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RAOC Gazette - page 145

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Publication date 1978
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Transcription •uhttnd metres Steeple Chase the five thousand metre and was
• Victor Ludorum.
The Squadron display team enjoyed themselves at the
j^rshol Army Display judging by the satisfied smiles on their
ccs on their return. The film strip showing the Commando
ourse seem to have been very popular and the success of the
f circuit can be judged by the fact that they had issued all
ze hundred certificates by the middle of the second day,
Future* We have a full calendar ahead in the next couple
f. months. First a logistic exercise which starts with a beach
nding at Browndown Camp, Lee-on-Solent, and could end with
s winning the war if we get it right!
Then we have some adventure training across Offas Dyke
v foot and canoe, just to keep us fit. Block leave for a fort-
i>H in August (unfortunately we have to go on leave at the
ante time as the Royal Marines, so everyone m the Squadron
as to endure six weeks leave a year!) is followed by deploy-
lent to Norway for a further two weeks in September.
Lastly some news from our permanent assault detachments.
AOD support Salerno Company Group, 41 Commando RM
n Malta, and some of its members will remain there until the
Company Group is finally withdrawn in March 1979.
The AOD used to be based in St Andrews Barracks, but,
ias recently moved up to RAF Luqa where it works, in far
rem luxurious accommodation, in the airfield complex. At
present it consists of four members of the squadron, Staff
Serjeant Donal commands it and the remainder of the lucky
quartet are Corporal Campbell, Lance Corporal Collins and
Private Doherty. Sadly two of them are being withdrawn as
the workload does not justify the AOD remaining at full strength.
Corporal Campbell and Lance Corporal Collins drew the short
straws.
The photograph shows members of the AOD in one of their
(many?) off-duty moments. It is a pity it is black and white
because they have marvellous suntans; the berets are green, by
the way!
ALL line managers who have served in COD Donnington will
have had some dealings with our Secretary of the Employees
Side, Industrial Whitley, Mrs Gena Morgan. We are very proud
to report that Gena was awarded the British Empire Medal in
the Queen's Birthday Honours List, and offer her our heartiest
congratulations.
Further congratulations are also due to Mrs Alice Ryder,
employed as a Clerical Officer in Forms and Publications
Branch, Spares Sub-Depot. Alice has been awarded the honour
of Serving Sister of the Order of St John for her services to
the St John Ambulance Brigade .over a period of twenty one
years.
At the Officers Mess Summer dance the theme was taken
from the Crusaders of the Middle Ages. Props were borrowed
from far and wide, including Elstree and Shepperton Studios.
The Mess was completely transformed, and a beautiful sight to
behold. The whole night was a credit to Lieutenant Colonel
Tony Camfield and to his committee.
The Unit tug-of-war team has competed in seven com-
petitions, out of which they won five, and were runners-up in
two. Sergeant Ledingham, the trainer, can take a lot of credit
for injecting so much enthusiasm into the team,
Our newest craze is the 'Tickle' Fitness Competition. I
thought it had something to do with catching fish, but apparently
not. It's to do with running and swimming, and if we all do
it extremely well the Unit receives a hand-out. We can't help
but win,
Arrivals are WOl Alford, Staff Sergeant McConnachie,
Corporal Horne, Lance Corporal McKenzie and Privates
Fletcher and Dix to whom we extend a warm welcome.
Congratulations to Staff Sergeant McKenzie, Sergeant Mc-
Gavin and Lance Corporals Cotterill and Drake on promotion.
1 AOD Malta—with Corporal Campbell, Lance Corporal Collins,
Private Dohety and Staff Sergeant Donal holding the fort.
Central Ordnance Depot Bicester
IN the inter-company swimming gala
Headquarters Company triumphed for
the second year running but not with-
out a struggle. Full marks to Captain
Berridge, Sergeant
Bo yes,
Lance
Corporals Ford and Walters and
Privates Luff, Hunt and Johnston who
^^llffl
performed so well for Headquarters
Company,
Serious training is now
commencing for the Corps Champion-
ships.
Sailing is in full flight with several
members of the Battalion taking ad-
vantage of the excellent facilities at Calvert—Major Robertson^
OC Headquarters Company won the Passage Race in the Corps
Regatta. Twelve miles of planing in a Boson Dinghy all in
a force six and completed in two hours! Private Denman
has been selected for Exercise Twin Tela, an off shore sail
training course in the Baltic, and he will soon be scanning the
beaches of Sweden!
D Company WRAC were 'runners u p ' in the South East
District Inter Unit Athletics Championships. Our team achieved
three * Firsts ' in these Championships—Private Simon in the
two hundred metre event; Lance Corporal Sharkey—Discus
and Private Carter—Shot. Private Taylor was runner up in
the Javelin event and the relay team came second. This result
qualified our team to enter for the Army Inter Unit Champion-
ships. At the Army Individual Athletics Championships our
athletes Private Simon and Lance Corporal Sharkey received
a second, two thirds and a fourth placing in the one hundred
and two hundred metre, discus and shot respectively. They then
went on to Army Squad training for the Inter Services where
Lance Corporal Sharkey was runner up to the Royal Air
Force winner and Private Simon sadly had to withdraw, with
a pulled hamstring, from the one hundred metre Inter Service
event which she was winning up to the time. D Company
swimming team were runners up in the District Champion-
ships and our Army swimmer, Lance Corporal Part is about
to leave for Catterick for Army Squad Training prior to enter-
ing the Inter Service swimming championships.
At a slightly lower level the winning female team in the
Bicester Hash Relay Race was D Company and Corporal
Roper won the prize for being the fastest woman in this
event.
It is hoped that, now they have our PIT, Corporal Cowie,
D Company will go from strength to strength on the sports
field. This PTI all rounder is, however, currently being claimed
Central Ordnance Depot Donningron
3 AOD in Arbroath in support of 45 Commando RM and
commanded by Staff Sergeant Herratt continue to be one of the
hardest worked elements in Ord Squadron; our young detached
ranks come back with grey hair.
The detachment has said farewell to a number of its
numbers: W02 Mick Knight and family on posting to Plymouth,
^"i-ant Kim Birdsall and family to BAOR, Lance Corporal
Percy to 3 BAPD and Private Girling to civilian life. All the
detachment wish them well. Lance Corporal Young is to be
congratulated on his engagement. Absence in Norway obviously
makes the heart grow fonder!
We promise to send a photo for inclusion next time—we
cannot allow 1 AOD to upstage us.
DEAD-LINE
DATE
FOR RECEIPT
OF COPY
WILL ALL contributors kindly note that the deadline
date for receipt of copy at THE GAZETTE Office really is
the 29th of the month for publication a month later.

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Book number R0247