RAOC Gazette - page 137
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 |
Major Jim Steele drops in. We also- give our best wishes for the future to both Privates Fordham and Lee Bennett who are posted- Our final best wishes go to Corporal Roy and Mrs Juta Richards who have left us to go and enjoy the delights of the Canadian Prairies at Head- quarters BATUS, Medicine Hat. Lieutenant Collins and Lieutenant Hingston-Jones have moved on, to be replaced by Major Waddell (OC). Captain Wilco* (2JC). Second Lieutenant Lawrence and Second Lieutenant Lee. On the Q side W 2 Williams has been drafted in to replace l Q ' MeGowan now Mister MeGowan, There have been many other changes but to mention all the names would complete the whole article. It has been a reasonably quiet time on the technical side of life but we suspect the lull before the storm. However, the Company has not been idle. The OC arrived and immediately dropped Exercise Spring Jaunt on the Company in a four day deployment exercise on Achmer, the exercise being concluded with a giant barbecue. April saw the unit in Haderslev (Denmark), our hosts being ATK Coy Slesvigske FodregimenL The aim of the exercise was for everyone to classify on their APWT and for the British troops to meet their Danish counterparts. However, everyone found enough time to sup a few beers! It was whilst returning from one of the local venues that Private Smith stopped two youths in the middle of smash and grab, he was able to hold onto one of the youths until the police arrived. Whilst in Denmark a platoon from the Company took part in the annual Liberation Day march through the town, led by Second Lieu- tenant Simpson who cracked up when the Danes started laugh- ing at him. Still he kept his cool? ! ! Over the spare weekend while some of the Company went sightseeing to Copenhagen or fishing in the local area, a large part of the Company competed in the Hadersiev International Marches (two by forty kilo- metres) and carried off the cup for the largest International, < team taking part. On the sports front, the tug-of-war team is doing ex- ceptionally well, having lost heir Team Captain and Coach, Major Bob Reid, Staff Sergeant Leach has taken over and con- tinues to get the results. COMBAT SUPPLIES COMPANY *AND now for something completely different. 1 For the short period in June the Company actually existed, Now, PUE is repacked and vehicles are on their way back to slumber until again required. After a speedy forming of the unit in Munster, classroom lessons paved the way for this years tasks. The company visited an ammunition depot to see the real thing* (as opposed to SIM MO) then set up a dump in the woods near Hannover. There followed the wettest two days in most peoples experience. The Eager Beavers proved their bog-inability which the soldiers matched with original methods of rescue. Despite this, pallets moved in and out of location and the correctly labelled com- modity went to the correct location. Helicopter handling was practiced and some had their first air experience—even, in one case after twenty years service! All was watched with interest by our three German Army observers who commented favour- ably on the British soldiers flexibility to changing circumstances. We were also pleased to receive as visitors the GOC Major General Farndale and the APUS(GS) Mr Stevens. It is not very often that a. dump actually exists for such visits. In the second week, after the repacking of PUE, the com- pany reverted to an infantry role in order to prove its ability in a BAOR environment. This was admirably achieved. Despite harassing probes the enemy could not accurately locate our position. Well there is the story of the soldier who dis- appeared into the bushes complete with shovel. When he had not reappeared after a considerable time the lesson was learnt that such forays should always include another to watch your back, or guard your rear—or something like that! When the enemy finally attacked in force at night, the Brocks benefit show and ensnarlment of the attackers by light was commented upon favourably by the neighbouring units. The Company achieved a third place in the section patrol competition. Our congratulations to Corporal Prescott for his strong leadership. In the section shoot some very good scores were achieved against competition from the Ordnance Com- panies, And so to bed—those from the UK departed in their big white staff car and luxury cross channel cruise in an LSL, The final boxes were repacked and vehicles given their last wash. Memories will linger on—until next year when we start all over again. ORDNANCE COMPANY IN view of the time lapse since we appeared, it would be appro- priate to begin by firstly mentioning some of the changes that have taken place. From the top, Major Green, Major Laird, — 110 # Still pulling their weight. 87 SUPPLY DEPOT 7 SUPPLY PLATOON TA have just left us after their two weeks annual camp, which was successful and enjoyed by all. A very good farewell party was held in the 87 Club with, the usual two way presentations of unit plaques. On the same day that the TA left our unit lines we received one hundred and thirty personnel taking part in Exercise Iron Band; led by the industrious Major Stacey, of Headquarters RAOC 2nd Armoured Division fame, sporting his ever ready home movie kit Our barracks is becoming famous as a hotel, however, the increased sales in the 87 Club are welcomed. Staff Sergeant Brian Scott has received his posting order, with well-earned promotion, and is now the longest serving member of the unit. He relishes the thought of his new ap- pointment at Headquarters Western District and looks forward to touring the countryside of Shropshire and Wales. The Depot Superintendent, W 2 George Arthur, deserves two mentions this month, the first for splitting his trousers and asking the OC for help, and second for actually achieving the impossible, he pushed Sergeant Clive Hitchcock around the BFT Course (yet again) and got him through in the nick of time. At the moment, life is hectic for him without a 2IC and the Chief Clerk was instructed to inform all intending visitors that they must take the O C s leave plat into consideration when |
| Book number | R0250 |