RAOC Gazette - page 124
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 |
6 Field Force Ordnance Company EXERCISE CELTIC HORIZON was the company's summer Regimental and Ad- venturous Training Camp in South Wales. To be more exact on Penally Training Camp near Tenby. The Camp was split between Regimen- tal training, Adventurous training and dis- covering local beauty spots, the latter being carried out mainly at night! For the first week the Company was divided into two platoons and spent alter- nate days on the gallery range just outside camp. Evening activities in addition to visiting local hostelries included sailing from Tenby. In this we were given a lot of assistance by the Tenby Sailing Club, and their crowning glory came when they provided a rescue service for our resident sailing experts Major Gordon MacDougall and Sergeant Allen Tangen who capsized. The next week started with map-reading exercises in the Prescilly Mountains (hills really but mountains sound better). Integrated into the map-reading on Monday was an inter half- section competition consisting of the map-reading weapon train- ing, and other Regimental skills, all organised by WOs2 Des Chapman and Martin Esser (and Corporals Sam and Bruce). After much to-ing and fro-ing between the Company 2IC and the RAF, Tuesday eventually got off the ground, in that we had a Puma to practice underslung loads and heli-borne attacks, As a background activity a Scout helicopter provided a further chance to practice hooking-on loads. The heli-borne attacks took the form of half platoon lifts to nearby disused Templeton airfield, where the enemy was routed, not only by troops but also a herd of about fifty cows who did a frontal attack on the LMG position! Brigadier and the DQ, Major David Parker enjoyed a morning's windsurfing tuition from Captain Smith. Both showed consider- able aptitude—for windsurfing and swimming! 8 Field Force ^ ^ ^ ^^^™^^^ IDB^^^^^, BHfil^^^^^ •^pp^^ ^^^ * EXERCISE LION SUN 3 is now behind us and we are now left with our fond memories of Cyprus, brandy sours, kebabs and all. One of the highlights of the exercise as f ar a s t h e c i e r k S w e r e concerned was when Private Dave Hood volunteered (so he says) to act as the bait in a war dog demonstration, On his first attempt, Dave was in such a hurry to get away from the dog that he tripped and the dog, to cheers from Daves * friends/ attempted to rip him to pieces. The dog handler refused to let our Dave off so easily since he wanted to demonstrate the dog bringing a man down on the run. With orders to try a gentle jog, our trusty Staff Clerk was once again set off. This time the dog caught him in full flight and attempted to pull his arm off much to the delight of the onlookers, Dave was returned to us slightly bruised and shaken and vowing never to kick another dog. Private Hood is now a Lance Corporal (nothing to do with the dog demonstra- tion I might add) for which we congratulate him. While in Cyprus our SC Ord, Captain Mike Lewington, took up the noble sport of free fall parachuting and we heard a little later that after his first jump the jumpmaster had told him that no matter how hard you try there was no way you can run along behind the aeroplane to try and climb back in, and besides it unsettles the pilot. We have said farewell to Lance Corporal Pete Connor who has left us for a six month holiday in Cyprus and Corporal Terry McGovern who is now with Headquarters Scotland. We welcome Privates John McGowan and Dave Howarth and wish them a good tour. STOP PRESS: And now for the good news, Sergeant Malcolm. Lawrence is to be seen in a slightly elevated state hovering around the Headquarters with the good news of his selection for pro- «• motion to Staff Sergeant and subsequent posting to Head- quarters South West District in October. This means that he will have to rise ten minutes earlier each morning to travel the extra five miles to work. Central Ordnance Depot Chilwell ' Bandits five o'clock low—or Low Level Air Defence on Manorbier Ranges. Wednesday saw ZICs favourite weather, rain, made the mornings section attack drills and the afternoons platoon attacks, more uncomfortable than expected. The athletics team headed back to Aldershot on Wednesday evening to take part in Travers Clarke, which is all we will say on the subject For the remainder of the Company, Thursday was a free day, to sample the delights of Dyfed. namely the night owl, smugglers or the sands. Section attacks on these positions proved fruitless. The adventurous training phase commenced on Friday with climbing on cliffs to the South West of Penally, sailing with Major Gordon MacDougall and Sergeant Allen Tangen at Tenby, canoeing, with Private Robert Hunter and the sport done standing up, yes, windsurfing, with Captain Graemme Smiih and Richard Tooby at Saundersfoot Sergeant Bolton we believe is doing well on the round the world yacht race on his windsurfer last seen heading towards the Bay of Carmarthen. Brigadier Beckett, Commander 6th Field Force, visited the Company and saw the company doing Platoon attacks at Temple- ton and low level air defence on Manorbier ranges. The Brigadier was due to visit 6th Field Force Field Ambulance however they had to return to Aldershot on stand- by for the civilian ambulance drivers dispute. Instead the EXERCISE POWER PLAY OR If = ? "THOMPSONS TOURS SHOWS YOU 4fr 4 f e « MORE." The head of European Affairs, ucr «•? H Department VII, KGB Headquarters, blanched as he read the signal held before him by a trembling aide: So it's finally happened, the perfidious British have un- leashed 1 Armoured Envision Combat Sup- plies Company onto the Inner German Border. Not only that but Major Jack Thompson is commanding them I No doubt they will plead one of his famous map reading errors when they march into Lvov! " 1 want immediate surveillance on this unit" he snapped at his aide. As the Adjutant of Department VII scurried through the Headquarters building he wondered upon whom the surveillance should be concentrated. Should it be the CSM, a man called Gumbs? Certainly he was the dark horse of the unit but was he open to persuasion? Should it be the clearly dissatisfied Sergeant Berrie or possibly the pin popping Sergeant Gay? Perhaps the Adjutant posing as 21C? On second thoughts he was the least likely to know what was really going on. In the end it was decided that General Surveillance would be mounted on the whole unit. Many interesting and hitherto unknown military equipments and usages came to light: P U E : Long suspected of being a new ATGW System was revealed as a new initiative test, find out what goes where and if successful, make it work. D F : Not, as surmised, a Direction Finding System but the Duty Free Allowance upon which was lavished an inordinate amount of time and attention. There were many contradictions in the units actions both in camp and in the field. Although nominated as a logistic unit they spent much time in running and sports. It is felt that foot- ball has replaced unarmed combat instruction for many mem- bers of the unit In the field the unit split into two elements, one further East than the other. The forward location was of particular W |
| Book number | R0250 |