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RAOC Gazette - page 111

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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 that the Foyle is not very deep in places at low tide. W02 John
Burkin and his team who were the boat escort suddenly found
out that they cannot walk on water and that foot patrols down
the middle of the Foyle are possible even if they are a trifle
wet and cold.
The section again had its fair share of games evenings, the
main one being a return match against the Staffords. The
trophy was returned to its rightful place in our bar, despite the
Staffords attempt at changing rules halfway through when they
were losing.
We say farewell to Corporal Steve Holmes, Lance Corporal
' Doc' Halliday and Signalman Boris Trask.
We welcome
Corporal ' Rocky ' O'Rourke, Lance Corporal ' Penny' Farthing
and Private Taff Jones who has been threatened with hanging if
he mentions rugby.
NO. 3 SECTION. The 3 Brigade Commander, Brigadier Waters
visited all of 3 Section and took particular notice of ' The
Gobbler'; a specially stripped down Land Rover to replace the
Haflinger.
The Omagh team beat the Close Observation Team and the
band of the QDG's at five-a-side football.
Private Kevin
(Hungry Horrace, Baby Face) Johnson is the QDG pie eating
champion.
The Portadown team comprised the greater part of the 3
Brigade Headquarters hockey team, but lost to the QDG's by
ten nil! The new No. 2 Corporal John Howard disgraced him-
self by blowing up the Captain's favourite wheelbarrow at a
demonstration given to the RAF Regiment. There has been much
movement of personnel, we say farewell and thankyou to
Corporals Mac MacDonald, Larry Bott and Dave Wildmore,
Private Noddy Morris (posted and promoted to 1 Ammo 1DU)
and of course Staff Sergeant Steve Wilks who leaves his successor
W02 Paul Wharton a beer barrel on a railway line. We wel-
come Corporals Steve Turner, John Howard and Peter Williams
and Private Colin Wicks, after a mild dose of suspected AWOL,
which he didn't have after all.
Our photograph shows the Bessbrook team deployed on
a planned operation using the Haflinger cross country vehicle.
The condition of their faces may indicate the use of cam cream
but is more probably the lack of a shave.
im
The Bessbrook Team use the Haflinger Cross Country
Vehicle.
Headquarters Scotland
THE Annual Reporting season of units is
here once more with a number of us
involved in long trips throughout Scot-
land in order to fulfil the schedule.
With Major Bicknell, S02 S Man, on
a Management Course at Blackdown the
burden of inspections has fallen more
heavily on the remaining staff. With his
removal to the South at least the
pheasants, partridge and other game birds
are enjoying a short respite.
We welcome W02 Hunter who is to
take up the post of Rations Ordnance
Warrant Officer from W02 Marchant. We are also to lose our
' liver bird ' Kathy Byrne who is going home early next month.
Finally we were pleased to hear from Colonel Frank Allen
in his capacity as Secretary of the Laggan Community Council
in Argyll. He was the last DDOS in Scotland some ten years
ago. He asked to be remembered to a number of the present
generation.
REGIONAL DEPOT STIRLING. The photograph shows Officer
Commanding and Officers of the Regional Depot RAOC Stirling
outside the new Headquarters Building. This forms part of the
rebuild of the Regional Depot which comprises a large Store-
house of fifteen thousand two hundred and fifty square metres,
a Radiac Store, a new MT Building, Kennels, Police Lodge and
locomotive shed. It is planned that the new Depot will be
officially opened this summer.
The
staff
outside
the
new
Headquarters
Building at
Stirling.
RA RANGE HEBRIDES
WE start off as promised by bringing you up to date with more
driving exploits from Sergeant Dave Oakley. On his latest
trip to Drigg he managed to get within seven hundred yards of
camp with no damage, until he drove his four-tonner into a
ditch which delayed him two and a half hours. Better luck next
time Dave. Meanwhile, Corporal Dave Cotterill is now earless
having tried his hand at moto-cross, near Dumfries, due to a
snowy road.
Sergeant Dick Partridge had his first IED callout recently.
A mysterious briefcase left outside the Sergeants Mess. On his
arrival the owner of the briefcase came to apologise for the false
alarm and surprise, surprise, it was no other than our new SAT,
W02 Dennis Leadbeater.
Several members of the Unit have been away this month.
Sergeant Andy Hawkins and Corporal Dave Stewart have been
ski-ing at Nethybridge and our SATO, Major Jeff Gordon, has
deserted us to spend two weeks birdwatching on St Kilda.
Lance Corporal Fulcher has gone all regimental and gone to
Blackdown to attend his RPCII Course. Those of us left are
now buckling down to work as the new firing season looms
upon us.
STORES SECTION RA RANGE
HEBRIDES
W02 ROBSON has returned from his ' back to school days '
and is gradually settling back down to the usual grind of going
round the office trying to find some further problem to interest
him for another half an hour.
Captain Slade decided that if he cannot have a real plane
a hand glider will do. It can't be that bad, no broken bones
or bruises. Look out lads his brain is ticking over about
walking up Ben Mor and coming down the quick way.
Corporal Trent has been away playing soldiers at Bicester.
He says the course was okay but the assault course with full
NBC kit was a killer. It must have done him some good, he
lost a couple of pounds but with so many section parties it
didn't stay lost for long.
Watch out Belize! Private Stewart is on his way. Sorry
to see you go Nev. We'll miss you ' not a lot.'
Staff Sergeant Ray and Sergeant Coom are also back at
work full time, from their education. Better luck next time.
We lose one we gain one. Welcome to Private Dewar for
his stint of isolation.
Finally at this time of year we must thank all our ' ciwie'
staff for their work and help throughout the past year. To you
Joan, Mary Ann, Peter and Murdo we wish a prosperous 1981.
— 334 —
Book number R0404a