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RAOC Gazette - page 68

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Corps RAOC
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1978
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Early date 1978
Late date 1978
Transcription Army School of Ammunition
nU : Merry Month oE'May blew in with such a mixture of
-.VL.tJher thai we wondered if Spring would ever arrive. Just
^ much a mixture was the 1977 B Ammunition Technician
Course which completed its training early in the month. Of the
sight successful students two were from the RAOC, two from
RE ME* two from Royal Signals, one from the Army Catering
Corps and one from the Royal Engineers, After a most enjoy-
able evening hosted by the course at a local inn, the Staff were
most lenient in the marking of the final examination. Well done
all eight of you and may you follow long and successful careers
in the world of ammunition.
The School was pleased to welcome back Mr Robert Mc-
\: hur, who presented the McArthur Cup to the most successful
AT of the two 1977 Courses—namely Corporal Ken Cross,
currently serving with 3 BAPD. The Director of Land Service
Ammunition, Brigadier D. F. A. Cowdry, presented each member
of the 1977 B AT Course with his badge and chevrons to com-
plete a memorable day. This was the first course to be presented
the new ammunition badge as worn by ATOs.
The Company Cricket Team achieved a well-earned
victory
1
in the Inter-Company Cricket competition. 'A Company were
the victims in the semi-final with Lieutenant Colonel Laurie
Guy, Major David Hourahane and Staff Sergeant Paul Mitchell
scaring most of our runs. Lieutenant Colonel Guy then took
four wickets including the hat trick. In the final we defeated
the holders * B ' Company who unfortunately were not able to
field a full strength side. Again Staff Sergeant Paul Mitchell
was our batting star, and Staff Sergeant Malcolm Boscott
' Lakered' the opposition with five wickets for five runs.
Mention must be made of the supporting cast who all played
their parts whether fielding, bowling or batting.
Staff Sergeant Paul Mitchell organised a Darts competition
on a local board and after some very high scoring arrows, the
winner of the Singles was Corporal John Hall, while Miss
P^Liline Grimsley and Sergeant John Bassett took the Doubles
title.
The School enjoyed the company of WOl Ken Taylor and
his lovely ladies from Bicester who spent a day on a familiarisa-
tion visit—ammunition familiarisation I hasten to add.
We have said farewell to Staff Sergeant Alan Franklin who
has left these shores as a civilian to serve in the Middle East.
Major Alan Swindley will also have left us by the time these
notes are published and at present is visiting his new employ-
ment location in BAOR,
A warm welcome is extended to W02 Chris Lawrence and
Sergeant Dave Crocombe. W02 Ken Dickson, our erstwhile
Supply Specialist in CLA Branch was very pleased to see W02
Lawrence who will find life somewhat different to 7 OFP.
Sergeant Crocombe takes up the appointment of Photographer,
a recently acquired establishment in the School. We hope you
and your families will enjoy your tours with us.
Central Ammunition Depot Longtown
A! THOUGH no doubt the RAOC Shoot will be reported upon
fully in THE GAZETTE we felt that we must report the achieve-
ments of our ' Champion' Captain Alan Glasby who won the
Corps Service Rifle Championship, Officers Rifle Cup, Mathew
Challenge Bowl and came third in the pistol. His win was all
the more satisfying as going into the final round he was forty
five points behind, but with an excellent score of one hundred and
seventy nine out of two hundred he overtook the leaders. Shoot-
ing
is only one of Alan's achievements^ he is the acknowledged
1
Gnosher' of the Unit and is very much admired for his intricate
design of crisps and peanuts on the Officers Mess carpets.
The remainder of our military personnel have not been idle
and a team (without our star) entered the North West District
meeting and WOl Smith and Sergeant Nice won the Minor
Units Team pistol, WOl Smith won the Individual Regular Army
Pistol and was runner-up in the Regular Army SMG.
Just to prove how versatile we are our team of 'Hairy
Matloes * WOl Cuthbert, Sergeants Nice, Hayter and Corporal
Horner successfully defended the Carlisle Raft Race trophy on
Felix IL It is understood that Felix II is so good that Colonel
Blashford-Snell has been making enquiries.
Lieutenant Colonel Upton and Captain Turnbull had a hard
week's ' work ' at the Royal Birkdale golf club where they assisted
the RAOC in winning the Egypt Cup.
We welcome to the Unit Corporals Sterland and Davis
and hope their stay in Longtown will be enjoyable. Leaving
us is Sergeant Hayter and family who we thank for their efforts
during their stay and wish them all the best in the future.
The Carlisle Raft Race. Felix II and W O l Cuthbert, Sergeants
Nice and Hayter with Corporal Horner holding the lead.
Vehicle Depot Ludgershall
A MONTH of very mixed weather which mirrored the fortunes
of the Unit. Our workload has been very high and our man-
power low as usual. This month we provided vehicles for HM
The Queen's visit to Bicester and a small complement of
soldiers to boost the parade. The OC, Major David Humphrey
was overheard to mutter something about impending disaster
now that he had received the Jubilee Medal and shaken the
Queen's hand within one year!
No one visiting Tech Admin these days is surprised to see
a different face there each time they enter, as Captains Jim
Ritchie and Humph Jones are taking turn-about while they at-
tend Staff Promotion courses in Deepcut, It's very confusing *
however to outsiders who frequently phone in, and is a good
case for mobile desk name blocks.
The Unit shooting team returned from the Corps Shoot
having come a very creditable overall fourth. The team are to
be congratulated, especially those new to the squad who did
exceptionally well. The team consisted of Major Humphrey,
Staff Sergeants Hibbert and McGrattan, Corporal Kelly, Lance
Corporals Docherty and Pollin and Privates Clark, Heffernan,
Lomax and Wells,
We say farewell this month to Corporal Chetwynd and
Private Hal pin to l civilian life,
and offer our congratulations to
Lance Corporal Geordie T Pollin on his marriage to Mfss
Denise Powell, and also to Private Laurie and Mrs Linda Bowen
on the birth of their son David.


CORPS


CRICKET
WITH thirteen of last years nineteen Corps players having left
the scene, the indoor nets took on an important role in the
search for new talent.
We opened our programme with a short weekend tour at
Oxford, playing two of the colleges,
Results—RAOC beat Keble College by seventeen runs.
A typically early season low scoring match dominated by
the bowlers on a slow sticky wicket.
Scores: RAOC ninety three (Corporal Johnson twenty one,
W02 Jones twenty one), Keble College seventy six (Sergeant
Holmes four for twenty seven, Captain Goldring three for thirty
four).
RAOC Drew with Queens College.
Another rain affected match
which was eventually started at fourteen hundred hours. The
Corps batted steadily until tea when the innings was declared
at one hundred and twenty for five. Corporal Cecil Johnson
batted soundly, if slowly, for forty five not out and W02 Carl
Forde hit a typically attractive thirty.
The College made little effort to score the runs required and
against tight bowling from the six bowlers used, could muster
only forty four for nine in the two hours before stumps.
Scores: RAOC one hundred and twenty for five declared
(Johnson forty five, Forde thirty), Queens College forty four
for nine (Forde three far seven, Holmes three for eleven),
Book number R0247