Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 128

Image details

Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
Book page
Chapter head
Chapter key
Chapter number
Full title RAOC Gazette
Page number
Publication date 1981
Real page
Colour Yes
Grey No
Early date 1981
Late date 1981
Transcription off on Snow Queen with Mick Greenhalgh staying as a member
of the Workshop Ski team.
Congratulations to Private Geordie Bartram on his marriage
to Lesley. Finally we welcome to the Platoon, Corporal Ian
Cooper, Lance Corporal Geordie Hogg and their families, and
Corporal Bob Reilly on re-enlistment.
Farewell to Corporal Brian Aitchison and his family.
STORES SECTION 5 HEA VY REGIMENT
WORKSHOP
SERGEANTS CHALMERS AND WILLIAMS are most perturbed
at having had to spend four days of their leave travelling to
and from the UK. Fifty hours for the single journey was just
too much for them and they have now requested more leave to
recuperate from the ordeal! Hard luck—remember its quicker
by air!
Having volunteered for a basic course, Lance Corporal
Latham and Private Warhurst are now absorbed in the linguistic
world of the German language. Lemen sie Gut—or else!
By the time this gets to press WOl K. Blackwell will
have taken over the reins from WOl McCann who returns to
UK as DOWO London District this month. Also in the posting
pipeline are Corporal Bob Boneham on promotion to Sergeant
(congratulations), Lance Corporal Jim Cureton and Lance
Corporal ' Scouse' Rothwell who blackmailed the CRAOC
for a quick posting to Belize. We wish them all well.
STORES SECTION,
617 TANK TRANSPORTER
WORKSHOP
BRIGADIER SKINNER accompanied by Major Fitzsimmons
visited our unusual MSO ' set-up' and were pleased with the
way things were being done. Brigadier Skinner spent some
time chatting with the MSO staff and looking around the
section. The Brigadier's dog was also suitably impressed with
the section's hospitality when our Issues Controller, Mr Karol
Janecki, invited him to the civilian canteen for a slap-up meal.
Some people will do anything for a bit of time off.
In the sporting world, both ' Q ' Jones and Corporal Ivan
Sangster are still justifying their places in the Hamm Station
football team. Both were instrumental in an excellent result
when we managed to hold 5 Armoured Workshop, a major unit,
to a three all draw. We now have a real chance of winning the
3 Division Minor Units league for the first time.
Our military strength has just increased by fifty per cent
with the arrival of Corporal Mick Bland from Chilwell. We
wish him, and his wife, a warm welcome and hope that their
stay in Hamm will be a happy one.
Finally, we congratulate Corporal Ivan Sangster on his
recent success in the Army Colloquial German examination. We
wish him a similiar success when he tackles the Linguist course
next month. He was last seen asking the QM to demand short
leather trousers and an alpenhorn.
33 Armoured Brigade Paderborn Garrison
HALLO from Paderborn. No we are not new, just resurrected
by the Army Board. Our history takes us back to 17th March
1944 when we were 33 Tank Brigade. The Brigade took part
in many different battles during the Second World War and was
then disbanded on 22nd August 1945. On 15th November 1950
the Brigade was reformed at Paderborn under command of 11
Armoured Division. In February 1951 the Brigade moved to
Bad Lippspringe and stayed there until February 1956 when it
moved to Sennelager. . On 1st April 1956 the Brigade was put
into suspended animation. On 1st January 1981 the Brigade
was resurrected and its first commander is Brigadier J. D. G.
Pank late LI. The RAOC personnel of the Headquarters are
WOl C. I. Reid, Sergeant Colin Wykes, Corporal Steve Farrow,
Lance Corporal Phil Sharratt and Private Kevan Castle. Besides
retiring us from Task Force Echo the boffins have changed our
branch titles—and most of us are walking around sucking our
thumbs looking at the moment, totally lost.
RAOC In Berlin
THE New Year in Berlin should be a momentous one for Ord-
nance Services since the Unit is to receive the Freedom of Span-
dau in May—and will be occupying a newly built Storehouse.
The traditional German ' Richfest' to celebrate the addition of
the roof of the new Storehouse is underway as these notes are
being written.
