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RAOC Gazette - page 329

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Publication date 1981
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Transcription Since the submission of the last notes, WOZ John Maughan
his family departed the Colony on posting to QMG
, t ^tariat in MOD, 1 wonder how long if 11 take him before
• ]L lias a yacht on the seventh floor of Main Building? His
successor is W 2 Lawrence Rich from GS(OR)4 in MOD. A
warm welcome and wishes for a happy tour are extended to
him, his wife Ros and family.
Composite Ordnance Depot Hong Kong
THE Unit Summer Camp held at Erskine Camp, New Territories
six teams of ten personnel, for each week, enjoy a mixed
gramme of military training and adventurous training pursuits.
During the second week (Phase Two) a tropical storm
edged Hong Kong but did little to disrupt the programme. With
Storm Signal number three in force teams set off and did the
Orienteering Course with great success with a number of maxi-
mum scores. The next day with the sun shining and the heat
index high, teams suffered through water shortage with dis-
appointing scores.
After the classroom work on NBC and First Aid everyone
enjoyed abseiling, canoeing and mixed sports. ' It's a Knock-
•: it' competition also involved a 'Mother and Baby House
>ve' and a * Thirsty Casualty" race with hilarious results. It
V.LIS confirmed that the grass stains on the nappies were mud and;
the large dummies were not doctored and the heaving up was
done at the eight foot wall. The mothers showed their dexterity
in tying up the dresses correctly. Who said practice makes
perfect?
Everyone looked forward to the barbeque night at the
Officers Mess, on Thursday with only Friday morning's activities
left before return to barracks. It was obviously high spirits
that left the Officers wet and the pool bar. Even the flag pole
!
*ggcd it with a pair of trousers AO—it was said " Hiil done it."
^MUNITION
SUB-DEPOT.
In addition to Summer Camp
sport flourished: Sergeant Willie Morton represented both the
Depot and Combined Services at football. While Major Ahearne
seems to have a hockey stick permanently fixed to his right
hand, W 2 Alan Coulbeck has taken the opportunity in establish-
ing himself on the squash scene.
RETURNED STORES GROUP. This month is the month for
courses within R.SG as we see Staff Sergeant Ken Ray lighting
his way daily over to the Island to attend a unit treasurers course.
'taff Sergeant Stan Standen is all tensed and ready to pounce
n the remaining two subjects he requires for his EPC(A). At
this moment in time Corporal Lofty Young is sitting his exams
for his EPC and we are all wondering if his natural strength
will be of any assistance to him in obtaining a pass. On his
return he will be able to loosen his muscles preparing consign-
ments for Deep Sea Dump (without the aid of a concrete
mixer). The unit has just completed a very successful Summer
Camp and WOI Bob SafTery kept the RSG in the running by
winning the belly water sliding match. This was not part of the
official programme, but an after thought when somehow a
tucket of water was accidentally spilled on to the floor. First
Mace was being battled for between Sergeant Tom Hart and
WOI Vince Brigham (REME) who were obtaining about a twenty
five foot slide stopping just short of the door. Major Robert
Neill played the trump card and offered to close the bar unless
those who were still in a dry state made an attempt to beat
the record. The sleek figure of Bob Saffery was then seen
shooting across the floor and coming to an abrupt halt up
against the door. It is debatable whether it was the sheer power
of his leg muscles or the aerodynamic shape of his head that
ichieved his success. However, the price of victory was high
is his limping figure was seen wandering about the depot and
aeard to be muttering " Who is paying for the door. 1 '
STORES GROUP. With Summer Camp behind, it's BFT time
and the lead up to the Mack Trial. Stores Group were seen
running feverishly around the depot and reckons a 99.9% pass
rate. Obviously the writer has some doubts about claiming the
100% rate.
GENERAL.
Congratulations go to Ian Mountain on his pro-
motion to Substantive Sergeant
On the sporting scene the unit football team remains un-
beaten with notable wins over Hong Kong Gurkha Signal
Squadron (Last year's League Winners) and British Military
Hospital. In the Annual Sergeants Mess Rothmans six-a-side
football competition the Sergeants Mess 'A' Team were beaten
by one corner, by the eventual winners, in the semi final of the
Cup—QGE(A) with the score three all.
