RAOC Gazette - page 67
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1978 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1978 |
| Late date | 1978 |
| Transcription |
Central Ordnance Depot Bicester SINCE much has been written else- where about Her Majesty's visit to Bicester, it would be inappropriate for us to dwell upon that splendid day. Suffice it to say that we all feel mildly pleased with ourselves here at Bicester as we pack away the red carpets, white ropes, steps, saluting bases and tents. Corporal Jim Potter travelled to Aldershot on the 15th May to receive the BEM awarded in the New Year's Honours List from the GOC, in the presence of his father, sister and brother-in-law. Somehow Captain Murray the ASSO arranged to accompany him—thus escaping the last day's preparations for the Royal Visit! Old Bicesterites will remember Corporal Potter's ever helpful presence in the Orderly Room — whatever the problem he was always ready to help and advise, a service he now provides in Headquarters Company. 16 BATTALION. It would be extremely dangerous to say in the hearing of any one employed in either Traffic or 2 Sub- Depot that the past month has been just routine, however, it's true. There has just been lots more of it! So much in fact that the Battalion shoot had to be cancelled and even the Inter-Company sports day is in danger. Somehow though we have still found the time to prepare for the visit by HM The Queen and such is the enthusiasm within the Unit, it is the first time we have encountered competition to get on parade! Captain Jim Tilling has done it again! During his lunch break a few days ago he lowered his own time for the DGOS fitness challenge by completing the three mile run in sixteen minutes and fifty two seconds—ten minutes and eighteen seconds inside his permitted time and twenty five seconds faster than his time last year. Our commiserations are extended to Private Brown our Company Clerk who is once again back in hospital as a result of injuries sustained in a traffic accident many months ago. Congratulations go to Lance Corporals Germain, Basnett, Daniels, Mitchell, Harvey, Marson and Caddick on attaining acting promotion. On the soccer scene the games for the season have finally been played and although fixtures and standard of play were hampered by striking firemen and bad weather we have still managed to remain in the Premier League of the RAF London league. Congratulations must go to Sergeant Tony Graves on his selection for the Army squad and to Lance Corporals Langley, Dagnall, Ruddick and Sutcliffe—to Staff Sergeant O'Meara, Corporal Cheesman and Private Barr on being selected to play for the Corps. We bid farewell and good luck to Staff Sergeant O'Meara on posting—Lance Corporal Langley on his return to civilian life and to Lance Corporal Dagnall who leaves us next month on posting to 3 BAFD—all skilled players, they will be very much missed. 4 ARMOURED DIVISIONAL ORDNANCE DUMP COM- PANY (ALIAS A COMPANY). How's that for a mouth full. The above Unit is now girding its loins and polishing its bayonets (if the QM will part with them) in preparation for exercise Jaunting Shadow a fourteen day holiday in the Otter- burn Branch of Buthns. Will the above Unit survive its first range day? Will 16 Battalion RAOC outlive the frankenstein monster it has created? Will the Battalion 2IC get a training programme? For an answer to these questions and more watch out for the next exciting notes on the above Unit. 1 SUB-DEPOT. May has been a splendid month for up- grading Supply Specialists. Privates Smith, Baker, Patterson, Murray, Hall-Carrington, Broadhurst, Dwyer and Bolder all attained ( A* gradings at the Trade Training Wing Bicester, Not to be outdone Private Cannon also managed to pull off an 'A' grading on his MHE Operators course* Well done lads! Those familiar with B Site have recently encountered the problem of trying to get into the Site. The two old gates are now closed and a new gate opened opposite St George's Barracks. We have said goodbye to Mr R. Boyd who retired after over twenty four years service and to Staff Sergeant A. Lane on completion of his twenty two years service. 