RAOC Gazette - page 164
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 |
JUST POP OVER TO QUETTA By W02 (SQMS) G. W. GARRATT, BEM RAOC sometimes operates in mysterious ways and the tale you are about to read is no exception to this statement Staff Sergeant Jim Bond and myself were serving with the British Embassy in Islamabad in the office of the Defence Attache when the DA, Brigadier Came, thought it would be a good idea to test RAOC under sub-continent conditions. Our task—to deliver gas cookers to two British officer students at the Staff College Quetta, No problem! Our Land Rover was sturdy and hopefully reliable. There would be no problem in working out supplies for the journey, funds needed for fuel and incidentals, but what about the route? On general scrutiny of a map of Pakistan, there appeared to be very little to worry about, quite straight forward really, just follow the Indus river, straight on up through Jacobabad and on to Quetta. On second thoughts, wouldn't it be a good idea to consult someone who knew the terrain a little better? Berndt Sawatzski, a Warrant Officer at the West German Embassy had made the trip a few years back along with Rick Kay who is a member of the Corps currently serving in Headquarters DGOS. Berndt very kindly offered to assist by inviting me over to his office for a Coca-Cola and consultation- This was my first encounter of what to expect. We couldn't follow the Indus as it at first appeared. Patiently I listened to Berndt and made notes. Back at our own office I informed Jim and suggested that he and I should get together at my house and select a suitable route (over a can of Singapore imported Tiger). The route was eventually planned and on the morning of 31st July at approxi- mately 05.15 hours we set off. (We even went to the trouble of having the place names written additionally in Urdu on our route card.) Our first encounter, we got lost just outside Islamabad—a fine start! We wanted to get to Fahtejang which was only a short distance (on the map). Having consulted a local, we were yet again on our way. After an hours drive with yours truly at the wheel, we suddenly found that the road had disappeared into a muddy track. No difficulty with the Land Rover. The only problem we found was that we had to give priority on the * roads' to buffalos, camels, sheep and goats. We reached Fahtehjang fairly early where we topped up with petrol, not knowing when we would encounter another garage we had to play safe and keep the tank full together witi the two spare jerricans. Next place—Talagang. We were there at 09.00 hours and both as pleased as punch. We did two hour shifts behind the wheel. Our third checkpoint was Mlanwali, quite a large place compared with the other two villages. We were actually escorted through this town by a police inspector on a motor-cycle who P"5s* LEGEND CHINA k WGtrjuNftrvtl bflUodry fKA&OL Tktds <-.* ftCAO* I 1 ROUTE I t QUfc u_ £00NlifO> —» >"^"^%. Unhore, AFGHANISTAN V* t y r*tfWf*H N£W0EU*j IRAN JAU»6«»O INDIA r*'' ^ NOTE! The area from Deri Ismail Khan to Quetta via Fort Sandetnan (shaded) is a prohibited area (due to clashes with tribesmw hence the reason for our particular route. — 134 — |
| Book number | R0247 |