RAOC Gazette - page 185
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 |
Despite having been in the unit for almost a year, in an RQMS type job, W02 Avery is currently in Biackdown doing. would you believe, an RQMS course* Recently returned from UK is our Trg NCO Sergeant Neal who successfully completed a First Aid Instructors Course whilst there. Another course success came from Corporal Short who achieved a pass in all subjects at EPC in one attempt, The annual RCT Open Day was held in Akrotiri recently and part of the day incorporated a raft race. We entered a mon- strous ' dragon ' which we christened 4 Puff' (as in ' Puff the Magic Dragon ' and for no other reason)! As you will see from the accompanying photograph, a lot of work went into designing and erecting the raft and it proved worthwhile as RAOC won the prize for best design. Unfortunately, due to size and weight, Puff was a bit tough to shift so we did not do as well in the race. Nevertheless, well done to those who took part in the planning, the work or the race. They were: Captain Brown, W 2 Graves, Staff Sergeant Dickie, Sergeant Gemmell and Miss Karen Brown. Finally, we wish bon voyage to Sergeants Gordon and Holmes and their families and extend a warm welcome to Corporal Beech from Belize. As an afterthought, the standard of our GAZETTE notes may well improve next time as yours truly is due to move to sunny England; look out Bulford! Apart from Dave O'Neill, we also say farewell to Sergea™ Gordon Russell of G Trg who leaves us on posting to thaJ holiday camp by the Thames, MOD. When he reports in \2 Q (Ops and Plans) he'll find he'll be sharing an office (agaiS with Sergeant George Garrow who left these shores a f e J months ago. It's not only Gordon's clerical ability that wjii be missed ; his ability in goal for the G Branch five-a-side i a ! door football team helped G Branch win the lunchtime leag^ championship recently. In commemoration of his support for the G Branch sporting life, his team mates presented him with a plaque which describes his physical prowess, albeit as the female long jump champion of the Colony! We wish Dave Gordon and their families all the best for the future. V To fill the two empty chairs, we welcome Sergeant Ji^ Gilfillan from Kineton (Jim is also making a name for him- self as a runner—perhaps it's written into the job specification?) and Owen Pennells from Headquarters Rhine Area (it makes a pleasant change getting an RAOC Staff clerk for an RAOC Staff clerk). We hope they and their families have a very enjoyable tour here. To close with a bit of scandal, Staff Sergeant Joe Emery has shaved his moustache off. He said that he quite admired it, but once the hairs grew longer than a quarter of an inch, he kept tripping over the ends! Composite Ordnance Depot Hong Kong Puff the magic dragon—did \t run out- of it? British Forces Hong Kong HEADQUARTERS THESE notes come to you from an old building with a new name. As he formally opened the building, consent was sought for the HQBF building (all twenty seven storeys of it) to be named * The Prince of Wales Building/ Permission has now been ob- tained and we must now get used to calling this building by its proper name rather than the variety of titles it has been known by. With sighs of relief from the distance runners in the Colony who have spent the past two years trying to catch him up, Sergeant Dave O'Neill departed on posting to Dulmen. True to form, he left on a sporting note, this time at squash, by winning the RAOC Novices Championship. To win the cup, Dave had to beat Sergeant John Sheen while Staff Sergeant Dick Farren beat Captain Mick Priestley in the third place play-off. Staff Sergeant Bailey won the Plate competition with Staff Sergeant Dick Baker as runner-up. At the end of the day, everybody agreed that Sergeant Pete Ingham did a marvellous job as organiser and referee and the CRAOC, Lieutenant Colonel Fox, did a marvellous job as the presenter of the prizes to the victors. Before the squash courts had time to cool down, the RAOC team took on the RAPC team in the first round of the Inter-Service/Corps Championships. The result was a satisfy- ing three two win with Major Don Young and Major George Ashcroft both of Ord Branch HQBF, and Sergeant Willy Morton of the ASD, winning their games. The other team members were WOI Phil Buxton of Ord Branch HQBF and W02 John Knight of the ASD. In the next round their opponents will be the Royal Navy Hong Kong team, so as much practice as possible is being sought. Watch this space for further details. ^ ^ ' ^ ^ M r a u i x M i W ^ ^ U ^ ^ ' r& m ^ il-fH FAREWELLS featured the main events for the month the most notable being the retirement of Mr Tarn, one of our longest serving civilian employees. Tommy Tam Lok Sang retired after forty two years of loyal and devoted service to RAOC. Mr Tarn began his service in Ordnance Branch Headquarters British Forces in May 1939 (at a time when Japanese forces had defeated Canton and were facing Hong Kong ready to attack the Colony) until the out- break of War in Hong Kong in December 1941. Not wishing to become a prisoner he successfully evaded the Japanese and reached China where he remained until liberation in 1945. He returned to Ordnance Branch and experienced the tension filled years of 1949 (The Communist overthrow of National forces) and 1950/53 (The Korean War). At this time the Colony military strength was far greater than before 1941 and demanded increased work effort from people like Mr Tam. Mr Tam remained with the RAOC and served with Com- posite Ordnance Depot Hong Kong, employed as a Clerk *A* in the Costing Branch, where his advice was always appreciated and the experience invaluable. Among the many honours be- stowed upon Mr Tam are The King George VI Testimonial presented in 1947 and the Insignia of Serving Brother to the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem which he received from the then Governor of Hong Kong in 1950. During his leisure time Mr Tam helps others by in- structing Boy Scouts and, as a Serving member of the St John's Ambulance Brigade, teaching First Aid to the Chinese com- munity in Hong Kong. Finally it is with regret that the unit says goodbye to Tommy. I'm sure that everyone in the Corps, who has served with him, will join with us in wishing him a long and happy retirement. Welcome to WOI Geordie Robson, Staff Sergeants Alan Schiller and Ken Ray, Sergeant Joe Garrett and families, Corporal Spence; and the families of Sergeant Collin Brooks and Corporal Yorkie Goodwin. Congratulations to Staff Sergeant Fred Furniss on his sub- stantive promotion and to Corporal Ralph van San den and wife Faith on the birth of Lisa Anne who weighed in at seven pounds four ounces. The unit volleyball league was finalised with SSD taking the honours with ASD as runners-up. A unit darts knockout competition saw Captain Mick Priestley taking the individual trophy with Staff Sergeant Trev Smith runner-up. Staff Sergeant Trev Smith and Sergeant Glin Brooks took the doubles title with Staff Sergeant George Fraser and Sergeant Joe McCarthy runners-up. Congratulations also go to WO I Ian Powell, Staff Sergeants Dick Baker and Frank O'Brien, Sergeants Tom Hart and Roy Bailie on their Colours award for services to British Forces Golf. ASD. Our SAT, W 2 John Knight has been out and about, he has visited Nepal for their annual ammunition inspection and whilst there managed to get on a trip down into India to visit the Taj Mahal. All we hear about now is his trip, the moun- tains and all the slides and photos he took, some people have all the luck, what about the office staff! 154 — |
| Book number | R0250 |