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RAOC Gazette - page 265

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Publication date 1978
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Transcription 79 SUPPLY DEPOT
v\t" had the pleasure of a visit this month from DDOS Head-
.•iiuirtcrs I (BR) Corps/ after a tour of the Depot the DDOS
presented the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to our
Master Baker. W02 Dave Timms, for crimes undetected. Con-
gratulations from all Unit members.
Very much part of Depot life is the physical training pro-
gramme and once a week the PTIs provide a programme of
torture in the gym. Our half yearly BF Test is nearly com-
pleted, with the exception of two who are still plodding around,
but by the next notes we hope to have all our Unit members
through.
On the sporting side W02 Dave Timms is representing the
Unit in the Garrison cross country team, and although he
Keeps his race positions to himself, he says he comes in the
first hundred.
We say farewell to our Master Butcher, Sergeant Brian
Taylor and family who leave for a new tour in BAOR at 89
Supply Depot; how does he do it. We welcome to the fold
Sergeant Pembroke and his family from Hong Kong.
STORES PLATOON 7 ARMOURED
WORKSHOP
THE last month has been a particularly busy time for the
Stores Platoon and to begin our * busy' period there was a
platoon party which gave Captain Kerr and his wife Sue, an
ideal opportunity to meet the families. The evening was a
great success and Sergeant Duncan Learmonth and his helpers,
are to be thanked for providing an excellent evening.
The whole Platoon worked particularly hard for the ARU
and Sergeant George Cairns plus his loyal MT members
(Corporals Mick Pannell and Nobby Baggaley, Lance Corporals
Pete Biggs and Ken Quinton, Privates Bob Guest, Geordie
Mustard, Andy Priestley, Length Richardson, Allan Knight
and Ray Gammon) succeeded in respraying all the platoon
vehicles.
He is to be congratulated on rejuvenating the
vehicles for yet another year
Private Ray Gammon is to be congratulated on winning
the first Workshop cross country race—he broke the previous
course record. The Northern Ireland Roulement Workshop
has also been working hard, and are becoming extremely fit.
The whole Unit is running daily and the platoon cross country
team is expanding every day. W02 Jim Sneddon is completing
the three mile course in under twenty six minutes, this much
to the annoyance of some of the younger members and in parti-
cular Captain Gordon Bonner {a not so young member of the
Workshop!),
Congratulations to Private Wood on his promotion to
Lance Corporal and we wish him and his family, all the best
in their new posting to 5 Field Force Ordnance Company.
The surprise of the month has been the announcement of
their engagement by Private Grif Griffiths and Miss Dawn
Rogers in the PC and A. We wish them all the best in their
life together.
Higgins to complete our one hundred per cent record. Biggies
is now in strict training having given up smoking cigarettes and
taken to puffing a pipe which he fills up once a week and on
public holidays.
1 must apologise for not introducing myself, I am Private
Ged Usher late of Liverpool.
(The 1 Armoured Division notes arrived long after the deadline
and could only be included by editing down—copy must arrive
by the 28/A).
2nd Armoured Division
mmmi^^mmm
HEADQUARTERS RAOC
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THE main attraction for most during
October was Exercise
Keystone, although
o n e o r tvvo
H ^ ^ K ^ | ^ K 3 | H
P e °pl e found more personal
^|^^n^^H^H
subjects uppermost in their thoughts. The
^r^^r^B^^^^
first
of these was Lance Corporal Bob
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Cummins, who by the time these notes
^ P ^ I ^ V ^
are published will be a married man.
^^ta^^^^^^^l
Corporal Ben Smith remained on the rear
^^^^^^^^^^*
party, and found time therefore to con-
template his recent successful completion of a driving course,
while Mrs Gill Pratt was desperately trying to think of some-
thing she could do which would get her name in THE GAZETTE.
Major Barry Jones came second in the Annual 2nd Armoured
Division Grand Pumpkin Growing Competition, against formid-
able odds. Our picture shows Barry flanked by the first and
third prizewinners, who, being teachers, are considered semi
professionals by the pumpkin growing fraternity in Lubbecke.
STORES SECTION 45 FIELD REGIMENT
WORKSHOP
CONGRATULATIONS to Private Geoff Ranee, six attempts and
five instructors later, on passing his driving test and obtaining his
HGV3; also to Private Jock Shields on obtaining his HGV2,
crsly one attempt and one instructor Jock was last seen at the
KEME inspections bay trying to convince them to BFG his AEC
ten ton vehicle. Our latest newcomers are Corporal Barry
Moore from Bicester and Corporal Geordie Laverick from
Warendorf and with these arrivals we must say farewell and
good luck to Corporal Dixie Hale and family on their posting
to Berlin.
STORES SECTION I DIVISION ENGINEER
REGIMENT
THE recent Exercise Red Dragon was, I am told, a great success.
Private Tom Wright and 1 enjoyed every minute of it while the
rest of the Stores Section held the fort back in Nienburg. Need
I say more!
Corporal Steve Oxley is or was back with us after six
weeks away and four days in the office. He has now dis-
appeared to Deepcut on his BI Course, rank obviously has
its privileges!
Corporal Jim Nesbitt has taken up rugby along with Private
Tom Wright who has recently come out of retirement to play
again.
My Recruiting Sergeant said, I remember, that I would see
in the Army things that no civilian would believe, which I took
&: a blatant disregard to the fair advertising campaign, how-
ever, having seen our leader in a track suit doing his BE Tests
and passing with time to spare (thirty eight seconds) I would like
to apologise to that particular Sergeant. Congratulations to
W02 Dave Godwin which now only leaves Private * Biggies'
— 217
Major
Barry Jones—pumkin grower extraordinary—flanked
his rivals in this important contest-.
by
For the Divisional Headquarters, Exercise Keystone was
more relaxed than the average exercise. As we were in a con-
trolling mode, we took no weapons, experienced no NBC alerts,
did not need to cam up, were not asked to move, and some
of us slept in a hotel. The available beds were for the most
part double, and this allowed normal working liaison to con-
tinue into the wee small hours if necessary. A typical dis-
cussion between two heads of service is illustrated at the top of
page 218.
The relaxed atmosphere was too much for some, and one or
two individuals were noted sliding off early, having pleaded
more pressing engagements in the office. Among these was
the Adjutant, who had lost his voice. Lance Corporal Charlie
Welboume, having been detailed to drive him back, jammed
his finger in the Land Rover tailboard in a fit of pique. He was
thus unable either to talk or write! His pronounced limp, how-
ever, was not the result of a * duty * accident, but occurred as he
was mowing the * Cresta Run ' in his garden (no doubt practising
in preparation for Snow Queen). He has now been banned from
driving Class A Lawn mowers until the Spring. In fact he isn't
currently a great deal of use!
This month has also seen the removal of W02 Dave
Allport's moustache. This means that his lips can now be
seen moving while one's fortune is being told.
We welcome W02 Mick Sibley, the new Chief Clerk AQ
Branch, and his wifePam to Lubbecke from Berlin. He has
settled in quickly, mainly due to his MFO boxes arriving three
and a half hours after he did! We were at the same time
Book number R0247