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RAOC Gazette - page 183

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Corps RAOC
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1978
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Early date 1978
Late date 1978
Transcription Field Support Squadron our Northern Ireland contingent,
forming No. 1 Troop (RAOC) in 2 Field Support Squadron RE
have left to begin their four month tour as a Prison Guard
Force. In the care of Sergeant John Nolan and Corporals
Carruthers and Bousfield, ail their names are listed below.
We wish each and every one of them all good luck during their
tour. Corporal Ella has gone at the same time as an individual
reinforcement.
Captain Max Kerley is about to begin his
ATO tour with 321 EOD Unit and will not be far from them.
Thus, Bracht will be well represented in the province until
the end of the year.
The Prison Guard Force Troop are away for four months,
but away for good is Lieutenant Colonel John Dyer who has
been our CAPO for almost three years. Contrary to popular
belief, CAPO stands for Chief Ammunition and Petroleum
Officer. He will be missed, particularly in Arsbeck, where the
Editor of the Bracht Station Weekly News will have to look
elsewhere for his target practice. A hearty welcome is extended
to Lieutenant Colonel Manuel who is a keen golfer and, dare we
say it, a keen soccer enthusiast. He has also taken over the
Canoe Club from his predecessor. We wish him and his family a
happy and successful tour her& in Bracht.
A pleasant event in the world of sport is that Lance
Corporal Muhammad was presented with his DGOS Challenge
Certificate recently for being the fastest over forty year old in the
Unit. Speed and age are again relevant in mentioning another
of our successful sportsmen. Last month we reported that WO I
Ron Foster had been awarded his Long Service and Good
Conduct Medal, this month we report that he has become
the Army Track Cycling Champion once again having defeated
many younger contestants on his way to the top. This means
that we are proud to have two Army Champions here as Lance
Corporal Gray (as has been reported elsewhere) has swept the
board in the Service golfing world now that he has added
the BAOR title to his Army and Combined Service Champion-
ship wins.
Congratulations also go to Corporal and Mrs Tarr, and
to Lance Corporal and Mrs Hood on their recent marriages,
and to the following couples on the production of new off-
spring: W02 and Mrs Hendley, Private and Mrs Davis, and
Private and Mrs Smout (sons), and to Private and Mrs Bartram
(a daughter). Congratulations also to Staff Sergeant Smith
RAPC, and Lance Corporal Thomsett (sub ranks) and Sergeant
Hall (acting) and Lance Corporal Harvey (acting) on pro*
motion.
Postings in: Lieutenant Colonel Manuel, Captain O'Brien
(again), Sergeants Ferry* Lack, Long and Walters, Corporals
Daniel, McKinnon and Petrie, Lance Corporal DagnaJl and
Smith, Privates Beat, Cannell, Lashmar, Miller, Phillips and
Straw.
The Prison Guard Force No 1 Troop (RAOC) 2 Field Sup-
port Squadron RE are as follows:—Lance Corporals Gelling,
Murray, Cummings. Fox and Talbot, Privates Simons, Wood-
ward, McLachlan, San some, Powell, Gray, Hodgson, Bargrove,
Nellist, Walker, Robinson, Clark and Crawford.
15 Composite Ordnance Depot
STORES SUB-DEPOT VIERSEN
STORES GROUP has not reported in of late due to being
immersed in reorganization and issue vouchers (with few DRs[)
following the move of all the MT and Technical Stores to Dul-
men. The move was completed well ahead of schedule and there
is much truth in (he rumour that two hundred and seventy
three tons of dust was discovered, botlled, and sold to American
tourists visiting this eighth wonder of the world.
Our staff is now a fraction of its former self, having said
goodbye to many a cheerful face, including those pretty ones of
our WRAC Private Pacini (nee Turner) was the last to go,
grabbed, probably literally, by the RSM to be his clerk, or
something.
Our many congratulations to her, however, on
her recent marriage to Driver Pacitti of Rheindahlen and we
