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RAOC Gazette - page 83

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Corps RAOC
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Publication date 1968
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Early date 1968
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Transcription Team 2 carries on with the large variety of ammunition
packages making up suitable unit loads. Palletised packages
can be seen on vehicles travelling around the countryside, in
rail wagons shunting around the depot, slung and slewed on
the crane and travelling the cross country course on the forks
of the Ranger 40.
Team 3 is busily engaged setting up the new fork lift trial
and doing the engineering jobs for Ex New Envoy VII which
will be upon us shortly.
The unit continues to play its part in sporting activities.
Cdr. Clayton and S/Sgt, Manning have been members of the
small bore team which went through the season without losing
a match. They have both been chosen to represent the Corps in
the Commonwealth match. The unit is sending a team to the
Corps rifle meeting on the 11th May; we hope to be able to
announce a few more successes.
Pte. Mahon reached the final of the RAOC Boxing Cham-
pionships in the bantamweight division. He lost the final on a
narrow points margin to a very good opponent.
SSM Malpass has now resigned himself to further service
after two attempts at the golden bowler and' is busy gleaning
information about Ammunition Depots and Cyprus in between
packaging courses. Cdr. Clayton is engaged in house purchase
and looking up the rules on free discharge: this is nothing
new, as he is due for discharge in June '69,
Congratulations to: L/Cpl. Wright on promotion,
CAD Bramley
A LITTLE TOO LATE for last month's letter was the news
of the visit by the Mayor of Basingstoke. The Mayor was
presented with the Corps' plaque during his visit.
A very successful ladies 1 dinner night was held in the
Officers' Mess recently. The Corps Band was in attendance
and it provided a delightful musical performance. After dinner
entertainments included ' horse racing * and roulette but we
haven't heard of anyone retiring since then on their winnings,
We must congratulate our unit Pay NCO, S/Sgt. Bryant,
who finished eighth in the final of the SE District shooting com-
petition, Also deserving congratulations is the SMG team which
won the non-central First Army Cup and was runner-up in
the King Edward VII Cup.
Regimental Wing is now without its regular OC, Major
Bruce Boulton, who is away from station training to be a Com-
mando.
Future block training candidates should note this.
It is very rare that one hears of a ten-year tour of duty but
that is what our QM, Major ' Monty ? Montgomery, expects
when he takes up the duties of Staff QM at Winterboume
Gunner.
The Wives* Club has been busy with demonstrations and
talks by a beauty counsellor, an expert in floral art and one in
cookery.
On another occasion Mrs. Jean Ford's sister dis-
played most beautiful and intricate needlework and embroidery
samples which were made during a three-year course at the
Royal School of Needlework. The Chief Fire Officer has given,
also, an interesting talk and demonstration on mouth to mouth
resuscitation. Several members, husbands and friends are now
looking forward to a visit to the theatre to see Harry Secombe
in " The Four Musketeers."
We extend a hearty welcome to our new Padre, Rev. K.
Houlden, and hope his stay with us will be a happy one.
Cricket: The depressing weather has failed to dampen the
enthusiasm of the many cricketers who have been practising at
the nets. With two wins to our credit already, including one
against the Training Centre (when neither side could cope
with the vagaries of the pitch), we look forward to a full season
with 28 matches and participation in five cup competitions. We
hope our West Indian stars, Cpl. Thomas, who has 88 runs for
an average of 30, and Pte. White with 23 wickets for 82 runs,
continue their successes in the unit and the Corps games.
Golf: The monthly medal at Basingstoke on 24th April
was won by Brigadier E. V. Ranson (Retd). The only match
planned for the month was unfortunately cancelled due to a
flooded course.
1 GM PL: We have had a successful month. Mr. Byles got an
'A' on P & P, Pte. Morgan an W on Dvr. B.III and Sgt. Westcot
a * B ' on the MHE Supervisors course. Cpl. Harmon, L/Cpl.
Arthur, Ptes. Dixon and Morgan
and Old Boys Stone and
Westwood were accepted for 4 P ' Coy. Cpl. Sims passed RPC I
and Murray and Morgan passed as Foreloada Operators. Our
ammo inspection report was also satisfying.
On 2nd March we played a large part in getting the ammo
for the Bermuda Op to its destination on time. Major Ford
was relieving Field Officer, Mr. Byles Orderly Officer, and Cpl.
