RAOC Gazette - page 262
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 |
Before we leave the Depot we'll put in a word of (un- solicited) praise to its OC, our own energetic and persuasive Major Bruce Boullon for ' obtaining' a donation of £25 from Pickfords to the RAOC Aid Society. Back in Shrewsbury we've seen Ordnance Branch return almost to full strength as we welcome both new arrivals and older inmates who have been away on leave and courses. Bill Rogers our new DFA has embarked on his initial grand tour of his huge parish, covering the West Midland Counties and Wales whilst his free time energies are devoted to house hunting. Major Stuart Craven has returned from leave and Captain Tim Tayler has rejoined us from the JDSC—we are already mesmerised by his impeccable Staff Duties and the effortless clarity consciences and logic which flow from his pen. Army Air Corps # HEADQUARTERS Bunde with 652 Squadron was sorely tempted to stay in the South of France after his leave. Sergeant Duncan has left 662 Squadron to join steam Ordnance with the Gunners in Kirten Lindsey, what a life 1 We welcome his replacement Sergeant Ellis from Omagh to Munster, he is used to Army Air. Sergeant Wautier from 653 Squadron in Soest has moved to the Support Unit in Detmold and exchanged posts with Sergeant Hail. Mrs Liz Wautier was a celebrity recently appearing o n BFBS radio while running in an orienteering competition when 3 Regiment were featured in a series about life in the Units, Sergeant Dimmock is still in Northern Ireland, but Sergeant Robinson in Detmold is looking after his 664 Squadron spares in Minden T so nothing to worry there! Sergeant Hicks of 9 Regi- ment acquitted himself well in a recent escape and evasion exercise, so has qualified for an education course shortly, and Sergeant O'Neill, an old hand in Army Air, seems to be sharing the store successfully. Corporal Crawford with 7 Flight in Berlin has his days numbered, so enjoy it while you can! Corporal Brown from the Support Unit takes over in Berlin in January. Corporal Finer of 12 Flight in Wildenrath has come through an inspection by the Aviation Supply Staff at Corps Headquarters; as for Corporal Panter at BATUS, we wonder how he is! Corporal Parish is due to take over in November, and he likes ski-ing, so he should be in his element. 2 AIRCRAFT SUPPORT UNIT THE exercise period will soon be with us again, and unit mem- bers are seen to be scurrying about un-earthing mess tins, KFS and ponchos. Recent news is that the Regimental Organization of the AAC units in BAOR are due to change in the near future, with more workloads being placed on the Aircraft Support Unit. VDU operators are trimming their nails in preparation. Our OC Captain Curtis is still suffering withdrawal symp- toms from giving up smoking which has made him somewhat restless and every Tuesday and Thursday can be seen leaping around the surrounding hills exhorting the lads to greater efforts during the unit training runs. All members of the unit wish Corporal Kemble a speedy recovery and safe return from the Woolwich Hospital in UK. Congratulations to Private Picot on his forthcoming marriage and we hope he enjoys many years of nuptual bliss. WOl Beaton remains in good spirits, fortified by England's defeat by Norway at football, a typical Jock. Our unit sportsmen are preparing themselves for a busy Winter of football, rugby, and cross country. Until the next news notes it's good bye from us all, THIS month we must congratulate our SOI, Lieutenant Colonel Marsden, on successfully completing a marathon, which was run at Devizes. We were also due to say a final fare- well to Conductor Penman after thirty seven years service. However he failed his pre-release medical and ended up in hospital, thus delaying his discharge yet further. To quote his wife 'Some people will do anything to stay in/ But we hope he will be soon fit again. The main topic of conversation in the main office this month has been of Germany. With Mrs Morgan and Mrs Kendrick, husbands both receiving posting orders to Germany. Mrs Morgan to Bunde and Mrs Kendrick to Berlin. 