RAOC Gazette - page 231
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 |
Forward Vehicle Depot Hiltrup ANOTHER month and the depot is beginning to get that lived- in look. This month was marked by the formal opening of our new automated car wash. Our photograph shows the 2ICs Mini christening the system. This is only one of the modern labour saving systems that are being installed in the Depot, the next due to be completed is our Rolling Road Test Track where we will be able to test drive and exercise vehicles without moving them out of the storage area. Old Vehicle Depot hands are still shaking their heads and muttering chants of " it will never work it's not in VDPs," Photo Sergeant C. J. Smith First through the wash—hope it doesn't shrink! The football season has now started and we have logged up our first two wins against the local Medics and 154 FAD, if this continues we will have to consider an automated silver polisher to keep all our trophies clean. Friends of Sergeant Pat Track will be pleased to read that he is slowly recovering in Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woolwich from his hockey injuries. Ordnance Services Berlin THE period from our last contribution to THE GAZETTE has been hectic. Parades took priority early on in that we provided our usual contribution to the Allied Forces Day Parade on 6th May. However, pride of place must go to the Queen's Birthday Parade which was held on 24th May taken by Her Majesty The Queen herself. Our contingent consisted of four Land Rovers each with a crew of four. Although the vehicle crews gained the glory by parading in front of The Queen, a lot of hard work was done by all in preparation for this memorable occasion. Rumours are that Ordnance Services Berlin are likely to have 'By Appointment* approved by Buckingham Palace! Our next big occasion was the visit to the Unit by DGOS and Mrs Callan. The DGOS took the opportunity to see all the facets of Ordnance Services in the unique surroundings of Berlin. During a lunch-time visit to the RAOC Association Rooms to meet RAOC soldiers serving in Berlin, DGOS presented the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to Corporal R. Mulligan. On the subject of Long Service and Good Conduct Medals, the new Field Force Commander* Brigadier McMicking, visited Ordnance Services at very short notice on 10th July to present the medal to Corporal M. Pain, prior to his departure on 12th July. Turning to sport, and of course cricket has been the game of the season. Major R. G. Shore, has in addition to captain- ing, organising and running a very successful Unit team, been selected for the BAOR Combined Services XI. Hockey appears to be gaining support in Ordnance Services, When the summer season started our contribution to the Alexander Barracks side was nil, however, we now boast at having five players thanks to Major Thomas, WOsl Freemantle and Cheetham, Staff Sergeant McGurk and Corporal Hodgkinson—well done RAOC MRO! It is with great sadness that we must end on a sour note. We in Ordnance Services and everyone in Berlin for that matter, were flabbergasted to learn that Conductor Maurice Almond did r not gel the Leeds United job when he left Berlin (or has he?}— funny things happen in the game of football. However, no doubt he will be delighted to learn that ORD/EME won tie Alexander Barracks Cup with a convincing four nil win over 62 Squadron RCT; we wish him and his family good fortune in his second career. Headquarters Land Forces Cyprus SPORT flourishes and the drawing to a close of summer sees the Headquarters cricket team, under the watchful eye of our CC Legal Services, Staff Sergeant Bill Gordon, in the final of the WSBA knockout competition, we wish them luck in the final. With the advent of Winter, serious training is now in motion for the cool season games. Football, as is usual, is most predominant, with Corporal Keith Cammack organising and running a joint RAOC Episkopi and RAOC Akrotiri team in the WSBA Major Units League and our Ord representative at Headquarters Episkopi Garrison, Lance Corporal Don Bennett as Captain of the team. With our CC AQ, W02 John Andrews, as Secretary of the WSBA Referees, we hope to have a successful season! At hockey we have our MS Sergeant, Sergeant Frank Greaney knocking the Garrison team into shape and Corporal Tom McCallion has been shedding the pounds running up, down and across the * Bondu/ training for the Cyprus s Walk- about/ We must give a mention to our DAQMG (Ops/Trg/Man) Major Peter Ha den. After getting over the initial disappoint- ment that the Adventure Training Sailing Exercise, Exercise Winters Tale, had been cancelled he quickly organised another much smaller exercise, Exercise Second Story, by using his authority as Chairman and commandeering a Cyprus Services Yacht Club vessel; so still had his free holiday visiting the Aegean Islands. Two social events of notable importance were the dining out of the Garrison Sergeant Major, WOl Bob Chilvers DWR, and the Garrison Sergeants Mess Summer Ball. On both occasions a good night (morning!) was had by all and it was good to see that our two G Branch reprobates namely Sergeant Eric Shaw and John Flannagan were both properly dressed for the second occasion. It is now the turn of Sergeant Frank Greaney to study Dress Regulations, Departures and arrivals have all been WRAC personnel, namely: Lance Corporal Julie Saunders who has left the service on marriage. Lance Corporal Mandi McClelland to Head- quarters Kings Division York, and Corporal Babs Pratt to Depot Queens Division Bassingboum. We welcome in their places, Private Bernie Nickels to G Branch from MOD, Private Jacqueling Dowsett also to G Branch and from MOD, and Corporal Sandy Thorpe to A Branch from Headquarters Northern Ireland. We hope they have an enjoyable tour. PS (for OIC Records): Sir, W02 John Andrews has now struck you off his Christmas Card list and would like to know what he has done to deserve a posting to the Employment Training School? RAOC Belize GOOD EVENING, here is the News at Ten (0400Z) from Belize with Lemon Parkin and Regibald Bouquet. First the main headlines: New FOO arrives! Old FOO leaves! New Force Chief Clerk arrives! Old Chief Clerk is leaving. Other points in tonight's news: FQM issues cycles, Staff Sergeant arrives but doesn't and the case of the punctured Camp Com- mandant Over to you Lemon. Thank you Reg. Well here in Belize, Central America, the main talking point is the arrival of a new FOO, Major Graham Browning who takes over from Major Geoff Gordon who nearly completed his six months tour. The appointment has caused no adverse comment and is generally accepted as non political and in line with RAOC current policy of short notice postings. It is hoped to persuade the new FOO to give a short interview on his impressions of Belize and his soldiers in the near future, and providing it is suitable, it will appear in later editions of this programme. Meanwhile, over to you Lemon for the details of the missing Staff Sergeant. A seemingly trivial incident has produced a fair amount of comment from various factions of Airport Camp recently. The story starts with the arrival of Staff Sergeant Tony Graves to Belize. Apparently he proceeded to his accommodation in the Sergeants Mess, unpacked his suitcase, produced a pair of football boots and flew off to the Spanish Honduras to play in a friendly match. Unfortunately, after his return he was bitten by a Doctor Fly, a particularly nasty little creature, — 1SS — |
| Book number | R0247 |