RAOC Gazette - page 106
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 |
BIRTHS VI. i"H—On 28th June 1981, at Colchester Maternity Hospital, > Rns and WOl Bob Smith, a son David Hamilton. TUART— On 10th June 1981, at Taunton, Somerset, to lizabeth (nee Baguley) and Roger Stuart, a son, Oliver Philip eonard. OEATIIS ORING ~ O n 20th May 1981, in hospital at Petworth, Colonel :0'.*frey Loring. ADOS 1st Airborne Division, DDOS Airborne c ns and CRAOC 16 TA Airborne Division. "HOMAS.—Sergeant Stanley V. Thomas suddenly in Canada n December 1980, only eight days after emigrating. ®Mt\mxit& W02 (SQMS) M. O'NEILL •UOR /. MARSHALL, SATO 3 BAD writes: — My initial reaction to W02 O'Neill's tragic death on 31st v 1981 was one of sheer disbelief. He had only been serving Ister for about two weeks of his second EOD tour when his mely death occurred during an IED incident Many people, both past and present, will have known SQMS SeilL 1 first had the privilege of knowing this promising , ; ang Warrant Officer whilst serving with 48 Company during ! )70. 1 had been detached to Norway to carry out local re- ,urces for elements of the AMF(L) and Corporal O'Neill, as \c was then, was assigned to me as my ammuniton adviser. In retrospect it was probably this enthusiastic young Corporal •vho finally persuaded me that ammunition ought to be my Corps specialisation. Even in those early days, as a young green ' subaltern I felt that this young man was destined to do well in the Corps. I didn't meet him again until 1 attended the Army School ^f Ammunition to complete my Ulster preoperational tour, He was one of the DS and much of my knowledge was nurtured nd moulded by his advice and encouragement. Many young ^TOs and ATs have benefited from this talented young man's experience and example. Finally, we served again in 3 BAD where W02 O'Neill held the appointment of WOTC Projects, His standard of work was always of the highest order and he had that rare talent for being a firm and fair disciplinarian in the gentlest of ways. Vm sure he will also be remembered by the many thousands of troops who passed through Leuth during Exercise Crusader 80. It was much to his quiet efficiency that nearly five thousand vehicles and twelve thousand men passed through swiftly and orderly. We here at Bracht have mourned the loss of a colleague who had a promising career ahead of him. On behalf of all the personnel at 3 BAD and all those who were fortunate enough to have known him, we offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to Mrs Hylda O'Neill, Christian and Caroline and to his brother and family. They can be assured that our thoughts are with them at this unhappy time and will remain so in the future. t * * IT was a stunning, numbing blow to learn of Mike's death, killed by a terrorist bomb whilst serving with 321 EOD Company in Northern Ireland. The sense of loss that we feel at Bracht is colossal. Mike was a very popular member of the unit, no more so than in the SATO department, and with his extremely cheerful personality, his dedicated and helpful altitude he earned the deserved respect from his superiors and subordinates alike. I first met Mike at CAD Bramley in 1964 when he was a private soldier having just completed basic training. Looking back it is easy to see that even at the age of eighteen he had the qualities which would enable him to make a successful career in the Army. After a posting to Aden, Mike returned to Bramley to attend the Ammunition Technicians Course at the School of Am- munition. Mike was following in the footsteps of his elder brother Peter, and on his successful completion of his AT course, like Peter, became an Ammunition Technician. It was during this time that Mike was making his name on the rugby field as well as beginning to make his name within the trade. Again like Peter, Mike proved to be a very good hooker and represented the Corps rugby team on many occasions. Until the mid seventies our paths crossed only on the rugby field and it was at the School of Ammunition, now moved to CAD Kineton, where we were to serve together again, this time as warrant officers. Mike had not changed at all and was still fit and youthful looking. Although he had retired from active sport he still kept himself very fit and specialised in helping less fit unit members through their BFTs, It was during this tour at the school that Mike showed the flair he had as an instructor and in his quiet, firm but gentle way got the very most from students of all ranks. Finally we served together at Bracht where not only did we work together but were neighbours as well. Mike had pro- gressed well during his career as an AT and at the age of thirty four had been selected for promotion to WOl and had recently passed a unit selection board for Special Regular Commissioning. Mike was buried with full military honours at Carlton Village Church on the afternoon of Friday 5th June 1981. The church was overflowing with both civilian and military personnel of all ranks. The high attendance being a true testament of the high esteem in which Mike was held. In Mike's passing the Corps has lost a keen, young warrant officer who had very bright prospects for the future. We have lost a cheery colleague, a sound technician and a loyal friend. More importantly, Mike's wife Hylda has lost a loving husband and their children a caring father, To Hylda, Christian and Caroline we can only offer our most sincere condolences and the promise of our fullest support for the future. We share their grief; John L, * * * COLONEL GODFREY LORING COLONEL W. D. MORRIS TD y DL, JF writes : — This perfect gentleman, aged eighty, passed away in hospital on 20th May 1981, after a short illness. He joined the HAC many years ago, while working in the City of London, and was the first ADOS when Airborne Forces were originally formed. He suffered in later years with his back, damaged in parachute training, in the days when one was made to drop off the tail board of a moving vehicle. From his appointment as ADOS 1st Airborne Division, Colonel Loring became DDOS Airborne Corps and ensured all Airborne Units of excellent RAOC service. After the war he farmed in Sussex, but became ADOS (CRAOC) of the 16th TA Airborne Division. It was not sur- prising that the Church at Graffham was packed for the short thanksgiving service, Our deepest sympathy is extended to his dear wife Eddye and to his sister Charlotte, tB3je &&<&€ g i b :£>ottetp THE Committee of Management of the Aid Society acknowledge with grateful thanks the following donations, totalling £2,524, during the half year ending 30th June 1981. Horton-cum-Studley Playing Field Committee, CAD Kine- ton/RAOC Association Annual Reunion 1981, Sergeants Mess. Chilwell, Officers Mess Chilwell, Shroder Charity Trust, Leicester Branch RAOC Association, RAOC Training Centre Officers Clothing Shop, BBC (for help given by RAOC to production of The Dave Allen Special Show), Chaplains' Branch Head- [Continued on inside cover.) |
| Book number | R0250 |