Harmon led a convoy of our vehicles 45 miles in 75 minutes
with the aid of a police escort. His attempt to go as Force AT
was unsuccessful. * Q ' Beasley and Cpl. Harmon went deep
sea dumping and Sgt. Westcot and L/Cpl. Baker have been
atomic cleaning.
Finally we rounded-off the month by winning the inter-
Platoon trophy (with the aid of 3 GM PI) at the CAD sports
meeting and the 2 Sub-Depot competition for circuit PT.
ARMY SCHOOL OF AMMUNITION:
With the words "teach"
or " w r i t e " your scribe, this month, tossed a coin and elected
to write in this his last week at the school.
Movements, in and out. are quite numerous at the moment.
We say "cheerio' to SQMS Heydon who is posted to HQ
BAOR, to SQMS Reid who is posted to CAD Longtown, and
to Pte. Hickin posted, internally, to Regimental Wing. We
wish them success in their new appointments.
We are pleased to announce that two members of the staff
have recently received awards for their work on terrorist devices
in Aden and Hong Kong. SQMS Robinson has been awarded
a Mention-in-Despatches for his actions in Aden and S/Sgt.
Ritchie has received The Queen's Commendation for Gallantry
for his services in Hong Kong, We offer our congratulations
to them both.
Recently there have been a series of promotions. Sgts.
Varney, Walker and Gill have been made S/Sgt and Mr. Hard-
ing is promoted to CO and moves to take up an appointment
in the CAD Control office. Other moves are also taking place
within the unit. S/Sgt. Ritchie has, at last, seen the light and
has moved out of Practical into Theory Branch and Mr. Ferris,
our erstwhile 4 Jack of all Trades/ is to move from his position
of Chief Clerk to duties in the Officers' Mess. We thank him
for the hard work he has done at the School.
We are sorry to have to report that Vic, Taplin is still in
hospital. We wish him a speedy recovery. Our other patient,
Lt.-Colonel Cook, is now fully recovered from his operation
and other maladies and by the time this report hits the press
he should be back at work.
Recent arrivals include Sgt. Murphy to GW Branch and
Pte, Herriot to Practical Branch.
We welcome: Sgts, Manning and Murphy, CpL Brown
(REME), L/Cpls. Cammack and Lessels (REME) and Pte.
Mulligan.
We say farewell to: S/Sgt. Gowans, L/Cpl. Brighton and
Ptes. Prescott and Scarsbrook on posting and to Sgt. Bermingham
and Pte. Rushton on discharge,
We congratulate: SSM Morgan, SQMS Butler, S/Sgts. Mills,
Main, Gill, Varney and Walker, Cpl. McCue and L/Cpl.
Rickaby on promotion,
CAD Kineton
ONCE AGAIN, a very busy month lies behind us. This started
with the Officers* Mess annual cheese and wine party on 3rd
May. Many local civic dignitaries and Service Officers attended
and it was a highly successful evening.
The rest of the month was taken up mainly with sport.
Golf: The following golfers represented the CAD at the
Spring Meeting, Colonel R. F. Stretch, Lt.-Colonel G. W,
Barnett, Major H. D. Lucas and Capt. J. A. Bond.
Major
Lucas was third in the Corps championships with a score of
155 for 35 holes and he won the RAOC handicap with a net
score of 139. Colonel Stretch and Major Lucas won the
18-hole greensorne (Stableford) with a score of 38 points.
Football: The season finished with a resounding 12—3
victory over RAF Cosford.
Shooting: The final result of the RAOC Rifle Association
small bore competition awarded us the trophy and also the
runner-up in the Young Soldiers individual—Cpl. Wrotchford.
At the recent RAOC Central Meeting, AQMS Couture, S/SgL
Ryan, Sgt. Miller and Sgt. Evans won the Steevens Cup, Pte.
Howe (533) won the SR(B) individual, Cpl. Bennett took second
place in the R and F match as did Pte. Marshall in the Young
Soldiers individual. The team was the runner-up for the Pusan
Trophy. For the first time ever, two of our WRAC attended
the meeting. These were Pte, M. Eardley, Stats Office, and
L/Cpl. M. Preston as a competitor. Both were congratulated
by the DOS in his speech before the prizegiving ceremony, and
L/Cpl. Preston was awarded a special prize medal.
Athletics: The Station athletics meeting went off with a
swing though we were not fortunate enough to have a sunny
day for the event.
We were pleased to welcome visiting teams from COD
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Book number R0238