RAOC Gazette - page 163
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 |
Day Three and Four further explore and reinforce Day One and Two's leaching. Day Five is the ultimate test when the candidate is dressed in civilian clothes and sent unassisted down town. Signalman George Best has finally left us and his replace- ment Lance Corporal Dave Whittaker has arrived. Corporal Jed Stone 321's answer to the moratorium has left us and Private * Tattoo* Hyland is still getting over the shock of seeing someone eat three Shredded Wheat. Wanted Exchange: One pair oE size twelve patrol boots and one set XL waterproofs for one pair size six small boots and one set xsmall waterproofs. PS. The boss goes very soon. # A r m y Air Corps HEADQUARTERS DAAC (ORD AIR) This month we say farewell to W 2 Kelly and welcome W 2 Bartram who replaces Also we wish Conductor Penman good luck on his resettlement course, which we beLieve is in fc Bricks and Mortar 1 ? Well at least we now all accept that we are at the end of the Penman era (See page 119.) ORD (SUP) HEADQUARTERS AAC 1 (BR) CORPS. Well, we missed out again last month but we can honestly say it was due to pressure of work! We seem lo be involved in a great many activities both in the office and in the field I Corporal Bowser disappeared initially for four weeks on his RPCl course at Bracht, he wishes to congratulate the Regimental Training Wing on their success—he passed. Staff Sergeant Dodd returned home after a pleasant days work to find his neighbours out having a huge BAR-B-Q, or so- ns thought by the amount of smoke, but nothing so jolly his quarter was on fire! Major de Foubert has had a redly exciting time out on Exercise Main Brace as an Ops watchkeeper, and then Exercise Power Play, BAOR Orienteering Championships, then seven days cooped up awaiting an ORT call out which never happened, followed by an exciting two weeks outward bounding in Norway. We shall let you know when we all meet again, sometime in the future—hopefully. 1 AIRCRAFT SUPPORT UNIT. The range of activities that we have been involved in these past few weeks is wide. The Unit has proved yet again that it can turn its hand to most things. Take, for instance, the Army Air Corps Centre sponsored Chariot race in aid of the disabled. (Nobbled contestants?). Open to all-comers this annual event tests the ingenuity and resources of the inhabitants of the Centre. What we lack of the former is more than made up for by our abundance of the latter, but of course we never use anything from stock. For days now there have been many sounds of hammering and sawing coming from somewhere deep within the bowels of the store- house, Joint architects of the unit entry Corporal Willis and Lance Corporal Woodward of the MT Section, sweating pro- fusely from unaccustomed hard work, come up occasionally for air or another nut and bolt and swear that the vehicle is nearing completion* Coincidentally we seem to be minus a stores truck but Corporal Willis assures us it is in Hangar 1 being prepared for PRE. The object of the event is to complete three laps of a pre-arranged course and rules of combat appear to be non-existant. The selections (or is it auditions) for charioteers commence soon and next month we hope to have a blow by blow account of the outcome. A weekly feature of life in Middle Wallop in Summer is the Cross Country Summer League run. Every Thursday evening over one hundred runners of all sizes and hues assemble on the sports field and cover the laid down route. We have only thirty soldiers but have fielded one of the highest percentage unit teams in the Centre and feature quite high in the list Places of merit are awarded to W 2 Green and Private Jenkins who have been consistently in the front-runners, Other activities have included another successful skittles evening, a day outing to Swanage and cricket matches with the Folly Inn and LE(A) at Andover (that's two different teams!). Finally, we welcome Lance Corporal Kerry who joins us from Headquarters AFCENT. Since, on his day of arrival, he- wandered round asking where the PX was he clearly will take a while to settle back down to UK soldiering. 2 AIRCRAFT SUPPORT UNIT. Our parent unit, 71 Air- craft Workshop, held the annual sports day well supported by our lads, not only in keeping the beer tent solvent (and nearly dry) but also performing well on the sports field. It should be noted that it was purely coincidental that RAOC personnel figured largely in the winners lists of the Raffle Stall run bv y —Sergeant Hall RAOC. On the arrivals front we welcome Sergeant Frew and Private Williams. Belated welcome also goes to Private Goddard who joined us in. January. He is so frequently unobtainable that it is small wonder that we forgot him. (Yet another libelous statement by the author). Congratulations are in order this month to Corporals Green and Morrall and Lance Corporals Legge and Bellamy-Wood on their promotions. (Happy hours reign supremo) and again to Lance Corporal Bellamy-Wood tox passing his Bl Course at Blackdown—he says the WRAC girls there will never be the same again. Corporal Cass has finally had his chance and successfully conquered his RPCl course and Corporal Parish is currently pestering the instructors at Bracht as he changes places with Corporal Cass. And finally, wc bid a cheerful fare-the-well to the units roughie-toughie Staff Sergeant Gordon who takes his skills on our computer away to do the Commando Course. We wish him the very best of luck. His seat will be filled (very amply) by Sergeant Hall. 10 Ordnance Support Battalion THE. highlight of this month was undoubtedly the Battalion's Annual Open Day. Approximately five thousand visitors braved a chill wind to enjoy an action packed Arena Display and walk amongst the varied static displays. We are indebted for the sup- port from 1 Ammo 1DU, Vehicle Depot Ludgershali and the Corps Mobile Display Team in providing exhibits. Stands display- ing the varied role of the Battalion, from Ammunition and POL to Rations and the new Mobile Bakery, were barraged throughout the day by streams of curious and interested visitors. The queue for the Bakery's freshly baked bread stretched for' miles and their takings contributed greatly to the day's collection for charity. We are most grateful to the RAOC Band under the direction of Captain Rodney Parker for adding colour and music to our arena display. The spectator stands were packed to watch the afternoon's performances of a mock battle, Eager Beaver dis- play, trailer race, car accident incident staged by local emergency services and, in particular, for the Scout Helicopter display by 7 Regiment AAC and Freefall Parachuting Display by the RAOC Cannonballs. The Cannonballs. under the direction of Major Paddy O'Connell deserve special praise for jumping with amazing skill and accuracy in high wind. The RAP not only helped by providing a Wessex helicopter for the Cannon- balls, but also at the last minute arranged a flypast by the Red Arrows whose coloured smoke trails were noticed by the RAF Hercules which, not to be outdone, did its own pass over the Arena. Mr Peter Lewis of Harlech Television kindly presented the raffle prizes at the end of the day and after much calculation Sergeant Phillips rakes a dtp for charity. |
| Book number | R0250 |