3 SUB-DEPOT. Two long service employees of 3 Sub-Depot retired during April. These were Mr Reg (Jimmy) Hunt, SSC and Mr Norman Breakspear, SSD. Jimmy Hunt joined Ordnance as an industrial at COD Did- cot in March 1940, leaving on promotion to Stores Foreman in 1946; he moved to COSD Steventon where he remained until 1956, during this period he had obtained promotion to Stores Superintendent. In 1961 he was promoted to SSG II and posted to COSD Harlescott, moving to COD Bicester in 1962 where he remained till his retirement. The last five years at Bicester he spent in RSG 3 Sub-Depot. Norman Breakspear had a similar career, joining RASC at Steventon in January 1946, but transferring to RAOC in July 1946; he was promoted to SSG 5 and moved to COD Didcot in September 1956 where he remained until its closure in 1963 when he moved to Bicester. Promoted to SSD in March 1974 he served in NBCEMO, being responsible for the inspection and repair of respirators, Central Ammunition Depot Kineton THIS month we are holding our regi- mental training camp at Swynnerton. Every seventh day throughout the month, parties of thirty or more soldiers will embus to Swynnerton for' a six-day train- ing session. At the time of writing the camp is well into the third week and judging by the demands for tear-gas our training officer Lieutenant Chris Simmons should have some amusing stories for next month's article, RSM Chambers was quick to show the youngsters how the Basic Fitness Test should be passed by finishing third in a squad of thirty five. In a warmup to the season and to discover what cricketing talents we have lurking behind the Ammunition Boxes, Staff Sergeant Bill Bunting organised the Inter Company Cup com- petition. In the first semi-final ' C Company proved too strong for 'A' Company winning by sixty seven runs. Lieutenant Colonel Guy twenty six and Staff Sergeant Paul Mitchell twenty five were * C * Company's main scorers. The diction of YV02 John Lawrence perplexed many of the players when he failed to make his ground after being sent back by his OC, Major David Hourahane. The second semi-final between s B * Company and Head- quarters Company was played in Arctic conditions. These conditions obviously contributed to the embarrassing incident which befell OC ' B ' Company who, having proudly lead his men out to bat, but before he had even faced a ball, pro- ceeded to break his bat gardening! Armed with a new bat he played one of his delicate squash shots at the first ball and was clean bowled. Staff Sergeant Terry Kitchen with forty three well supported by Sergeant Mike Clack eighteen, swung the match ' B ' Company's way to give them a sixty run^ victory, The final was a well contested match. ' C ' Company won the toss and elected to bat. They were soon in trouble with the loss of two quick wickets from good bowling by Lieutenant Colonel Roach. Lieutenant Colonel Guy and Staff Sergeant Paul Mitchell soon put the pieces together to end their innings with eighty four for eight. * B ' Company started well with twenty six for one and thirty five for two but some fine bowl- ing by Staff Sergeant Malcolm Boscott saw * B ' Company all out for forty six. Staff Sergeant Boscott ending with five wickets for five balls. Our Unit cricket team has started the season well by winning their match in the first round of the Major Units competition against Headquarters UKLF. Good bowling by the Headquarters dismissed our openers for nil but a good third wicket partnership for thirty seven set us on the road to recovery. With a fine innings from Lieutenant Colonel Guy twenty four and W02 Carl Forde thirty two we finished one hundred and seventeen for eight W02 Forde also claimed five wickets for twenty seven. Let us hope that our team can maintain this good form. On 19th May at their regimental dinner night, the Sergeants Mess dined out W02 Dickson, Staff Sergeant Makin, Sergeants Millar, Rayson and Kay. It was a sad farewell for Bill Rayson and Glen Kay on completion of their full-time service. They were both presented with a silver salver with everyone's best wishes for a happy retirement into civilian life. In the Corps six-a-side football competition Staff Sergeant Mitchell led a strong, talented and well drilled team who all justified a place in the side. In the preliminary round we won three of our four matches drawing the other. Of the fifteen teams competing the top four went through to the semi-finals. We were drawn against our Richards Cup rivals COD Chilwell and went down three nil—our consolation was that they in turn were beaten in the final. |
| Book number | R0247 |