In keeping with the recent change to NATO terminology
our CRAOC has now become CO/Comd Sup. Hardly is the
ink dry on this change of title when our thoughts are now
directed to the imminent departure of Lieutenant Colonel John
Fitzsimmons to Bramley and his replacement by Lieutenant
Colonel C. E. van Orton from RMCS Shrivenham. We wish
the Colonel and Mrs Fitzsimmons god speed and thank them for
steering the Ordnance ship so capably during the three and a
half years at the helm!
With Spring on the horizon, marriage is in the air. Like a
couple of spring lambs, two members of our ADPI WRAC
fraternity have announced their matrimonial plans. Private
Karen Thompson is to marry Trooper Reader of D Squadron
RH and later Private Carol Hughes is also to join the ranks of
newly-weds. We wonder whether the new ME 29 Computer
installed in ADPI has anything to do with these plans. I always
thought that an ME 29 was a Metterschmidt aeroplane—another
flight of fancy.
Our popular Fire Advisor is now packing the last of his
boxes and will soon be driving the newer of his two motor cars
to UK. He and Mary are taking their Extinguisher to Preston
where John will soon be wearing his new FSO 1 rank. Con-.
gratulations—and our very best wishes. At about the same
time Captain Paul Carter will be taking his Provision knowledge
to Headquarters BAOR and has promised to return twice—for a
Dining Out and for his wife and family. We will miss Paul
and Gillian but we welcome Captain Jonathan Rollason and his
good lady to Berlin.
Three more of our stalwart members will have left Berlin by
the time these notes appear in print. Our man of the Volkslauf
Sergeant ' Phil' Phillips will have left the Ammunition Depot
for Catterick where he will be running his eye over vehicle and
other spares. His relief, Sergeant John Gregory, has already
arrived to learn the rudiments of the job and the Berlin scene.
The Supply Depot will shortly say farewell to Master Butcher
Sergeant Dennis Endean who will be teeing off for 89 Supply
Depot. We hope to meat his successor, Sergeant Lennie Loughran,
shortly! Others to leave shortly are Captain Clive Elderton,
our ATO and OIC Ammunition Depot who is off to Devizes as
Adjutant of 10 Ordnance Support Battalion and Sergeant Bob
Elliott, a recent transfer in from the Grenadier Guards, to the
Corps Stores Company.
The Orderly Room has gained Lance Corporal Bill Musson
in place of the irrepressible Lance Corporal Nairn who will no
doubt be enjoying himself in sunny Cyprus. The Orderly Room
also reports Sergeant Jim O'Bryan's success on his EPC Ad-
vanced course. Courses have also claimed Sergeant George
Handyside, complete with Jerry Cans, who is endeavouring to
become a qualified Chemical Laboratory Assistant. We have
' borrowed' Corporal Alan Bentley, from 4 Petroleum Depot as
his temporary replacement.
In due deference to his change of title from FOWO to BOWO
we have selected WOl Derek Redpath as our Personality of the
Month. His record of service shows that he has been to BAOR,
Cyprus, El Adem and three times to Bahrein (he likes the sand,
you see). Rumour has it that he is a Hertha Berlin supporter but
he will probably transfer his allegiance to York City when he
leaves the Service. With great aplomb he left for York by
car before Christmas but he had to be ' recovered ' from the
corridor. An assault was made a second time but during the
journey Derek discovered that he had left his ferry ticket in
the Mess. Finally, with car and ticket in order he discovered
that he would be too late for the Rotterdam ferry and so he
sailed from another port. Frau Billion, who keeps his office
diary and who herself, recently celebrated her twenty fifth
Working Anniversary with Ordnance Services, smiled discreetly.
Over at the Headquarters, Staff Sergeant John Claughton
has arrived from 49 RP Company and Sergeant Maurice Hill
has decamped to civilian life.
British Forces Hong Kong
HEADQUARTERS
STAFF SERGEANT JOE EMERY, Chief
Clerk Ord is now the proud owner of what
is believed to be the second biggest car in
the Colony (no-one is allowed to have a
bigger car than the CBF). This, however,
poses a problem for Joe as he has to sit on
two cushions to see over the steering wheel
and, when he does, is unable to reach the pedals! Does any-
body know where he can get hold of a pair of DMS boots
with ten inch heels?
Staff Sergeant Ray Dawson of Q Qtg was selected to play
for the British Forces South team against the visiting British
Forces Cyprus team and the Royal Hong Kong Police team
(not, I hasten to add, at the same time). Unfortunately, the
British Forces South team went down sixty five to nil and fifty
eight to six respectively.
— 349 —
Book number R0404a