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RAOC Gazette - page 212

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Corps RAOC
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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 The physical fitness of the unit was tested on the tickle
test and a one hundred per cent pass was achieved but a mis-
understanding of the rules has resulted in the unit having to do
it again. Mind you the one hundred per cent pass was achieved
by the skin of our teeth as Corporal Mick Pays will no doubt
remember his ' hero's collapse' at the end of the run.
The OC, Major Haden, has returned from Exercise Snow
Queen in Bavaria with a very deep tan and has gone straight
into planning of his exercise which is to take place this month.
He claims he will not need any cam cream as his tan is dark
enough to fool the enemy on exercise. I have been asked to
mention the names of those on the rear party but it is a very
delicate subject so I will leave it.
W02 Ron Ferguson still has one day left of his leave and
he has been told to report to the gymnasium at Herford carry-
ing a sleeping bag to act as watchkeeper for an exercise. His
question is " Why go all the way to Herford when there is a
spanking brand new gymnasium in our barracks?", the CSM's
answer, " Ron you have been in the Army long enough to know
how it works."
Congratulations to Staff Sergeant Dave Jamieson on his
recent promotion, to Lance Corporals McNairn and Cassam on
passing their RPC2 course and to Private Geordie Strong on
passing his Bl Supply Specialist course.
Private Lovatt and Lance Corporal Elliott who recently were
rebadged into the Corps at 5 Field Force.
3rd Armoured Division
HEADQUARTERS
RAOC
" WELL I'm back
where is every-
body? I don't know you go away for a
month to the sunshine in South Africa
and when you get back everyone has
packed up and left. Doesn't anyone want.
to see my suntan and hear all my exciting
stories of safaris in the black continent?
Let's have a look at the board. Major
Gerry Page and Major Geoff Browne on Wintex accompanied
by WOsl John Malin and John Davey. Sergeant Roy Matthews,
Lance Corporal Simon England and Private Paul Seeney
preparing vehicles for Staff Ride. Major Steve Thornton, W02
Sam Bartram and Sergeant Mac Lindley on Snow Queen with
Lance Corporal Nobby Clarke interpreting—there must be some-
one here. Lance Corporal Terry Shephard filming floods—film-
ing floods? It must have been raining here! Well who is doing
all the work—the Adjutant perhaps? No, Captain David Cald-
well is on leave. The typists and the girls in the Materials and
Combat Supplies offices are working perhaps they would like to
hear
" " Staff Matthews, welcome back!"
" Hello Colonel—Sir, did you know that in South Africa . . "
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
THE first half of the month of February was dominated by an
RPC3—RPC2
Cadre, which, although it was the first RPC2
Cadre to : be run by the Company, was a great success. Due
to the intensity of the course all the instructors employed and
particularly Staff Sergeant Connors and Sergeant Elsworth, had
to put a considerable amount of preparatory and instructional
work into it, but their efforts were rewarded by the high standards
achieved.
Twenty one members of the Company spent an enjoyable
weekend at the Walkenried Hut in the Harz Mountains area.
It is rumoured that Major Baz Dickson, who accompanied the
group, has been in the area so often that he now knows all
the trees individually.
Welcome to W 2 Kimpton, Privates Bolland, Hadfield,
Sedgwick and Bowkiss. Farewell and good luck in the future
to W02 Carroll, Sergeant Rutter, Corporals Bush and Bishop.
The ARU. PRE and Ord Ancillary Inspections fell within
the first three weeks of March, also a short survival exercise in
our favourite exercise area, the Arnsberg Forest block. Then
followed a longer Regimental Training Exercise on the Haltem
Training area. The Company certainly earned the well timed
Easter Grant!
4th Armoured Division
HEADQUARTERS
RAOC
THE highlight of this month is to be
Exercise Wintex, once again hosted in
Herford, with all departments being heavily
committed.
Sergeant Del Carey and Corporal
Kenny Hogg have had their brains pum-
meled on Education. Both have been taking
one subject to complete their EPC(A) and
are eagerly awaiting the results.
Captain Diane White, Royal Signals (TA) (wife of our
previous Adjutant—oops! sorry, S03 Sup Co-ord) paid the
Headquarters a visit between stags at Rheindahlen (exercise
Wintex again). Thanks for dropping in.
W02 George Strugnell and Sergeant Del Carey are at the
nailbiting stage. The promotion board sits this month. Will
they? Wont they? There is no truth in the rumour that the
M and RO computer is linked to Ernie. If anyone knows
different contact this office and I'll buy some premium bonds.
I must not forget to mention the Three Musketeers at-
tached to the Signal Regiment in Hammersmith Barracks. They
are: Sergeant Bill Ould, Telecomms Wksp (FATSO); Sergeant
Henry Robson, FAMTO: Sergeant Mat Messiah, FAMTO.
There you are Bill, we haven't forgotten you. Now M and
RO will know where you are.
We welcome Sergeant Pete Mead and family who have
made the gigantic leap from the Ordnance Company at Det-
mold. He's taken over from Corporal Luke O'Neill who by
the time these notes are published will be in Belize. Good
luck in the new job.
Lastly welcome to Captain Davy Kerr who joins the staff
as S03 Gl and G4 (Ops). Delighted to have another friendly
cap badge upstairs.
Combat Supplies Battalion
49 RP COMPANY.
We welcomed
recently the C o r p s C o m m a n d e r
Lieutenant General Sir Nigel Bagnall
and the CCRAOC, Brigadier Skinner,
on a visit to the unit and the unit's
Ammunition Depots recently. They
both seemed to enjoy their visit, the
soldiers surprisingly, were rather
reticent, especially the MT Section
who are renowned for making ' off
the cuff' statements to high ranking visiting officers. Perhaps
the visitors should have been in the MT, when a certain newly
arrived driver was told to draw his NBC puttees from the
CQMS, who directed him to the A in U storeman who directed
him to the CSM! The Battalion Small Arms Competition took
place at Paderborn in March.
Sergeant Arathoon won the overall ' Champion Shot'
prize and ' Rifle Champion' prize, Lance Corporal McGinley
runner-up on the Rifle and Private Battersby who was placed
third in the ' Young Soldiers' competition. Despite the fact
that the OC has done everything but hold a Company muster
parade in the unit's half completed squash court, the workmen
still do not appear to have got the message as they still only
appear for work, on alternate days! April will soon be upon
us, and our water ski-ing faithfulls, Sergeant MacPherson, Lance
Corporal Bowdler, Privates Pettitt and Evans have already
checked the ' unit's' inland lake, serviced their equipment and
are ready for the off.
Welcome to W02 Dadd and family, Corporal Burns,
Privates Campbell and Rankin (ACC).
— 417 —
Book number R0404a