wish them both the best of good fortune and health. Talking
of health, the reduction of personnel in the Group has not
affected our capacity to celebrate any momentous occasion,
W02 Hutson's potent punch is still as strong as ever and really
any reason will suffice to check it out—Staff Sergeant Kimpton
taking an unblurred photo, the day Private Kirkham's name is
forgotten by the RSM, the day Staff Sergeant Berry reads his
paper before anyone else.
A successful season has just ended in which SSD Viersen
came fourth out of fifteen Units in the Rhine Area Orienteering
League, We were, in fact, the second minor Unit, being beaten
only by 14 Topo Squadron RE, who managed to intersperse
just a little work together with their orienteering training. SSD
Viersen also have the most enviable record of being the only
team to get lost every time before even starting to compete.
Roads round this area are very difficult to follow on the map!
When we're out in the field though, things change somewhat!
The picture denotes the cohesion, team work and harmony
necessary for success: (left to right—background) Sergeant
Frank Smith's right eye and forehead (going in both directions),
Sergeant Kim Bird sail's forehead (going upwards), Captain Bob
Willox (going left), Captain John Dunn (going right), Captain
Ian Dexter (about to run away with a Control Point), Captain
Andrew Byles, pushing the barrow in which is sitting Lieutenant
Colonel Derek Yeats (going where?).
Ordnance Depot Antwerp
THE past month has seen a steady procession of leave passes
and rail warrants passing through the Orderly Room as folk go
hither and thither on holiday. Those who canU afford a
holiday this year must be doing a roaring trade in * bed and
breakfast* judging by the number of applicants for relatives to
visit Belgium. But it seems now that summer has really arrived
and I must dash these notes off quickly, and hitch up my
caravan before the sun goes in,
This has been a quiet month for the Depot, one of
preparation. We shall shortly be holding our annual fete and
presenting many of our civilian workforce with twenty five
year medals and certificates and early September starts the
round of Liberation Ceremonies that take place in and around
Antwerp at this time: more of them next month.
Congratulations go to the following on the recent births
of their children. To Corporal and Mrs Gill a daughter Sharon,
to Private and Mrs Garlinge a daughter Michelle and to Private
and Mrs Lambert a daughter Sharon Louise.
Congratulations are also due to Privates Lovett, Worley
and Woodroffe on successfully passing their A and C Vehicles
Course and to Private Rogers on successfully completing a Basic
Free Fall Parachute Course.
Welcome to W02 Barraclough from the Regimental Depot,
Sergeant Reed from BATUS, Lance Corporals Docherty from
Ludgershall and Nevatte from Kineton, Privates Hodder from
Bicester and Russell from Vehicle Depot Ashchurch.
~

*

Out of control—or how Viersen came fourth in the Rhine Area
Orienteering League.
Helios to WOsl Rumney and Brunt. Goodbyes to WOsl
Harrison and Downes and Private Tingle to civilian life. A
special welcome to Private Kirkham late Driver RCT on join-
ing our Corps and congratulations to Private Nicholson on the
occasion of his marriage to Miss Hazel Saxby.
VEHICLE SUB-DEPOT MOENCHENGLADBACH
IT happened! Summer came, lasted all of one day and departed
in a flash, leaving us to freeze or don woolly-pully's again, which
most of us did. The Sergeants Mess staged the grandfather of
all Summer Balls, and the PEC, W02 Nigel Smith, sweated blood
and tears with his erstwhile Committee, alternately baling out
and ventilating the * Big T o p ' until the great day arrived, then
for some magic reason the fates relented and provided perfect
weather for an admirable evening rich in entertainment, con-
viviality and fine food.
Then the exodus of our military continued with the de-
parture of our RSM to SSD Dulmen after a brief but highly
successful six month tour. WOl Ron Utting woke up one
morning to find that—somehow—twenty two years had slipped
150
Book number R0247