Force O r d n a n c e C o m p a n y B e l i z e
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SINCE our last contri-
but ion Belize has been
granted its Indepen-
dence although to date
^ does not seem to
n a v e a ec
^ t e d our lives
greatly. As is the case
with such celebrations,
the services provided
by RAOC were very
much in demand as everyone seemed to want things yesterday.
The OC, Major Geoff Smith has been on leave for three
weeks in New Orleans, returning with two cars instead of the
original one that he intended to import. No doubt should he
wish to sell one he will find a buyer fairly easily.
Captain Bob Willox, Sergeant Phil Ritchie and Lance
Corporal Martin Stevens have taken part in a sponsored race
in aid of JSRC Chessington, helping to raise over £1,000. In
addition Sergeant Ritchie has run against local competition,
winning one race and third place in another.
Stores Platoon say cheerio to Sergeants John McNorton,
Paul Kelly, Corporal TafF Osborne, Lance Corporal Colin
McBride and Private Ginge O'Keefe. welcome to Sergeants Vic
Peters, TafF Blyth, Corporal Ben Gunn and Lance Corporal Dave
Lambert.
The ASU loses both military members, WOI George Veitch
(R. Anglian) to civvy street, to run a hotel at San Pedro situated
on one of the most popular Cayes in Belize, and Sergeant Dave
Jones. Their replacements are WOI Reid (R Irish) and Sergeant
Cox.
The Ration Section has been decimated by Guzzomi fever.
As 1 Gordons departed they took Private Wyness, their regi-
mental butcher with them. He was hotly pursued by Lance
Corporal Trambowicz and Corporal Luke O'Neill, both eager
to taste some mythical nectar called English beer in the land
where the VClOs live. Their five day fever was highly in-
fectious for as the haze cleared Lance Corporal Griffiths decided *
he will swap the heat of Belize for Hong Kong, He will be
accompanied on the flight by Corporal Steve Thompson who
leaves Lance Corporal Pete Wearing in the dry goods store.
From the ranks of the Royal Irish Rangers we have Lance
Corporal Harry Baker as replacement regimental butcher, over-
looked by Corporal Keith Hornsby who is standing by with
band-aids in the event that our new butcher should try to
mimic his predecessor by dicing his fingers on the band saw.
Corporal Steve Whittaker has moved into the dry goods store and
sunglasses the order of the day in the Accounts Office to dull
the reflection glare of Lance Corporal Steve Mooney and Private
Ralph Usher
Apart from the merry-go-round played with the Guzzomi
Birds there have been some structural changes in the section.
W 2 Geordie Seatree has been experiencing a sinking sensation
as his office slides gently into the swamp. After the PSA failed in
their efforts to jack up and secure it more drastic measures had
to be taken. The answer was provided by our Master Butcher,
Sergeant Eric Beattie who moved a new desk into the secure
corner of the building and is now seated behind it as anchor
man.
Corporal Jim Ward in the Fruit and Veg Store is frequently
seen muttering about fruit flies, maggots and other bugs that
seem to manage to be domiciled in the area. Corporal Geoff
Adams is still fighting the flab and the families food bills in the
Families Shop, and Staff Sergeant Terry Creasey is showing every-
one his pose with the ' barracuda I caught' look. It is how-
ever, a well known fact that four other people who have a
similar photograph with the same background, (one barracuda
looks very much like another) and only the star of the shot
changed. It is about time the keen fishermen caught their own
but that only prompts them to ask for another long weekend to
go out onto the Cayes,
The unit boat, St Barbara, is used most weekends on Cayes
Trips, ably piloted by Lance Corporals Mick Taylor and Colin
McBride. Cayes trips provide all excellent opportunity to in-
dulge in the aquatic sports associated with the area plus the
social enjoyment of a bar-b-que, a drink and sunbathing. Un-
fortunately ' St Barbara * is now undergoing some repairs.
We welcome to the FATWOs' wing Corporal Tony Welland
our new ammunition storeman.
WOI Joe Kirkbride is to be seen walking around with his
nose in the air, apparently having joined the VC10 plane
spotters club awaiting his wife to come for a holiday but un-
fortunately it is due to the reoccurence of an old injury that
requires him to wear a surgical collar.
275 —
Book number R0250