RAOC Gazette - page 81
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 |
and beer was available and it was a good day out for all. We were made most welcome by the Germans and encouraged to take part in further events. This the Unit expects to do. STORES PLATOON 4 ARMOURED WORKSHOP SINCE our last report we have been extremely busy. The majority of the platoon were involved in the workshop ' in barracks training 1 period, during which military skills were practiced until all were highly proficient. CRAOCs camp in late February had more members of the platoou involved in the ' real thing/ All concerned came back looking like the infantry and many pounds lighter through the loss of so much blood, sweat, and tears. The end of March saw us Adventure training in the Harz Mountains, fortunately the weather was kind and we were able to swim, map read, and play sport Lo our heart's content. The MT Section were eventual winners of the competition despite deciding during the canoe race that it was quicker to tum the canoe upside down, jump out, and then swim dragging the canoe behind them. We say goodbye to Captain Smith who has been posted to Viersen, and congratulate him on his promotion to Major. We welcome our new OC, Captain Bourton. Other arrivals and departures are: Sergeant White, Privates Shefik, Cartwright, Wickham and Jones on return from 321 EOD Detachment. Postings out—Sergeant Jones ? Lance Corporal Earl and Private Tomkinson. We end the report on a sporting note, by congratulating Lance Corporal O'Shea on being selected for the Corps rugby team and Private Brickstock on reaching the BAOR table tennis STORES SECTION 39 FIELD REGIMENT " WRITE T H E GAZETTE n o t e s " was the cry from the small office in the corner. " W h a t do you want me to write about, there hasn't been a Lot happening has there?" " Y o u could start off by welcoming back WOl John Witter, Corporal, sorry Sergeant Roy Skyrme (congratulations) and Privates Glyn Caunt and Keith Howes from their four month holiday in the Emerald Isle with the Regiment." " That's not going to fill much paper is it." " How about mentioning that in between trying to find out how far from Japan his new car is, Corporal Steve Ball does actually do some work on the accounts although it's not as easy as filling in 1771s." 4 * You could also mention that Lance Corporal Jock Strathie can now find things in the storehouse since he started wearing binoculars, (Oh! they are glasses are they)." " What about the boss of the storehouse, Sergeant Sean Moore?" " I think we will wait until he comes back from his holiday in Cyprus before we talk about him don't you." " D o n ' t forget to mention the two drivers otherwise they might feel left out. They work hard at keeping the trucks rolling, well they have to as Private Ron Ho Id en keeps trying to stop them rolling." "Perhaps someone should tell him that the mirrors are for looking in whilst reversing and not just for seeing how pretty you look/' " W h a t about the other driver, Private Jimmy McDonald." "Yes, well what about him/* "Apart from the fact that he is going to be a dad fairly soon I can't say that he spends nearly every day cleaning the bosses car up can I." " Y o u could wind up by saying that we are all going on block Leave over the next few weeks and when we come back it's work, work and even more work." 80 SUPPLY DEPOT APRIL and May saw an upsurge in exercise activity and we have been kept busy supporting numerous regimental type exercises. The sight of the sun has also encouraged us to get out and start Basic Fitness Training. Results so far have been very promising, We were very pleased to welcome Lieutenant Colonel M. J. Robinson, CRAOC 4 Armoured Division, on his initial visit to the Depot. He was accompanied by the DADOS C Sups, Major Ray York. Lance Corporal Pete Stewart was attached to 44 RP Com- pany on Exercise Pack Saddle held in the Sennelager Training Area and he returned with some warlike stories in respect of the number of Compo tins that he had opened during the exercise. Corporal Mick Bishop has been away at Hildesheim getting educated and he is now awaiting the results of his EPC. Language training appears to be the ' in thing' at the moment, Staff Sergeant Ivan Jones and Lance Corporal Pete Stewart attended a Basic German Course in