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RAOC Gazette - page 96

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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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Colour Yes
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Early date 1981
Late date 1981
Transcription :
She must know the traditions of his famous Corps,
And she fast learns the way in which HE won the War.
She jitterbugs with Lieutenants, who always are glamourous.
Then waltzes with Colonels who usually are amorous;
She must drink all concoctions: gin, whisky and beer—
But in moderation or she'll wreck HIS career,
He insists on economy, questions every check stub,
Yet her house must be run like an hotel or club.
For she entertains at all hours, both early and late,
For any number of guests either eighty or eight.
The first of each month there is plenty of cash,
So she serves turkey and ham—but the last week it's hash.
She juggles the budget for a tropical worsted,
Though the seams on her own best outfit have bursted;
Then she just gets the uniform payments arranged,
When the blouse is no good—Regulations have changed.
One year she has servants and lives like a lady,
The next she does housework and has a new baby.
That there'll be a bank balance she has no assurance—
It all goes for likker or some damned insurance!
At an age to retire, HE is hale and hearty,
Fit as a fiddle, the life of the party,
While SHE's old and haggard, cranky and nervous—
Really a wreck after HIS term of service.
But even at that, when all's said and done.
She goes on believing that Army life's F U N :
She has loved every minute—and the reason why—
She would have been bored with the average guy.
Then HE gets for HIS service the O.B.E.,
But in actual fact it should have been SHE!
DONNINGTON
The DCOS makes the presentation.
DANCE
THE Spares Sub-Depot of COD Donnington entertainments
Committee organized a splendid Dinner Dance at the Cordingley
Hall Community Centre, Donnington recently. Close on two
hundred people joined in the fun which included an unusual—
and teasing, conjuring act performed by Mr George Poole, a
member of the Magicians Circle and a Senior Storekeeper
employed with the Stock Maintenance Team in Building B2.
17 MPSC and 8 BPSC. Six years as a civilian followed demob
in 1946 but he donned uniform again in 1952 on posting to
CSD York. Attendance on the Long Fire Course was followed
by service as a Fire Officer in 3 BOD Singapore and 131 Army
Fire Company. Promoted Major in 1964 Ted returned to the
Supply field and he completed his uniform service as OC CSD
Lisburn in 1970.
The start of the current emergency situation saw him in
Headquarters Northern Ireland where for the next ten years
he used his knowledge and vast experience to guide many
officers through the problems arising from Operation Motorman
1974, Ulster workers strike, tanker drivers dispute etc etc.
The many friends of Ted and Penny wish them a very-
happy retirement in their beloved Yorkshire where no doubt
they will play some golf and Ted will potter in the garage and
produce more delightful wood carvings.
The DGOS presented Ted with a ' Northern Ireland
Soldier' mounted on granite, appropriately engraved " To a
Supplier " at the Officers Mess Lisburn.
EAST
The Organising Committee with their guests.
.
The event was given added poigancy because it marked the
'last duty of Mrs Betty Pickering (See page 322) who had acted
for twenty three years as Secretary and Treasurer of the Enter-
tainments Committee.
Our picture shows guests, Colonel and Mrs D. S. Parker
(SSO), together with members of the Entertainments Committee.
SECOND
TOW
RETIREMENT
RETIREMENT
READERS of the Northern Ireland Gazette notes will notice a
change this month as the regular scribe for the past few years
Major Ted Seckerson has retired after ten years as a RO holding
the post of S03 Supplies.
His service career started in a RASG TA Unit in 1940 but
he was soon embodied and posted to Palestine. Ted served
continuously throughout the Second World War in Middle East
Command in various Supply appointments in 7 Petroleum Depot,
TRIAL
FIRING
AN important new British Army weapons system, the Lynx
helicopter firing TOW anti-tank missiles, has completed its
evaluation trials on Salisbury Plain.
TOW (Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided) is an
American designed system which has been adapted in this
country for fitting to the Westland Lynx. The main change,
to suit Army Air Corps tactics, is a periscope sight which allows
the missile to be aimed and fired while the helicopter remains
concealed below the tree-tops or other cover.
While the missile is bought in from the USA, its guidance
electonics built into the Lynx are manufactured under licence by
British Aerospace Dynamics Group and Ferranti.
When it comes into service this year in Germany the TOW
system will greatly improve BAOR's anti-tank capability, both
in quantity and in quality. It will replace the Scout helicopter/
SS11 combination.
FROM:
WETTER
RAOC in BAOR recently lost, on retirement, one of it's longest
serving civilians. After thirty five years with the Corps, Hen-
Alfred Holland the German Departmental Manager of Stores
Section, 23 Base Workshop, took an early retirement.
Herr Holland started work with the British Army on 27th
August 1945 in Wetter with the RPC, and transferred to the
Stores Section on the 26th November 1945. He had been a
supervisor for the last twenty three years.
— 321 —
Book number R0404a