RAOC Gazette - page 68
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1980 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1980 |
| Late date | 1980 |
| Transcription |
course—and came across a collected edition of the trench news- paper The Wipers Times, published by Sherwood, Forester and Co in 1917. I'm sure the Regiment won't mind if I borrow a paragraph to show how little Army Life changes: A notice at the foot of Kemmcl Hill reads: Anyone proceeding up the Hill will please go by the main road as a patrol is established there to enforce the stringent regulations re passes etc. Persons going by other routes might miss the patrol. Talking about next year's activities, which I wasn't, there's a rumour about some exercise or other. 1 do hope it won't interrupt the really important work which is the rewrite of Standing Orders. In true management style (thank you School of Ordnance) I have collected the facts, consulted the people, made the decision, communicated the decision and checked on it (yes, you're right I haven't received my course report yet) only to be met by an overpowering wave of in- difference. Ah well, as someone once said, " If the mountain won't come to Mohammed " Central Ordnance Depot Bicester WE have just said farewell to WOl Tony Tratt RAAOC who has spent over four months with us as a member of the Exercise Long Look scheme. He had a most enjoyable and informative attach- ment which included tours of other CODs, joining in with adventurous train- ing exercises and a four day sailing trip with the Commandant in the new Corps yacht. He was lucky in that his wife was able to join him for ten days during his stay with us which they spent seeing the sights of UK and a quick visit to Switzer- land. We wish him well and all good fortune on his safe return down under. We congratulate Mr R. C. J. Cowdry, who is a SOG C at 1 Sub-Depot, on the recent award of the Imperial Service Medal. Mr Cowdry has been with Ordnance Services since the end of the war, during which he served in the Royal Artillery seeing service in North West Europe, including taking part in the Normandy landings. He received his medal from Brigadier Cooke, in the presence of his wife and many military and civilian colleagues. Lieutenant Colonel Bill Haynes, our RCT Transport Officer confesses to a certain difficulty in sleeping prior to this year's Fork Lift Truck Driver of the Year Competition; the Com- mandant had issued him a direct order that Bicester had to win! Fortunately he can report a fifty per cent success or a fifty per cent failure, depending on which way the Com- mandant decides to interpret the results. The Bicester team with their trophies. After intensive training by Dennis Burnham, Staff Sergeant Mick White and the rest of the E6 staff, the teams were ready for the most unlikely layouts that even MHTU might dream up. Despite this, success eluded us in the Reach and Tier, though Mr R. Ncal put up a very creditable performance and was placed third best individual. The Hyster team however, were on top form and brought off a convincing win in the team competition. Mr Puffit went on to take the individual Hyster prize from Mr Hobson of Donnington by a seven second better time after a draw at fifty six penalty points. The winning Hyster team was Mr P. Berry, Mr A. Puffit and Mr M. J. Edmunds of 2 Sub-Depot and Lance Corporal A. M. O'Meara WRAC, 1 Sub-Depot. 16 BATTALION THE RAOC Yachting Association recently raised the wind at their AGM held in the Cannons Club in St George's Barracks; many distinguished Corps Officers were observed tacking and leeing during a most convivial evening. This event also saw the departure of that stalwart of the RAOC Sailing Association, Major Andy Robertson, who has now retired to run his own sailing centre in Devon. The Battalion Officers challenged the Warrant Officers in a pistol shoot this month for the COs trophy. Inevitably the Warrant Officers won, despite the efforts of Major Tony Phillips with the highest individual score. The ' Ford Trophy' is now temporarily on display in the Sergeants Mess until next summer when it will be recovered by a much more highly practised officers team. This month has seen the departure of our two prized sub- alterns ; Second Lieutenant Mathew Davis has gone to 28 Amphibious Regiment RE and Second Lieutenant Jeremy Lawrence to 48 AMF(L) Company. They will both be greatly missed by all members of the Battalion (but particularly by D Company WRAC!). Two other stalwarts have also left. Captain Brian Haycock to Dortmund and Staff Sergeant Jim Cheeseman to the British Embassy, Iraq. We welcome in their turn Lieutenant Ian Wafforne on commissioning and Staff Sergeant Jim McGee from CVHQ. Central Ordnance Depot Chilwell IN the midst of all the frantic preparations for Christmas and for the welcoming of a new decade we have only just managed to extract some news for this report. Our charity workers have been particularly busy in their efforts to provide some happiness to deprived children and Old Age Pensioners ii « i> n in the locality. Throughout the year we ^\ ^J/ // have been persuaded in many ways to dip ^^&~sS(^^/f into our pockets towards raising £180 to ^ ^ w ^ ^ ^ provide gifts for twenty six children at ^""""'^ Southgate House and Wychwood Children's Homes. The thank you letters from the children are most touch- ing and must give great satisfaction to Mrs Joan Metheringham and the ladies in Building Ten who did all the hard work. Staff Sergeant Garland, Army Cataloguing Authority, on his own initiative, arranged a raffle in aid of handicapped children and collected £62.50—a most unselfish and worthy effort. Our soccer players have now got over their elimination from the Eastern District Minor Units Cup and have established themselves as a competent side with great potential in other competitions. As Eastern District Minor Unit Champions of last season we were qualified to enter the Major Unit Com- petition. In our first venture into the ' big league' we were dis- mayed to draw last seasons District champions, 1st Battalion The Kings Regiment. Our strength is less than a third of this Regiment—recruited from that centre of champions, Liverpool. Undaunted, we set off for Colchester to do battle and un- fortunately for the Kings at home, we produced the best foot- ball we have played all season and won three nil with two goals from Private Jock Williamson and the other from Corporal Martin Manning. As the competition is run on a two leg basis the Kings came back to Chilwell determined to avenge this defeat. In what must have been the most thrilling encounter at Chilwell in recent times we went down by four to two. The aggregate score was five four in our favour so we are through to the next round. Apart from Army competitions we are leading the Nottingham Thursday League having dropped only three points from seven games and have reached the second round of the Thursday League Cup by beating the favourites seven to one. Our Soccer Captain, Lance Corporal Pete Wells, gets credit for becoming a regular player for the Army side, and con- gratulations must go to Private Williamson currently our top goal scorer with nineteen goals to his credit so far this season. Somewhat belatedly we report on the escapades of our own Shadow Unit under its newly acquired title of 1st Armoured Division Combat Supplies Company. This year they took part — 287 — |
| Book number | R0403a |