1 AIRCRAFT SUPPORT UNIT AS might be expected this has been a quiet period for the unit. Although we do not join in the block leave arrangements of the Army Air Corps Centre and the Workshop we benefit from their absence which gives us a chance to do a few of those house- keeping jobs which get neglected at other busier times, (Well 6 Field Force Ordnance Company we couldn't say we managed to get outside and sunbathe!) One n AFTER three weeks of R and R (or Block of the more notable events has been the completion of the move ^ Leave), the Company plunged straight into to Old Sarum which we now use as a sub-store and it is now ^^. Exercise Amber Anticipation on Salisbury looking quite business-like—at least it does whenever the OC visits. With a handy adjacent disused control tower from r^-rc^tth^ Plain. This brought everyone in the Com- which to get early warning of arriving visitors one can picture ^flP^fc. P&ny down to earth, especially Lance the hangar being ideal for one of those hastily set-up and dis- ^JkHHV" Corporal Wee Jock MacFarlane who fell mantled gambling casinos. Since Sergeant Crosby (who wishes ^ ^ M ^ ^ E L down a trench and couldn't get out. Our to remain anonymous) has requested some WRAC storewomen ^ H ^ ^ ^ ^ S Chief Clerk (yes he did go) Staff Sergeant assistance (croupiers?) perhaps another O C s visit is overdue. J j ^ ^ ^ Dave Cooper went looking for the MT in WOl Heritage and W02 Rose have disappeared off to M the dead of night, which was only a matter Cyprus with the Workshop on exercise. Sergeants Ferris and ** of two hundred metres and one and a half FuI lager are in Denmark on detachment and Corporal Dexter hours away, he was later heard complaining about the lack of is about to go off to Kenya. Corporal Flower continues to lights in the wood. The MTO, Lance Corporal Paul Hulme blossom in Belize. Although he is a long way away he still and Private Guemey Ford went out on a long recce patrol into figures on our books and is not entirely forgotten. As the A AC enemy positions and for three days evaded capture. After what have requested that he be allowed to stay for another six month seemed an eternity on Salisbury Plain (one week) we were period he is obviously providing a valuable service. Well done, back in camp for four days and then out again to Denmark on He will have company soon as we have just said farewell on Exercise Amber Express. Leaving Aldershot at midnight we posting to Corporal Welland who will no doubt now extend finally arrived in location in Denmark via London, Colchester, the trail of broken-hearted females to Latin America. I have Harwich, Esberg Odde and Halbeck. a recurrent nightmare that one day all his conquests arrive at the Travelling on an LSL is an experience some of the Com- unit front door demanding a forwarding address. Wishing him pany do not wish to repeat especially Sergeant John Moore and luck in the future is, it seems, somewhat superfluous but we do Private Steve Pratt who at the slightest roll ran for the rails. so sincerely. Second Lieutenant Martin Hardy and Lance Corporal Jeff Two other departures were Corporal McLellan who has now Flavell were the only people able to work in the hold under the gone on posting to Cyprus (lucky chap) and Private Fulton who ten tonne, Corporal Tony Buchanan making a hasty exit after goes to BAOR after a very short stay with us after completing a couple of minutes. Rumour has it they were working on a basic training^ To both we send our best wishes. crate of beer and not on a radiator! New arrivals are Lance Corporal Naismith and Private Having picked up a couple of strays en route, including two Hodgkins. We welcome them all and include Lance Corporal Sultans over Jutland we finally missed the ferry to Zealand and Lennon who joins us from the Infantry pending transfer. had to spend a cold night on the water front arriving in the AVIATION (SUP) IN BAOR location a little tired to say the least. WE have news from BAOR First Aid Aircraft Outfits (FAACO). The first week in Denmark passed very quickly with people 1 Regiment at Hildesheim is the nearest to the front line, and discovering the delights of Copenhagen, especially Private Pete Sergeants Trotman and Outhwaite are looking after the spares 8 — on the large airfield at Tofrek. All those Crusader umpires will recall the expanse there. Sergeant Outhwaite took two Sergeant York part are or other in and the they Trotman's REME insist REME ropes! Stetson regatta crew, The family wearing managed crew at even Kiel, won at managed his to some work! pull OC Dave was silver the Sergeant a skipper, holiday strings as runners Burton or and in sheets New with — up. in 2 |
| Book number | R0250 |