RAOC Gazette - page 240
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 |
Jfor tlje AWARDS FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OBE Lieutenant Colonel C. M. G. Hendy In the chair for the last time. Brigadier Thornton leaves Black- down Barracks in style. BEM Staff Sergeant A. Ward WELL MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES Major R. L. BufTham MBE Sergeant E. L, Bienkowski RETIREMENT OF BRIGADIER R. W. THORNTON RAY THORNTON was born in Birmingham on 28th June 1932. He was educated at Hanson High School Birmingham and, on leaving school, he embarked initially on a career as actor and" stage director. However, this career only lasted for two years until June 1951 when he was called up for National Service. He was commissioned as a National Service officer in the Corps and, in December 1953, took a Regular Commission. Since then he has held a variety of interesting and demanding appointments throughout the world including service in Korea. Egypt, Singapore, Cyprus and BAOR as BOO 3 Cdo Bde, ADP Programmer, Staff Captain AG9, GS02 CSIT, CO Cdo Log Regt, Chief Programmer CSDW and SSO COD Donnington. His last two appointments, in the rank of Brigadier have been as Commandant COD Donnington and Commander RAOC Train- ing Centre. Of all these the most noteworthy was firstly that he was the first officer of the Logistic Corps to command the Commando Logistic Regiment and secondly his command at Donnington saw the foundations being set for the modernisation. In addition to his successes in these appointments Ray has made his mark in other ways. He has maintained his interest in amateur dramatics and has been the driving force in many Garrison thespian clubs throughout the world, both as an actor and producer. The remarkable successes of the Donnington Theatre Club in recent years provided a fitting culmination to these activities. He is also probably the best known ' H a s h e r ' the Corps has produced, and many Hash clubs throughout the world owe their very existence to his unbounded enthusiasm and personal example in this activity, Ray's contribution to the Corps has been very valuable over a long period and we will miss his wise counsel and enthusiasm. We wish Ray and his wife Jules every success in the future in their new home in Cornwall. We are certain that whatever business venture that they embark upon will be undertaken with the same enthusiasm that has characterised his days in the Corps. J. B. ORGANISED CVD Ashchurch Station personnel played an important role in Tewkesbury last month. Captain Alec Moss (REME) with the aid of eight dedicated workers (RAOC) installed five large organ pipes into the Abbey. All were between twenty seven and thirty feet long and weighing between a quarter and a half ton each. Two film crews, from the BBC and ITV. were present to witness the final act of securing the pipes. The local media also had a field day interviewing the nine dirty, but tired workers. The strenuous w r ork involved crawling around in narrow passages high up in the Abbey roof, which had probably not been cleaned out since the building was first erected. The work also involved installing two complicated hoisting systems to bring the pipes upright and to manoeuvre them into their final position. This proved to be another job well done, and much appreciated by the townsfolk of Tewkesbury, who gathered in groups to watch the proceedings throughout the day. SECOND ONE-DAY CALL UP IN the second annual one-day 'call u p ' of regular Army reservists about forty five thousand civilians are expected to report to military units in their home areas during the 1981 autumn period. An annual one-day ' call up* of the reservists was first introduced in November last year in a new plan to reduce the time needed to mobilise Britain's immediate reserves in a defence emergency. Last year, on reporting days, reservists were issued with uniforms to be kept at home ready for use in the event of mobilisation. At reporting centres this year reservists will have their uniforms checked and documents relating to military service and personal circumstances up-dated if necessary. The up-dating of records is a very important aspect of the scheme since it is computer-based. A computer takes account of a reservist's specialist skills, and his geographical location* in order to produce a posting instruction for him on mobilisation which would minimise the travelling which he has to do. For the reservists an important feature of this year's short training period will be the fitting of Army nuclear, biological and chemical defensive clothing which is issued to regular Army personnel serving with British Army of the Rhine in Germany This equipment is essential for reservists who would be re- inforcing BAOR in an emergency. 19S — |
| Book number | R0250 |