applied for storage space on the 16th
January 1981 for quantity four and received OESD balance
to complete order—quantity two (this control completed *
14.3.81).
(b) The two applications submitted on the 9.2.31 for quantities
six and five should have been for quantities two and nine.
(c) The quantity two (in b) to complete part one (above) of
the order and quantity nine to complete part two.
4. As the quantity total is unchanged and the Storage in-
structions are the same I see no problem for DLSA, but this
memo is to keep the paperwork tidy. I regret any inconvenience
but sincerely hope this will help to clear any paperwork con-
fusion.
Thank you.
Ordnance Depot Northern Ireland
LIFE goes on here in the Ordnance Depot at its normal hectic
pace.
Captain Eric Pitchforth reckons that the men of bis Vehicle
Sub-Depot are even more overworked than normal and is
putting in a claim for double time as he sends them to Belfast
Docks every Sunday to collect vehicles regardless of whether
the boat is there or not!
The Supply Sub-Depot has been trying to drum up custom
for its Wardroom Club by holding a games day against 321
EOD and the ASD and a games night against the clerks of
Headquarters Northern Ireland. Don't ask me who were the
winners because T don't think they know either! A very success-
ful dinner night was held in the Club to say farewell to Sergeant
Dave Udall who has left us to go to Kineton.
Ski-ing has been the major event over the last few months
with Major Tony Bettaney, Captain Eric Pitchforth, Corporals
Duncan Murdoch and Mark Fox and Lance Corporal Steve
Spinks all going at various times on Exercise Knees Bend in
Scotland. I'm informed that they are all now proficient at mud,
slush and heather ski-ing. If they play their cards right they
can carry on with their new found skills over here as well.
Captain John Hardcastle and CSM Tug Wilson are up to
their eyes in preparation for the forthcoming Regimental Exercise
Ewes Head at Holcombe Moor. No doubt the rest of the depot
are looking forward to it just as eagerly!
The Ammunition Sub-Depot has recently opened a Club in
their lines called the World's End which could possibly explain
why there is a dearth of news from them in this report.
Recent marriages have been Private Chris Kenyon to
W/Lance Corporal Lorraine Gilmour; Lance Corporal Restarick
to Thelma and Private Duffy to Stephanie, we all wish you
health and happiness for the future,
Book number R0250