RAOC Gazette - page 254
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 |
Morale took a boost when an undermanned Headquarters team reached the final of a six-a-side football tournament organised by the Signal Squadron and containing no less than twelve teams, Unfortunately we lost the final three to two to 30 Signal Regiment despite the brilliance of goalkeeper Staff Sergeant Dave Wolfe and defenders Lance Corporal Steve Osborne (REME), W02 Alan Carroll, and Private John Mooney. We would like to thank: the Signal Squadron for the support they gave us in the final, it was like Old Trafford on a Sunday morning. WOl Fred Stephenson has had a particularly busy month staying in Aldershot as the rear party. Oddly enough whenever the Headquarters go away his name is always on top of the squash ladder, yet no one can remember playing him. Welcome to Private John Mooney from the Ord Company and hope he settles in as FOP quickly. We offer our con- gratulations to Corporal Nick Egan and Lance Corporal Mick. Moore on their promotion and also to Lance Corporal Smudge Smith and Private Steve Findlater for being chosen to play football for Ord Company this season. ORDNANCE COMPANY LAST month saw the Unit in Settles wig-Hoi stein on Exercise Bold Guard. It was an enjoyable exercise but we discovered that the rain on the plain doesn't fall mainly in Spain! Our tactical locations were well chosen. It was purely coincidental that, in each location, a pub was opposite the farm complex we were occupying. Weil done Second-in-Com- mand. We were impressed with the hospitality and friendship of the local people in Schleswig-Holstein. The CSM, Barney Appleyard, could not understand why volunteers were forth- coming for the guard to the main entrance to the farm com- plex, Perhaps Private Rob Phillips should tell him that a widow and her three daughters lived in the house opposite and were constantly plying the guard with coffee and cakes. At one stage, however, we did get a complaint from Otto, the farm owner, when a noisy attack was made on his granary at 3.00 am. He complained that the attack happened so fast he was unable to get out of bed and hitch up his trousers in time to see it. It was a good exercise, apart from the usual little things like Private Bob Pillinger driving the OCs rover into a ditch— and with the OC in it as well! We escaped a major infantry attack on our location, avoided a prepared ambush and captured a large number of enemy. The latter more by luck than judgment as an enemy fightng patrol were entering a granary as we were coming out; in the subsequent melee we captured them all. Congratulations on promotion to W02 Mick Elsey, Staff Sergeants Pal Kelly and Arnie George, Sergeant Dave Spooner, Corporals Steve Jordan and Dave Wilkinson, Lance Corporals Mike * Pebbles * Peebles, Ricky Vernon and Tony Frangos. We have said farewell to Second Lieutenant Kevin Marshall (temporarily) to 1 RRW for an Operation Banner Tour and welcome Sergeants Alan Tangen and Julian Nowak. HEADQUARTERS LOGISTIC SUPPORT GROUP AS I sit here in a barn somewhere in Germany I don't know where as they haven't let me out yet, I felt it was time the remainder of the RAOC got to know all about us, so here goes. Headquarters LSG has now been in existence since April 1977, LSG you say, what's that, who are they and what do they do?. Patience my reading public and your scribe will reveal all. Firstly who are we. Our RAOC band is led by Staff Sergeant Keith (Ipswich won the cup) Betchley late of the MOD followed, but not too closely, by Sergeant Mick Mullins and Len (Akela) King exiles from BAOR, Sergeant Taffy James from Project Wavel, finally Corporal Smudge Smith brings up the rear. At one time we also had Private John Briggs with us who is now attending an Ammunition Technicians Course at the School of Ammunition, we wish him well and condolences to his instructors. Now what we do. Headquarters LSG is a very small Regular Headquarters which administers a small regular and very large TAVR organisation. The LSG's task is to provide Third Line Logistic Support to 6 Field Force. The Unit in its short life originally formed in Beacon Barracks at Bulford, then it moved to Ward Barracks BulforcL In November 1977 we moved from Bulford to Aldershot and were located in the same building as 6 Field Force. Finally we moved to the accom- modation we now occupy, a penthouse portakabin located (or dropped) in the same Barracks as 6 Field Force. On the sporting/physical activity side we, at the moment can boast no great achievement although most of us are keen squash players and everyone crossing the Rushmoor Arena of Aldershot any Tuesday or Thursday may be fortunate enough to observe the Chief Clerk hot footing it followed by the rest of us trying to keep up. Chief Clerk and Sergeant Mick Mullins played football for the Sergeants Mess whilst Sergeant Len King complete with kit went along to make up the numbers. They did let him kick the ball sometimes so he didn't feel left out of the game. Our esteemed Chief made the quarter finals in the 27 LSG Regiment RCT Squash Plate. Before I leave the sports section I must just put right the report by 6 Field Force of our football match (see July issue of THE GAZETTE). Although they won four to two or should it be four to three, it must be pointed out that we only had ten men in our team and were playing against twelve men, their team and the ref! In subsequent weeks we challenged 6 Field Force to a game of cricket but they came up with some excuse about too much work (I'll leave you as reader to draw your own conclusions). Finally our congratulations to Corporal and Mrs Smith on the birth of their son Christopher. We also congratulate Sergeant Taffy James on his recent promotion* South West District Corporal John Chapman, Lance Corporal Tony Frangos, Lance Corporal Davy Macdonald and Private Ned Kelly attempting an informal pose for the camera. We have also managed to spare a little time for sport. Notable sporting achievements include coming second in the RAOC swimming championships, achieving second and fourth places in the RAOC Cross Country championships (well done Lance Corporal Alan Holden and Private Jeff Pike), and our Unit football team, under the guiding hand of Sergeant Jim Brady, is into the quarter finals of the Richards Cup. In the South East Distract football league our team is said to be 1 * holding its own. — 208 WE all came out of Exercise Scrum Half unscathed and are gradually returning to normal. The tin hats and respirators have been returned to the attic and our four footed friends allowed back into the Headquarters once more. Rumour has it that, like the Motor Show, Crufts is moving out of London —the likely venue being not too far removed from your correspondent's office. A local alternative to the conventional BFT test Is to hurdle recumbent canines to reach the main door in sixty seconds without falling A over T. Difficult I Our Superintendent Clerk, WOl Bill Jay, is to be con- gratulated on his provisional selection for commissioning. A bit unusual really; most people seem to retire from here! The CRAOC, Colonel John Harverson recently presented the Imperial Service Medal to Mr Fred Godden of OSU Bovington. Fred served in the Army from 1939 to 1946 before joining the Civil Service in 1948. Since then Fred has served as a renovator (he is known throughout Bovington as 'Fred the Ren*) and has every intention of working until he is sixty five. |
| Book number | R0247 |