Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 154

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 Finally my personal thanks to the OJC Admin for the mound of
sticky buns each day and to Sergeant Bill Farrant for loaning
me his broken motor bikes—they are now!
This month we said goodbye to Lance Corporal Nobby
Hall and Private Paul McKirdy on posting and to Corporal
Kevin Sault and Lance Corporal Bill Morrow on leaving the
Army, Welcome to Corporal Clive Craister and Privates Terry
Bolden, Paul Armitage and Stephen Wagstaff.
PS. Maria from Schleiden sends her love to
(continued next month).
Corps Troops Ordnance Company
OUR Regimental Training period took place in Bavaria, one
third of the Company at a time. Despite the efforts of our
power crazed NBC inspired instructors to make life a misery,
the Company enjoyed the change and the range of activity.
During most of June our persistent athletes defied rain,
wind and appalling track records to train hard under the eagle
eye of our coach, Captain Bugler, Under the banner of
athletics we visited Rheindahlen to indulge in Travers Clarke.
Thanks to Timex watches, we missed first place by a hair's
breadth, or in athletic terms, by a long shot
We also had a visit from our DGOS, Major General Callan.
A high point of the visit was the presentation to Staff Sergeant
Nimmons of his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
On the 17th June we held the Unit Summer Ball in the hall
of Haig School. Our guests, the DDOS, Brigadier McDonald
and our CO, Lieutenant Colonel David Mann and his wife
were all displaying a lively friskiness normally associated with
the youngsters such as W02 Brown and the SSAFA Sister.
The CSM W02 Greenaway and his wife Pauline made an
excellent job of organising a very good ball. Mind you, this is
his third,
By the end of June we were thankful to greet July, still in
one piece. The beginning of July was greeted by a host of
runners sprinting hither and thither looking for the various
books connected with a PRI audit. The man who said a
smile is worth a million dollars is wrong, or so our PRI,
Captain John Dewhurst, was heard to say.
July heralded the approach of our new CO, Major Ian
Inshaw, to replace Major Grahaeme Co well. Major Co well is
due to go to the School of Ordnance and we wish him well
since his posture of * miracles I can achieve, the impossible
takes a little longer' will give the School a much needed boost
into the nineteen eighties 'New look.'
Corps Troops Central
85 SUPPLY DEPOT
OUR entertainment programme is still going strong. Since
the last notes we have had a car rally and a cheese and wine
party, along with the regular monthly film. The car rally was a
great success, drivers and navigators avidly studying the route
prior to starting off. The finish showed the true mettle of the
competitors, with only a couple managing to answer all the
questions. Apparently there were cars going in every direction
at one stage* a certain amount of confusion having been caused
by the mysterious disappearance of a key reference point on
the eve of the event
Various Depot staff have been away on courses recently.
The diverse talents of Sergeant Chris Ellis, Corporal Boots
Barnes and Lance Corporal Ken Cornwall have been extended
to include sailing, rodent catching, lay preaching and film pro-
jectionist—it's amazing what can qualify as a military duty.
Most of the Depot's military staff attempted a basic German
oral test Some results were surprising, with Glaswegian
Sergeant Tommy Brough being nominated for a basic English
course.
The summer leave programme has arrived, heralded by
typical Bielefeld summer weather; rain, rain and more rain.
The Depot Officer, Captain Richard Eccles managed to find the
sun in Italy, judging from his tanned appearance, but some say
it is just the result of being somewhat nearer to it than the
rest of us.
We have said goodbye to W02 Alan Leonard who has
gone to Devizes and have welcomed Staff Sergeant Jimmy
Wilson and family.
Congratulations to Sergeant and Mrs Jarwood and Corporal
and Mrs Hopwood on the recent additions to their families.
*
STORES SECTION 1 CORPS TROOPS WORKSHOP
JULY already and over half of the year gone. The Operation
Banner tour is coming to an end and we
shall all be back to-
bl
gether. A sudden thought has struck Exercises, Crash Outs,
Cam-up, Gas etc! !"
Plenty of arrivals, welcome to Privates Spud and Jan
Murphy also 'Jocks' Bruce and MacGregor. (We now have
our own ' MacLennox Tartan Army here/)
Farewells were said to Privates Jeff Lord and Mick Ollren-
shaw and a few jugs sank to their health.
Mick Wilson got home to find Scotland out of the World
Cup, lucky he didn't make for Argentina!!
Congratulations to Alan Mayoh on his promotion to
Corporal and Jock Connell on his HGV2 pass.
The recent posting orders for Brum Evans and Jacko
Jackson brought about some unprintable new titles for RAOC
Records. Never mind lads you don't have to count the
rounds.
Corps Troops West
SINCE our last report we have said farewell to our CRAOC
Lieutenant Colonel Morton who left us to take up his new ap-
pointment of OC OSU Catterick. Everyone in the Unit wishes
the Colonel and his family every success and happiness,
The Dortmund Branch of the RAOC Association formally
closed on the 27th June 1978 and all members are now to be
administered by a new branch to be formed under the chair-
manship of Lieutenant Colonel Comwell, CRAOC 3 Armoured
Division. A grand ball was held to mark both the closure of the
Dortmund Branch and the departure of Lieutenant Colonel
Morton. Over one hundred and twenty members and their
wives attended the ball and all agreed that it was a most enjoy-
able occasion. Our thanks go to Major Jack Dempsey and his
Committee on the excellent organisation which was no doubt
instrumental in making it such a memorable evening.
Sergeant Lew Bowker, our NCO IC Vehicles, has added
a new dimension to our sporting activities. A keen course
angler, he has been treading the waters expertly and most
successfully since his arrival. In April this year he represented
BAOR in the annual match against RAF(G), regularly represen-
ted Dortmund Garrison and in a recent match against die
German team Angeln Sport Verne in Wickede he caught more
than the rest of the competitors put together. He has qualified
for the BAOR Championships and all are awaiting a quote from
Ladbrokes before placing their bets.
Congratulations to our Area Warrant Officer, WOl Alan
Brant, on his recent appointment as Conductor RAOC, a reward
justly deserved. Our congratulations are also extended to W02
Derek Ashdown who must be one of the earliest recipients to
receive the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal under the
revised qualifying period. SQMS Ashdown received his medal
from the DOS, Brigadier Crawley, in a double ceremony with
W02 Dave Jackson. After the presentation, 86 Supply Depot
provided an excellent buffet during which many old soldiers
tales were overheard.
Brigadier Crawley has a drink with W 2 (SQMS) Deref-
Ashdown afrer rhe presentaHon of his Long Service and Cooi
Conduct Medal.
124 —
Book number R0247