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RAOC Gazette - page 44

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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Chapter number
Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1978
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Early date 1978
Late date 1978
Transcription in January.
Staff Sergeant Bill Third REME formed part
of the last currency destruction board at Headquarters Berlin
Field Force, it is doubted if he will ever see so much money
again!
On 15th February the new GOC Berlin (British Sector)
Major General Richardson paid his first visit to the Unit.
After touring most of the departments he presented the Long
Service and Good Conduct Medal to the FOWO, WO I Derek
Redpath. The occasion was unique for both the recipient and
the GOC, it being the first Long Service and Good Conduct
Medal he had presented to a soldier.
The Quartermaster General, General Sir Patrick Howard-
Dobson paid us a visit in March, he also visited W02 Dave
and Mrs Pat Bulmer in their MSQ. There is no truth in the
rumour that he was offered Rabbit Stew!
Congratulations to Lance Corporal Mel Scarlett WRAC
on promotion, to all who have left farewell and to all new-
comers welcome and in time you'll agree ' It's good 'ere in it.'
British Forces Hong Kong
THE highlight of the month
was the visit of Colonel
C a r r u t h e r s (OIC RAOC
R e c o r d s and Manning).
During his visit he talked to
the majority of RAOC per-
sonnel employed in the Head-
quarters,
Our footballers continue
s t r o n g l y a l t h o u g h their
league position L has waned since the beginning of the year.
The manager W02 Sandie Sanderson * can be seen counting
his players as they are boarding the bus and asking passersby
if they are available.
All have attempted and passed BFTs, even yours truly
was encouraged to participate (and passed). It was supposed to
be a level circuit, but when you are running on a road along-
side the top floor of a twenty four storey high block of flats
you wonder who is kidding who !
We congratulate Mr Eric Tandy, our Command Fire Ad-
viser, on his promotion from FSOl to SFSO and forthcoming
posting to UKLF and to Staff Sergeant Pat Craig on sub-
stantive promotion.
We bid farewell to Corporal Nimrno and welcome Corporal
Hands.
British Forces Belixe
FORCES HEADQUARTERS AND CAMP. It is reliably reported
that these will be the first GAZETTE Notes ever received from
Belize. Many reasons have been advanced for this lack of
publicity from an area which one local radio commentator calls
" this beautiful jewel
of ours," and these range from ' too busy *
1
to * cannot write. Perhaps the most ingenious refers to the
fact that those who are here do not want the rest of the Corps to
know what a super place this is and we therefore wish to save
Records from being swamped by hundreds of applications for
service in Belize. Of course there are drawbacks but it has
THE DGOS FITNESS CHALLENGE
compensations too. Opportunities for travel to nearby countries—
TO THE OVER FORTIES
USA, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, West Indies etc—fishing
like you could never get in Europe, swimming and scuba diving
in the most marvellous clear warm waters and a chance to get THE undermentioned have successfully completed the distance:
Lieutenant Colonel R, Ellis and Captain T. R, B. Davies MBE,
the finest sun tan you would ever wish. Enough—this is not
from HQ DGOS, Lieutenant Colonel G* B. Berragan and Captain
a recruiting poster.
A. Parry from HQ Northern Ireland; Colonel R. W. Thornton,
What I am supposed to tell you about are the hard working,
Lieutenant Colonel S. W. England (REME), Lieutenant Colonel
pen pushing, no leave taking clerks, who keep this complex
D. Moss, Lieutenant Colonel D. S. Parker, Major N. Pendle-
organisation ticking over. The Force Chief Clerk is W02 I.
bury
(RAPC), Major S. Pincher, Captain D. M. Mackay, W02
McClean who tries to combine within his five foot four inch
G. Lumsden, Sergeant C. H. Bellamy and Sergeant J. E. Lynam,
frame all the attributes of a perpetual motion robot, father
all from Central Ordnance Depot Donnington.
confessor, typist supreme, chief instructor and, in his few spare
moments, golf professional and master bridge player. Far be it
from me to say whether he succeeds or not but he does try.
Deputy Chief Clerk is Staff Sergeant Gothard who is on
temporary loan to us from Viersen. He is now getting so dark
from sun bathing that we have to check his ID Card to make
SULTANATE OF O M A N
sure he is really one of us. Then there is Corporal Williamson
who is the newcomer to the family. He dominates us all at six
feet two inches; it's no wonder Chiefy gets a pain in the neck
although he doesn't mind as he now has someone to talk to
Applications are invited from suitably qualified ex-W.Os of
about their favourite football team—Preston NE. Lastly there
the R.A.O.C, under age 46, with Base Ordnance Depot
is Lance Corporal Cull. Let me now warn Headquarters Berlin
experience, to fill uniformed contract appointments of 3
Field Force clerks not to get involved in playing cards with this
years duration In the Oman Army as
man—try playing Mastermind instead.
Of course one must not forget our Service Adviser, Major
TECHNICAL STOREMAN ( W O I )
Muston—otherwise known as FOO—and the FATWO W02
Bowen. In spite of an extremely hectic schedule Major Muston
Duties include responsibility for Base Ordnance storage
has managed to go on an expedition to climb Mount Popo-
and materials handling, and applicants must therefore
catapetel in Mexico and takes five or six RAOC members on
be thoroughly conversant with bulk and detail storage
a mini jungle training course lasting a whole weekend when-
systems, storehouse organisation and procedures, materials
ever he can manage. W02 Bow en has developed a love/
handling and stocktaking.
hate relationship with the Army Air Corps out here. He loves to
This is an unaccompanied appointment (although short
hop aboard their helicopters to visit his far flung parish but
family visits to Oman are possible) and conditions of
he hates it when they leave him. on his own in the jungle at
service include: —
night.
(a) annual emoluments commencing at Rials Omani 4920
There is some dispute as to whether Force Headquarters or
(equivalent to £7560 approx: at the rate of exchange
Camp Office is the most hard worked. Sufficient to say that
appertaining at 12/4/78) tax free;
the three clerks in Camp are responsible for the administration
(b) an attractive end-of-contract gratuity;
and documentation of about a battalion's worth of people.
(c) normal Service mess facilities with air-conditioned
Sergeant Goodwin, the Camp Chief Clerk, is eagerly crossing
bachelor accommodation and services free of charge; .
off the days on his ' chuff' chart but still worried in case his
and
?
relief does not arrive in time and his own posting to Cyprus
(d) 60 days home leave annually (usually taken in two
gets delayed. Corporal Doyle and Lance Corporal Redfern have
periods of 30 days) with air passages paid.
not been here long enough to worry about 'days to d o ' but
Interviews for these appointments will be held in U.K. in
have promised to submit a written report the first time they
the near future and applicants are therefore asked to write
leave the camp, This may well appear as an article in a later
immediately, quoting reference 53/F, to: —
issue of THE GAZETTE,
Senior Personnel Officer
Applications to relieve any of the above clerks should be
AIRWORK
SERVICES
LIMITED
forwarded to RAOC Manning and Records Office. In charge of
this vast conglomerate of Airport Camp is Captain Bennett who
Bournemouth (Hum) Airport
advises your correspondent that despite his multifarious duties
Christchurch, Dorset BH23 6EB
he still manages to see his wife at least once per day.
Other notes may possibly appear at intervals of ten years!
ARMY
APPOINTMENT
Book number R0247