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RAOC Gazette - page 72

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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1980
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Early date 1980
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Transcription 3 Base Ammunition Depot
4 Petroleum Depot
THIS month has been quiet but busy. We have seen the start
of two ' silly seasons.' One being the increase of issues,
receipts for the Winter training season, and most important the
start of Christmas festivities.
Various departments are already holding their own functions
-which are proving to be most successful.
Mess entertainment started with the Sergeants Mess to
the Officers Mess. Pre-drinks exercise in the form of a long
walk, followed by the well known chorus of "Why were they
born so
!" preceded this traditional arrival ' treat'
The wives have been allowed to take part in the festivities,
by (holding their Annual Wives Club Dinner. This went
extremely well, entertainment was provided by volunteers, who
performed a military version of Cinderella and a ' Mr Bracht'
Contest on the lines of the ' Miss Bracht/Miss World' Com-
petition.
Cinderella is still trying to rub off his lines, which were
inscribed on his upper limbs and Fairy Nuff is still trying to
overcome his stagefright. The cast rewarded a certain Con-
ductor who was in charge of proceedings for the whole Ladies
Dinner Night with a well aimed custard pie in appreciation.
The Sergeants Mess Christmas Draw was also held. As
usual it was a splendid affair, well managed by W02 Jimmy
Richardson and a very hard working committee. Sergeants
Danny Daniel, Joe Hoareau, Ben Nketia and Bob Brian
formed part of the ' syndicate' that monopolised the win-
nings. The only black mark against the whole proceedings
was the choice of egg chef at the champagne breakfast
Sport is still playing no small part in life, particularly with
the rugby fraternity. For the third time in five seasons, 3 BAD
have reached the BAOR final of the Army Rugby Challenge Cup
and will play 7 Signal Regiment on 20th February at Bad Lipp-
springe. The way to the final has had a chequered path with
an easy quarter final game against 3rd Divisional Headquarters
and Signal Regiment by seventy five to nil. The semi-final was
a different story. Drawn against The Queens Dragoon Guards
the Barbarians were worked very hard. At half time we were
trailing nine points to nil, but the superior fitness of Bracht
paid off and we ran out eventual winners by eighteen points
to nine.
Unit squash is still most active, although results have been
a little discouraging. It is hoped that the second half of the
season will be a little more fruitful. We have entered a team
in the BAOR Minor Units competition and hopes are high
of some success. Staff Sergeant Dave Bradley gained a little
fame recently, ending up as runner-up in the BAOR open
championship. Last month.we reported the imminent departure
of our popular OIC squash and Regimental Quartermaster
Major Bob Cook. The squash fraternity dined him out as
planned the evening before his departure. The day of departure
gave him a few surprises as his breakfast was served by no
less than his RQMS Ron Cosway and our Senior Chef, Sergeant
Alan Breden. To his added surprise he left the Mess under a
triumphant arch of racquets held by the squash team, had his
bags carried by a very senior batman and was driven away by
the most senior driver in the Station.
The depot held a new form of competition recently, by
reviving the Inter Departmental cross country competition.
Reduced to a comfortable four miles it was run on a nice
sunny afternoon. Staff Sergeant Alan Vanstone, Private Mark
Seymoor and Staff Sergeant Dave Bradley were the first three
home. Ammunition Sub-Depot, as expected, won the team
event and W02 Alf Humphries won the prize for the over
thirty fives. Mechanised Transport came last despite their
enthusiasm, and have requested that it become a monthly event!
Births are down this month, Corporal Cormack, Private
Barlow and their wives are congratulated on the birth of their
daughter and son respectively.
We say farewell to WOl Baird, Corporal Wildmore, Lance
Corporals Fox and Saunders, Privates Barter, Kelsall, Knight,
Riding and Sansome. We welcome Sergeant Lack and Corporal
Brown back from detachment in BATUS. Lance Corporal
Powell and Private Brown.
Other departures have included Captain Tony Lever our
Administration Officer on posting to RMA Sandhurst. His
successor Lieutenant Geoff Howard we welcome on commis-
sioning from Headquarters Scotland. Margaret Hancox, for
two years the popular PA to the Commandant, has also left us.
We wish them all good luck on departure and all those newly
arrived a happy and successful tour here in Bracht.
A L L is now reasonably quiet on the Warendorf front
" The Blue Flash," the OCs nickname, is regularly seen
running out the Depot gates around twelve noon closely followed
by the AO Captain Murray.
The first frost of the cold weather has taken its' toll al-
ready. Sergeant Taff Hillard has had a bill of DM250 when the
back window of his Dagenham dustbin shattered.
The volleyball team is doing well after a bad start to
the first part of the season.
The Munster bowling league (Nato) has been topped by
the 4 Petroleum Depot/Dulmen team, proving that we can beat
semi-pro's—which we're sure some of the Americans are!
Our Australian Primate Jim Baker has just arrived back
from Scotland in one piece, after a conflict with a hairy High-
lander and a bottle of Whisky and several feet of snow. With
only a few more weeks to go he's making the most of it.
Departures: Captain Smith, Captain Elliott, Staff Sergeant
Elsey, Sergeant Sinnott and Corporal Stray (on promotion).
Arrivals: Captain Lloyd, Captain Harris, Sergeant Wormley
and Lance Corporal Bentley.
15 Ordnance Croup
ORDNANCE DEPOT VIERSEN
LOOKING back at the year 1979, we have seen a number of
changes. We have had a new CO and a new RSM, as
previously reported. We have also seen a change in the Alpine
Restaurant with a new Cook Sergeant, Sergeant Dave Groom.
At the Junior Ranks Christmas Dinner, the youngest soldier in
the Unit, Private Glen Roberts, stood up, and on behalf of all
the Living-in Junior Ranks, proposed a vote of thanks to all
the Cooks and Kitchen Staff for the excellent standard of food
served to them throughout the year. A far cry from the old
days when the Orderly Officer used to bang the table and shout
"Any complaints!" Well done, the Cooks—we are justly proud
of you for your professionalism in making the Alpine Restaurant
the best one in BAOR. This view is also shared by the Wives
Club which held its Christmas Dinner there—a pleasant and
happy evening which was enhanced by a cabaret spot given by
daughters Sally Rees and Melanie McGuire playing guitar and
singing folk songs and carols.
WHY NOT AIM FOR AT LEAST 50$
OF UNIT STRENGTH—OTHERS DO
1 —
Book number R0403a