RAOC Gazette - page 182
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 |
Weighing only 5.76-kg (thirteen pounds) and fitted with a sling for easy one-man carrying, it can fire high explosive and smoke rounds up to eight hundred metres and shoot illuminating parachute flares up to seven hundred and fifty metres. Ammunition is supplied in six-round containers inside webbing satchels that are hand-carried or strapped to the back. Existing two-inch mortar ammunition can be fired from the fifty one millimetre much more accurately but with no increase in range. SIGNIFICANT SILVER THE Graven Hill Station Sergeants Mess have recently com- missioned a second piece of silver. Readers of THE GAZETTE may remember that in 1979 a Roman Soldier was commissioned. Mr John Willmin, a Buckinghamshire craftsman and Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths' researched the piece in company with a mess silver committee composed of W 2 Jack Strachan, Staff Sergeant Fred Downie BEM and Sergeant Skid Rowe. With assistance from the Bodleian Library and the Ash- molean museum it was discovered that the 2nd Augusta Legion were stationed in the area before moving to Oberaden in Germany. The Viersen Float. the 29 Company WRAC attached to Viersen and from German girls employed in the Depot. The float was seen by some sixty thousand people in Viersen and one hundred and fifty thousand in the Moenchen- gladbach Karneval which demonstrates the enthusiasm of the local population in Karneval time and the importance of the Depot involving itself in these festivities. The crowds are in a tremendous festive spirit at these occasions with the word ' spirit' being used with care, and generously give ' liquid tokens' of their friendliness to those on and with the floats. When it's so cold and the people are so friendly there is a ' logistic ' problem with the girls. How- ever, the Corps is used to solving problems and the installation of a portable flushing caravan loo in the sentry box was met with considerable relief. Special mention must be made of Herr Gunter Philips, Herr Josef Schmitz-Millrath and Herr Willi Putzschler MBE without whose help and free donation of a lot of their spare time and expertise, the float's organiser Major Ian Coleman's task would have been extremely difficult. SPECIAL, E F F E C T S 2nd Augusta Legion DEPARTMENT THE BBC recently visited MHTU at Bicester where they were able to assist them with special effects for a sketch for the Easter time ' Dave Allen Special.' This involved some tricky work with a crane and a quick release cargo hook. The result of the day's activities was a successful shooting and a donation of £80 to the RAOC Aid Society, which was handed to Captain Steel by Dave Allen on behalf of the BBC. sets the standard. Artifacts found at a Roman Fort there enabled authentic armour to be pieced together. The piece is mounted on local' stone and is made personal to the Sergeants Mess by the enamelled shield, depicting the Bicester Garrison crest of gold on blue and the Sergeants Mess crest of silver on scarlet. The latest piece of silver is a Signifier who was the standard bearer. Plans are already afoot to commission a third piece— a Centurion. KARNEVAL KAPBRS THIS years entry by the Ordnance Depot Viersen, in the Viersen Karneval and the Moenchengladbach Karneval Parades was an outstanding success. The basic theme was that whilst every- thing was upside down because it was Karneval time we would be standing guard as protection, hense the float motto! "ALLES STEHT KOPF— ES 1ST KARNEVAL WIR STEHEN WACHE!" The float comprised a central figure, which was a nine foot high papier-mache Guardsman, standing before a sentry box bearing the Corps badge and an ' upside-down ' Viersen Coat of Arms which was rapidly changed for a Moenchengladbach one for the second parade. There was an ' Honour Guard' of attractive girls dressed in simulated military uniforms. These girls were made up from — Photo Corporal A. D. Beaton. Dave Allen hands the cheque to Captain Jim Steel. 391 — |
| Book number | R0404a |