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RAOC Gazette - page 35

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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1980
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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription hazard of the man eating cam net looms large yet again.
Toddy remembered the training he had gone through at the
Regimental Depot—he switched down to first gear and moved
forward as fast as he could. He cleared himself of the net
and was dropped where he stood by a collapsing cam pole.
He was temporarily dazed, but Toddy finally struggled back to
the Operations Wagon with the prize from the mission, the
6434 battery. Ken sat on the steps of the Wagon feeling men-
tally and physically battered—this had been a tough one he
thought to himself, but he had achieved his aim.
Ken Todd, like many other Supply Specialists had yet
again found himself the victor over the many forces opposing
him. The inky darkness, the cold, rain, fatigue, the possessive
cam net and the inevitable difficulty in finding the exact location
of the demand that he must find\
Welcome to Sergeant Rutter REME, Lance Corporal
Kierney, Lance Corporal Mellor and Private Pettener.
4th Armoured Division
HEADQUARTERS
RAOC
WE have said a temporary farewell to Mrs
Penny Yetis, our combat supplies clerk, who
is taking maternity leave. We wish her
well and look forward to seeing her back in
the branch in eight months time. In the
meantime we have been fortunate in
recruiting Mr Joe Clarke (late 4 RTR) who
will hold the fort.
The highlight of the month was the
appearance in Bad Salzuflen of the RAOC Staff Band, The
band excelled themselves in front of a packed audience at the
Konzerthalle im Kurpark, and we send our thanks to Major
Tom Griffiths and his musicians. (See page 235).
Finally, we offer our congratulations to Major and Mrs
Richard Jarman on the birth of their daughter, yet to be named,
and say farewell to Corporal Neil Quin and family who have
left us for Northern Ireland.
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
THE approach of winter has seen the return of several mem-
bers of the Unit from stations far afield; Sergeant Skekel and
Private Cameron having been in Suffield, and Lance Corporals
Wilson and Walters with Privates Parker and Goddard after
doing their bit in Ulster. All the aforementioned are telling
tall stories of their adventures but those of us who have stayed
behind and withstood the rigours of Detmold remain singularly
unimpressed.
The main event of the past four weeks has been Exercise
Keystone which involved the whole Company. This was a
unique experience for the majority'who found themselves having
to cope with the problems of operating in villages and barns
instead of the woods and forests of North West Germany to
which they have previously become so accustomed. A highly
successful exercise was enjoyed by all except perhaps CRAOC
who suffered a loss of dignity by poor message passing when
we inadvertently changed his title to Chinook. Our apologies
Sir.
Amazing though it may sound to the old hands we managed
to keep the bath Unit (1950 pattern) on the boil throughout
the twelve days of the exercise during which some one thousand
five hundred customers came out smelling of roses. The high-
light for the Bath Unit chaps was a captive market of four
hundred and fifty Officers and men of the Danish Tank Regi-
ment who removed their dirt and grime, accumulated over
several tank battles, during a frantic six hours before they
entrained for their homeward journey. None of our Danish
allies had ever seen such a contraption before and our picture
shows two of their officers inspecting the boiler with Lanee
Corporal Cooke and Private Hunter.
Domestic activities proceed with the facts of life in evidence
by the marriage of Private Young and the birth of a girl to
Private and Mrs Cannon. Congratulations from us all to both
couples. The past few weeks have also seen the sad departures
of Sergeants Buchan and Reeves (both REME), Lance Corporal
Wilson, Privates Goddard and Culleton. Arrivals are Sergeant
Fox (REME) and Private Jordan.
Sport continues to flourish and at long last the rugby team
has just won its first game! They beat the Blues and Royals ten
to four. The newly formed hockey team have made their
mark and are now equal to the rugger boys already. Con-
gratulations to Corporal Montgomery in winning the Divisional
Squash Plate having qualified for this by unexpectedly losing in
the main competition.
ASU MJNDEN
MAJOR EDDY JENNINGS noticed that one of his young
clerks was getting more than her normal share of attention,
usually young Corporals and Sergeants, ageing Majors and
young Colonels—even Brigadiers stand and chat to her. A
check soon revealed the key, the young lady in question was
driving her new car to work—a 1979 Porsche.
CRAOC when hearing the news was heard to say—OC
driving a new Mercedes, clerk with a new Porsche, CASO
George Humphreys a new Princess 2200, I must visit "Minden
again soon!
A n d it comes out here
of the Mobile
The Danes marvel at the workings
Bath Unit ( 1 9 5 pattern).
Combat Supplies Battalion
THE DLSA Inspection was carried out by Brigadier D. F. A.
Cowdrey assisted by Major Megson. The Brigadier spent a
week (including evenings) looking at the storage of am-
munition.
Our Second-in-Command Major Bradley organised yet
another training day for Battalion Officers and SNCOs. The
theme on this occasion was the completion of AFs B 2048.
Individuals were required to complete their own Confidential
Reports. The end result was amazing!
43 RP COMPANY.
What a busy month it's been with every-
one involved in inloads and outloads
or that is what they
keep telling us all.
Sports have been going well both at Company and Battalion
level. Hockey has been in the limelight with the Battalion
team, captained by Q Calvert, drawing with BMH Iserlohn
(Corporal Williamson scoring one goal) and a six one win
against 3rd Armoured Division Field Ambulance.
At the time of writing Sergeant Ross is taking a number
of Privates and Lance Corporals on a mock RPC2 Course,
the effect of which is to cause much amusement to those not
so gainfully employed.
Captain Ward has done the impossible and doubled the
vigilance of the Depot and the lads wish to thank him for the
heater in their new sentry box.
We welcome back Privates Fontana and Deacon from a \
very successful RPC2 Course and congratulate Private Fontana j
on his recent promotion to Lance Corporal.
Welcome Privates Holmes, Winstanley, Turnbull and a
sad farewell to Corporal Finan.
Finally, Q Burkin still can't play dominoes, but rumour has
it that he beat the CSM.
44 RP COMPANY.
The Company continues to provide stones
for exercises, but recently we have expanded our activities in
order to provide a new service.
At the request of SATO, Major Nigel Lampard, Captain
Mark Wickham ably assisted by Lieutenant Neal Jobbings
provided an enemy force for Exercise Keystone.
Due to the success of the enemy force we are now un- ;
likely to be required to provide this service again. The RCT
element of the Exercise were definitely not amused at the
idea of an enemy disrupting their exercise.
It was evident that the Combat Supplies Company were
taking the enemy seriously. In fact it became very evident to
Book number R0403a