RAOC Gazette - page 76
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 |
2nd Armoured Division HEADQUARTERS RAOC WITH the departure of the 2IC, whose replacement is not due to arrive until July, the workload has increased and certain members of the Headquarters have moved up a notch or two. The Chief Clerk, however, is unsure whether his own move was up or down. However, to illustrate how well the staff of the Headquarters work as a team, we are pleased to announce that no less than four confirmations cf pregnancy were made within one working week! Our con- 2f. ulations go to Chris Harnott, Jill Scott, Yvonne Smith and Btuty Welbourn (and to their husbands) who are all expecting additions to their families towards the end of the year. The same unity of effort has unfortunately had a less than satisfactory effect upon the health of members' motor cars. W02 Alan Pedley's has ceased to function for the moment, as has WOl Dave Cochrane's new one. Major Bill Clayden's was put down permanently by someone else, while it was being collected from the manufacturers. However, Lance Corporal Bob Cummins 1 fortunes have been even bleaker, as his VW has blown up and his Capri finally caught the lamp post it v.-as chasing. On 13th May, the 1st Lubbecke Scout Group held a very successful fete in support of their own funds, and over DM 1,400 was raised, chiefly to buy camping equipment for the Group. Corporal Ben Smith and his many willing Scouts and Cub Scouts made the occasion a great success, Ben is the Group's Cub Scout leader as well as being the acting Scout Leader, while a new encumbent is sought. His nearest equivalent in military terms is 2IC! {The photograph arrived too late for publication in the July issue.—Editor). The Officer Commanding the Accommodation Services Unit at Osnabruck, Major Bill Smith, recently completed his fortieth year in the British Army. The following is taken from the text of a letter sent to him by the GOC 2 Armoured Division, Major General Boswell, and reflects all our feelings here. " Dear Bill J understand that you will complete forty years in the Army next week—what a wonderful record of service that is. Thank you for a job well done and my best wishes for the future Yours ever, Sandy Boswell." ORDNANCE COMPANY THIS month we will limit our news to two major events. The rirsE, our annual trek to Denmark and then we wish to record our victory in the annual Hoogeven Marches in Holland. The Company's two week Regimental Training camp took place in Sogaard, Denmark and was attended by some seventy five men of the Company. The camp was run on the basic infantry lines, with the men being split into three platoons, with a minimum administration section. As usual, the Regimental Training fell to the para-trained element of the Company. The three platoon commanders being those budgies: Lieutenant Mike Parle, Sergeant Dennis Price and Sergeant Larry Taylor. The whole of the activity was made competitive for both sporting and military skills. With this in mind, a very ambitious programme was embarked upon, Each of the three platoons were split down into the normal infantry organisation of three sections, with a small Head- quarters Section. To give the Corporals the maximum responsi- bility and a chance to ' flex their muscles' they were made responsible for the majority of teaching, and the organisation of their own sections. These Corporals were excellent and they an? congratulated for their efforts and expertise, 3y the end of the camp everybody had reached a proficient standard on SLR, SMG and LMG, as well as being practised in the art of grenade throwing» fieldcraft, map reading and minor tactics. Also, everyone passed their BE tests with flying colours. In the second week of the camp a competitive day was organised against a Danish Company under the command of Major Hans Egander. Honours were about even, they won the football two to one and we won the shooting competitions. The celebrations were a draw. A very good day in all and excel- ler.n for Anglo-Danish relations. ^ A party, thrown for the Danish officers by the officers and SNCps of the Company, was a great success and we have an open invite to return to use the camp again any time. On the whole the camp was a mixture of work hard and Play hard with the achievement of excellent results. The climax °f the training was a night exercise with 2 Platoon as Redland, and I and 3 Platoons as Blueland. This exercise went very well, highlighting the value of good communications. Other notable events were on the fishing side of the social activities. In the camp compound was a well stocked lake, which we had permission to fish. This was very popular, and many people had their first taste of fishing. The prize catch went to Sergeant Dennis Price, who managed to catch four bottles of whiskey. Finally, congratulations to 2 Platoon, particularly to Corporals Donovan, Avery and Hunt, for winning the Inter- Platoon competition. Saturday 20th May saw the Company march to victory over a thirty kilometre distance. This march is in memory of those stirring times during World War II when soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians laid down their lives to liberate the town of Hoogeven in Holland. It was the Black Watch, Royal Highland Regiment and the First Canadian Army who were first to enter the town in April 1945. Fourteen British Units and one Canadian Unit took part in this years marches over a thirty kilometre distance and which was competitive, Marks were scored under the following headings: Leadership; Bearing; Tempo; March Discipline; Traffic Control and Dress. Most of the visiting soldiers were young and at an im- pressionable age. Their stay at Hoogeven has given them memories and topics of conversation. Such a situation cannot fail to improve Anglo-Dutch relations. Five minutes from the end of the thirty-kilometre march. ' Our team consisted of the following volunteers (well, they say one volunteer is better than ten pressed men). W 2 D, J, Taylor, Corporal Ron Gant, Lance Corporals Jim Downey, Mark Fox, jordy Martin and George Adams, Privates John Cummings, Kevin Bellerby, Dicky Dickinson, Regimental Police- man Baxter, John Elliott, Mick Ellis, Two Legs Higgins, Dave Kelsall, Phil Kerry, Andy Lavender, Andy Markham, Taff Murray, Ginge Potter, Budgie Raw son, John Leach, Tab Hunter, Terry Curzon and Signalman Blip Brown. After a few well earned beers the team returned to Osna- bruck to prepare for yet another strenuous task—CRAOCs exercise. 5 Field Force Ordnance Company THERE have been a few incidents of note, but in order to protect the i n n o c e n t those described b e l o w a r e described annony- mously. For example the new 2IC Captain P--1 Har-~-gton, (who at this time is just getting married, congratulations P--1 and Maureen) on his first CPX earned the title of Super Gannet He also endeared himself to Lance Corporal Dom--ey ACC by choosing a site where a farmer, who presumably owned some pretty ferocious chickens, had an electrified fence which was mains powered! The aforementioned Lance Corporal D proved to the assembled audience that satisfactory earthing can be |
| Book number | R0247 |