RAOC Gazette - page 199
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 |
CANNONBALL THE month of May in Cyprus is glorious; hot, sunny days with maximum sunshine but relatively cool, still mornings and even- ings, perfect for full time regimental and adventure training under field conditions. It was decided, therefore, that the RAOC Cyprus Summer Camp for 1981 should be held in the latter two weeks of May at the Evidhmou Camp area in the Western Sovereign Base Area, Static conditions al the Camp Site were ideal; a sheltered, flat bivouac area wiLh sea en suite and enough hills nearby to inject some fc variety' into early morning physical training sessions, In order to allow normal Ordnance functions in Cyprus to continue, attendance at camp was split into two phases, allow- ing fifty per cent of the RAOC strength to be employed on normal duties or be at camp at any one time (this included RAOC personnel from UNFICYP), The aim of the Camp, was to implement and change the training requirements laid down in the DGOS, Commander Land Forces Cyprus and CRAOC training directives. These directives all included the basic Military Skills of; weapon handling, shoot- ing, map reading, field craft, first aid, NBC, Internal Security training and PT. It was also an opportunity to follow ad- venture training pursuits including Orienteering, Abseiling, Water- manship, Helicopter Drills and Potted sports, With these activities in mind, OC Camp, Captain Brown of the Stores Depot Akrotiru accompanied by his two main Directing Staff; W 2 Cole (Dhekelia) and Sergeant Neal (Akrotiri), eagerly awaited the arrival of the first ' c o m p a n y ' of soldiers. Training of both an adventurous and military nature was exactly the same for both weeks of the camp. However, week one did include a requirement for RAOC Cyprus to provide rioters or ' Rentacrowd * in order to inject some realism into a Land Forces Cyprus FTX which was being staged concurrently. The rioters performed well, almost too zealously at times, and the resident infantry battalion who had to face the bricks and rotting vegetables, had their hands full. If they had been able to use CS gas the result would no doubt have been different! Many lessons were learned by all concerned. The climax to the weeks military training, was the March and Shoot competition which was held in two stages; stage one was held at the camp site and involved tests on the basic military skills practised throughout the week and stage two was held at Akrotiri and involved a five mile march with equipment and weapons, followed immediately by a shoot on the Electric Target Range. Scores attained in the March and Shoot counted towards the inter section competition. Performances on the March and Shoot were generally of a high standard, although it was noticeable that some soldiers did not expect fatigue and dis- comfort to affect their shooting as much as it did! The mornings after an early P T and swimming session, were devoted to military training and the afternoons to ad- venture training and sports; it was in these activities that the inter section competition gathered momentum. Sports com- petitions included; Canoe races, swimming relays, potted sports, log races, obstacle courses and a cross country race. Needless to say, humour was in abundance, and everyone had a chance to make a fool of themselves. The water activities also gave the DS a chance to identify the non-swimmers, and hence organise some swimming instruction. Other water activities included windsurfing or boardsailing and snorkelling. The snorkelling instruction was particularly useful especially as many people in Cyprus do buy snorkelling equipment, but are unsure of its proper use. Scope for windsurfing instruction was, unfortunately, limited owing to availability of equipment and indeed wind! However, on a few occasions when both wind and equipment were available some people did manage to actually get going. The OC Supply Depot, Major Collins, determined not to be beaten by a mere fib re glass vessel persevered until such time as he needed to be rescued by a flotilla of canoes. At one time he was seen to be sailing backwards, but later argued that he Troops embarking prior ro the helicopter/navigation exercise. was practising freestyle before conventional sailing! Captain Walsh our resident expert couldn't understand the problem, The abseiling instruction took place at the camp location, from a suitably chosen sheer face which dropped almost into the sea. Here was a great test of confidence and courage and with memories of Princes Gate and the Iranian Embassy, the CRAOC, Lieutenant Colonel Field, led the way. Lance Corporal Stott was later made to buy beers for all for forgetting not to detach the safety harness from CRAOCs rig! The evenings in camp were normally taken up with volley ball, fishing and general relaxation, which sometimes included a film. However, on the Wednesday night, an escape and evasion exercise was staged. Plenty of lessons were learned and it was generally agreed that the Camp had been a great success. Not only had it provided opportunities to improve the basic military skills of RAOC Soldiers in Cyprus, but it also allowed RAOC Soldiers on the island to get together in an environment, totally divorced from their normal surroundings, and enjoy both regimental and adventurous training. Evidhmou has already been booked for two weeks next May for CANNONBALL 82. 164 HANDLE WITH CARE (AN old letter from a merchant in Porto Rico to an English Manufacturer of Pumping Machinery.) Gentlemen, 1 got he pump which i by from you, but wy you doan send me no handle. I loose to me my customer—wats the use a pump wen she doan have no handle. Shur i think you doan treat me write, i wrote ten days and my customer he holler for water like hell from the pump you no he is hot summer now and the win he no blow the pump. She got no handle, so what the hel i goan to do with is doan send me handle pretty quick i send her back and i goan order some pump from Meyer's Company. Goodbye. Yours truly, Since i write this i find the goddam handle in the box excuse to me. (Found among the papers of Major General Forbes, who retired in 1926, author of the History of Army Ordnance Services. The papers were donated to the Corps Museum by Mr E. Nearby Pinks.) |
| Book number | R0250 |