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RAOC Gazette - page 33

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1981
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Early date 1981
Late date 1981
Transcription and was eventually commissioned into the Royal Welch Fusiliers.
Following transfer to the RAOC he held various appointments
including that of Adjutant of the then 15 ABOD at Hamburg
(the forerunner of the present 15 Ordnance Group—his last com-
mand!). Subsequent postings took him to Korea, Canada,
BAOR, Donnington and Chilwell.
His send off from the Group was both extensive and pro-
tracted. Within the Viersen complex, he was dined out from
Windberg Officers Mess in style. After inspecting a Guard of
Honour armed with outsize Welsh Leeks, he was drawn through
the streets of Monchengladbach in a gigantic trailer-mounted
rugby ball. His final departure from Hilsea Barracks followed
farewell drinks in the JRC and Sergeants Mess attended by all
Viersen members of the Group and culminated in a ceremonial
tow in a Land Rover by officers and senior ranks to the gate.
He and his wife Ann take with them our best wishes for a
long and happy retirement in their new home in Dorset.
We have also had to bid farewell to the Brunt family. The
loss to the Headquarters was doubled, however, since Mrs Brunt
was also employed as a typist. We wish them well, both in their
new posting and in their eventual retirement.
Another departure to be recorded is that of Major M. J.
Smith who has left us for DSM(A) Chilwell. In this case, how-
ever, we offer congratulations on his promotion. We were
pleased to receive Major Buxey in his stead and hope that he
and his family will be happy here. We also welcome WOl
Johnston and his family on posting from Headquarters BAOR.
Crossman, wants cam nets painted white. Rumours of Norway?
or only camming up the Snow Plough for the Winter?
CDP.
Congratulations to Lance Corporal Franklin on his
recent judo success on winning a silver medal in the Club Inter-
national. Farewell to Corporal Heath the scourge of the C3
Typing Pool and welcome to Corporal Hornsby and Private
Houston.
LOANS AND REPAIR SUB-DEPOT.
Staff Sergeant Brian,
Walker finally got the red card by being posted. At his fare-!
well party he provided his own cabaret act in true Irish style.;
Who else would wish to hang a desk set on the wall? Con-!
gratulations on your promotion Brian. Very soon afterwards
we welcomed Staff Sergeants John Smith and Bob Ward.
It is not true that Lance Corporal Edge is training his
wife (W/Corporal) for her BFTs. She had the last laugh—she
passed at the first attempt.
ADMIN. Belated congratulations to Sergeant Spud Murphy on
his promotion and Corporal Steve Geary on attaining an A
grading on his Bl Clerks Course. The Chief Clerk, Staff Sergeant
Colin Dewsbury, recently passed a Basic German Course, so
he should now be able to coax the fish from German waters with
no problem.
Golf: Congratulations are in order for the eight golfers
who braved the Arctic conditions at Sennelager in the RAOC
Autumn Meeting. Staff Sergeant Neil Corless, despite cursing
his putter, won the Medal competition and won a new putter.
Staff Sergeant Thomas, Sergeants Bradbury and Legg also came
back with prizes. Lieutenant Paul Crossman thought that the
course was very picturesque!
ORDNANCE DEPOT VIERSEN.
Mention has already been
made by the Headquarters about the departure of Colonel
Edwards. Our photograph shows the Commanding Officer, Lieu-
tenant Colonel Rees, bidding him farewell shortly before Colonel
E. R. Edwards was towed out of the Depot in the traditional
manner.
A hearty welcome is extended to Colonel and Mrs
Carruthers, we hope they enjoy their tour in Viersen.
Continuing the amateur dramatic theme from last month,
Lieutenant Colonel Rees is Chairman of the Rhine Army
Theatre Society. He and his wife Babs, and Sergeant and Mrs
Fenwick of ICP, are keen participators and have recently been
joined by Major Murray. Who knows, with all this talent
around, we may yet have our own theatre in Viersen!
Our sportsmen are having a mixed season. The rugby team
have lost a large number of last season's side and are trying
hard to build a new team. They were knocked out of the
Rhine Area Minor Units cup competition by Wulfen. The
soccer team are developing into a most useful side. Having
beaten 13 Signal Regiment five four in the Army Challenge
Cup, they were knocked out in a very close game by the giants
in 16 Signal Regiment four nil. Staff Sergeant Marsh came one
hundred and fifth out of sixteen thousand in the New York
Marathon, which was a very creditable performance, in a world
class field. His enthusiasm has fired a number of would be
runners into action, and he is leading the two Unit cross country
teams to some very good runs in the area. So far they are
third in the Rhine Area/RAF(G) Minor Units cross country
league and have high hopes for the Rhine Area Championships.
Postings out include Staff Sergeant Greenacre, W02
Kennedy, WOl Rumney and W02 Diviney.
1st British Corps
A
SPEARPOINT! Although it is a long time behind
^ ^
us now, safely bridged by Christmas, it is still
M m
appropriate to include a photograph taken in
^K ^ ^
Tofrek Barracks of CCRAOC, Brigadier Skinner,
^ ^ ^ ^ k
his staff, the officers of Headquarters RAOC 3rd
^H||^F
Armoured Division (The Umpires) and the DOS
^
V
RNZAOC, Lieutenant Colonel P. M. Reid; who is
^^T
seated at the right hand of CCRAOC. Most of
^W
them managed a smile, so the Exercise couldn't have
been all that bad.
We are all settling down nicely now after the long Christmas
break and fervently hoping that there will be a long, cold period
with plenty of snow and ice so that BFT training can be post-
poned until the Spring. Staff Sergeant Keith Honeysett is
probably seeing enough snow to last him a, lifetime as he is
on Exercise Snow Queen for three months as SQMS, Admin
Detachment, based in Sonthofen, Bavaria.
;
Major Joe Hastings departs this month and assumes com-,
mand of Corps Stores Company. We wish him and his family all
the best in their new posting and are heartbroken to hear that
he cannot claim Disturbance Allowance.
Major Dan Putt has been finally united with his wife
Forward Ordnance Depot- Dulmen
STORES SUB-DEPOT. Since the last report we must welcome
Corporal Shields and Lance Corporal Wilkes and goodbye to
one of the ' old stalwarts' Corporal ' N e d ' Kelly, who is
leaving the service shortly. Corporal Kelly has, it seems, been
around for years and is a chap nearly everyone knows. His
wealth of knowledge in almost every Ordnance aspect will be
greatly missed and we wish him and his family every success
in the new life ahead. Also leaving is Lance Corporal Bill
Brownbill who leaves his Battery Section in the hands of Lance
Corporal Benny Goodman.
Since forming into Company groups, it has come to light
that our new CSM, W02 (bee-keeper) Craddock has a bit of a
sting in his tail. People scurry into the depths of the APR and
Bradley Binning when he's afoot shouting " Beeware, Beeware "
(Oh never mind).
MT. Welcome to Private Thomas whose brother Staff Sergeant
Thomas is now keeping a low profile in case anything gets back
to his wife! Goodbye to Corporal Butler; does this mean the
OC's carpet will now be cleaner? Sergeant Crilley and W02
Simpson are now being educated, about time too says Fred
Santer. Speculation abounds as to why the OC, Lieutenant

CCRAOC and his staff with the umpires.
Lieutenant
Reid the DOS, R N Z A O C , is on his right.
272

Colonel
Book number R0404a