April and both achieved creditable results. Not wishing to be left behind the Depot Superintendent W02 Dave Cartwright volunteered for the May course, as he did not relish communicating with the work force through an interpreter. Congratulations are in order for Corporals Mick Bishop and Dave Montgomery on their substantive promotion to Corporal. Combat Supplies Battalion THE dust has just begun to settle over Paderborn after the massive Battalion effort involved in the execution of Exercise Pack Saddle. Pack Saddle was an RP exercise specifically involving : : : : : : v ^^^J: :r " : ' ^ ^ 44 RP Company in practicing its wai ^ ^ ^ ^ B j § S : K | - B B ^ K r °l e - Needless to say the whole of thi ^ ^ ^ ^ H ^ ^ H I ^ I ^ H Battalion became involved in bringing ^^EI^mmmmm^^Km 44 Company up to their war footing • and providing the administrative back up. It is estimated that those UK Units who were not actually participating were here taking photographs and making films to show their grandchildren—and students at the School of Ord- nance, One of the platoons was fortunate (?) enough to have an Australian platoon commander. Captain Alan Davis showed how they do things in the RAAOC when he persuaded his platoon to do a kangaroo hop march past. Whilst all this was going on two members of the Unit provided Fifty per cent of the Corps team at the Army Para- chute Championships. Captain Geoff Cox and Private Yorkie Nisbett spent a wet week sitting around Netheravon waiting to jump. The climax of the meeting was the demonstration day when three members of the Corps team managed to get on the eight man international relative demonstration. Two as parti- cipants representing England and one as official aerial camera- man. Before complaints come in from British readers there were also two Scotsmen on the load, provided by the Red Devils. It is hoped to get some photographs of this to THE GAZETTE when they return from processing. The Battalion has been doing particularly well in the shooting world. The SATO, Major John Hawkins, was made a member of the Army's 1977/78 Small Bore Target Rifle Prone Squad. After a season of consistently excellent shooting he was selected to fire for the Army XXX in the Inter Services Small Bore Rifle Match, In recognition Major Hawkins has just been awarded his Army Colours for SBTR Prone Shooting, After some initial confusion the Unit is now eligible for 3 Division admin area competitions and has started well by winning the Minor Units Full Bore Competition with Sergeant Hoopei taking first place in the Individual Pistol event. The Battalioc continued on to win the team pistol and Sergeant Hooper nearh got a double, coming runner up in the SMG. The wind of change blows hard in the Sergeants Mes^ this month. Both the RSM and the RQMS are due to leave us, WOl Stephen hands over the reigns to WOl Foster late ot the Apprentices College and W 2 Wightman (RQ) takes ovei as RQMS from W 2 Willis who is leaving to try his hand at ciwie life. Also leaving us in May are Lieutenant Mackie, whe is going to fly helicopters, Sergeant Lord, Privates Roberts Maidment and Barrat, Postings in bring us Sergeants Jolly and Claughton Corporal Olejnik, Privates Forsyth, Williams and Maciver. Tc those leaving thank you very much for your efforts and to those joining a warm welcome. Congratulations are in order for Captain Geoff Tillotson on his selection for a place at the RAF Staff College. H Corps Troops Central THESE few jottings during the absence of the prescribed scribt in Southern Deutchland, are to remind the rest of the RAOt world that Headquarters RAOC Corps Troops Central stir continues to function. The title is about to change, however during the course of the year, to that of CRAOC Corps Troops as we gradually absorb the tasks of the CRAOC dependence from both East and West as a result of restructuring. Since the last report we have lost and gained an AOWO WOl Brian Irwin has left for Maidstone and has been replaces by WOl Harry Jones. Belated welcome to the latter. The 21C Major David Braithwaite as well as leading us al up the garden path propounding the theory that a fit Head quarters is a happy Headquarters, and that running all ove Westphalia is a cure for what ails you, is now leading us all u the mountains of Bavaria. |
| Book number | R0247 |