RAOC Gazette - page 86
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 |
2nd Armoured Division HEADQUARTERS RAOC A SHORT spring has landed us directly into summer. Rocketing temperatures creating Riviera conditions help to make life in Lubbecke very pleasant at the moment. Many of the Headquarters RAOC team are spending off duty moments in the outdoor living mode with barbeques and beer, both of which are excellent fare here in Germany. Off duty moments, although hard earned are few, however, and lead one 'o observe that here as well as elsewhere in the Corps they are de- ceasing as the Corps step forward firmly to keep pace, during liiese challenging times, with Supply Management and all of its associated functions and possible aggravations. Welcome to WOl Jim McGowan the new DOWOl, who is firmly settled and working hard. He informs us that he was looking forward to a little peace and quiet for his final two years in the Corps. Someone should have told him I He has been heard to say that any offers of a free transfer will be con- sidered. Excellent references can be provided, Exercise Queens Crown arrived and was tackled success- fully, A split deployment saw 21C Major Jim Steele's team *n trenched in Supply Ops at Div Rear, with CRAOC, Lieu- enant Colonel Baughan taking command of Headquarters DAA, assisted by the Adjutant, Captain Mike Southworth, to- gether with supporting cast of DOWOl and Corporal Brummie Thynee. DOWOl does wear his NBC suit for bed during ops. The question of whether he has his sleeping bag underneath is unresolved. Corporal Thynne insists he was visited by things that go bump in the night, who sabotaged his Clansman 321 set by changing the frequency after he had it tuned 'Spot On 1 ! Exercises tend to bring out the best in a soldier, and all types of latent talents are discovered. Who would have suspected -hat the Adjutant was such a proficient designer and writer of ac signs. It was agreed that his efforts were second to none. ot satisfied with this remarkable achievement he immediately [lowed up by astounding all concerned, producing excellent eakfasts for CRAOC who, suitably impressed, may decide to corporate the task into any future job description. The * hot ed T shift system utilised within Supply Ops works welt until ps are deferred for a night, when it becomes cramped and contains its own element of Riske. It was due to this very situation occurring that DOW02 and W02 Mat Bill Tonkins, assisted by the 2IC found themselves sleeping 'Wild West' style with a bedroll under the stars on the first night of the exercise. DOWO (the pressure is on) 2 Greg Gregory deployed with Supply Ops to strengthen the support and experience of the night shift. The Offteer-in-Charge watch Major Mike Dalley and Sergeant Mat Pete Arnold appreciated his efforts and agree that the sandwiches and coffee regularly produced were the best they have ever tasted. What day is it? Where are we? Seriously* a hard effort by the RAOC element of the Division which helped to produce a successful exercise overall. The vehicle belonging to S 2 Combat Supplies Major Mike Stacey and his sorcerers apprentice Sergeant Al Dunn, decided to report sick with clutch trouble. Perhaps it was rebelling against that hot mattress continually laid across its tailboard. Clutch troubles are no problem to Al Dunn who can successfully eject the door of a Scout helicopter belonging to 2 Regiment A AC with one pull of a handle. (Marked Emergency only). The Superintend- ing Clerk WOl Jim Prior has returned from, his Fire Officers Course, and can be seen stalking the building waiting for the right moment. Farewell to Corporal Richards who is looking forward to his tour in Suffield and welcome to Corporal Leese, Privates Lane, Jenkins and Fordham. 5 Field Force ^ ^ ^ THE highlight of this ^HOl£^^^_ month must be the ^^•nvflL^^^^^^^^_ Periodic Report — to ^RK#£^^^^^^^^^^h^ remind you again, the H f l w f ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ARU. The big day HtfHlr ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ H ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ started with the In- BrfBBrT-^^^B^^^^^^ specting Officer — mgjggi^ Brigadier J. Hemsley, ^ ^ ^ C o m m a n d e r 5 Field Force who was met at the gate of Portsmouth Barracks by the OC Major Haden and Company Sergeant Major John Matthews. The quarter guard did a slick 'Present Arms' and 'Shoulder Arms' and was then inspected by the Commander. 5 Field Force Ordnance Company Quarter Guard being inspected by Brigadier Hemsley, Commander 5 Field Force. Now is a chance to mention more names—the quarter guard consisted of Sergeant Boneham, Corporal Hussey, Lance Corporals Bolden, McNaim, Smith and Phillips and Privates Noonan and Reid. The Commander then saw the Company on parade and presented Long Service and Good Conduct Medals to Captain Martin and Corporal Ron Damen and a GOC Northern Ireland Commendation to Sergeant Steve Singers RAPC. Another highlight worth mentioning is the departure of the Admin Officer Captain Martin—he has left us for the dubious delights of Berlin. At his farewell the MT Section failed to turn up through a misunderstanding of timings and laid the blame on yours truly. In future when I have dealings with the MT I will refrain from using timings from the twenty four hour clock. Anyway Captain Martin, the unit wishes you, your wife and family all the best in the future. The new Admin Officer is Lieutenant Worrall. I do believe he is impressed with the unit for only after a few days of his arrival he is away on an exercise. We wish him and his family a happy and exciting tour. Second Lieutenants Phillip and Lovegrove have returned from their Young Officers course at Blackdown and now believe they know how the Ordnance system works. Lance Corporal 1 H ' Riley now firmly believes he has a guardian angel at RAOC Records because his posting to London Admin Staff has been cancelled and he is now going to 3 BAD Bracht, I am reliably informed that on the crashout after the ARU, Lance Corporal Roy Rowland was driving a four ton Bedford with a trailer Tasker in tow. Private Luigi Best, his passenger, had the responsibility of ensuring the Tasker was securely coupled to the Bedford, Luigi did his job and away the Bedford went. At the end of the short journey Roy and Luigi em- barrassedly tried to explain the disappearance of the Tasker, Luigi has been taking lessons ever since! The exercise season is now well under way with Exercise Gryphons Gambit being the main event of the month. It con- sisted. of a three day CPX and a final day's Logistic Demon- stration to approx two hundred and fifty T and AVR officers and SNCOs. The CPX provided Private Martin Noonan the opportunity to prove that he could maintain comms, with the outside world despite the absence of vital coaxial cables. Corporals Mick Pays and Eric Davis challenged the OC and 2IC to a pitched battle using Cabers and eggs at twenty paces— they forgot Captain Zorro Burr's skill as a duellist—to their cost! The Logistic Demo went off under the direction of the OC and the new casting director—Second Lieutenant Phillip who showed off the delights of the Bulk and Detail wagons to numerous groups of officers and SNCOs. The Demonstration was rounded off with a generous helping of Naval rum under the guise of the 2ICs special ' RAOC Atomic Gargle Blaster Punch' —and it did pack one! By the time these notes are in print Sergeant Jack Frost will be in Exeter spending his last six months in the Army before discharge. To him and his family we wish all the best for the future. Private Paul Bunyan is missed in the unit as he has been in BMH Munster for a couple of weeks. Cheer up Paul by now you should be sitting on your chair in the CQMS Stores doing your old job. |
| Book number | R0250 |