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RAOC Gazette - page 140

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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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 WELL DESERVED RECOGNITION
Uttttxti to
tljt Cfcrttor
HELICOPTER HANDLING
From: CAPTAIN B. P. WILSON, of 6 Field Force Ordnance
Company.
Dear Sir,—I was very disturbed by one of the photographs in
the December edition of the Corps GAZETTE. The photo on
page 224 is the one in question.
From: MAJOR T. B. OWEN. MBE
Dear Sir,—Past and present members of the Corps who have
served or been associated with our EOD organisation, particularly
321 EOD Unit in Northern Ireland, would like to know that
Mr Lofty Pattinson was awarded an MBE in the recent New
Years Honours List.
Lofty is a P and TOII on the staff of the Military Vehicles
Engineering Establishment at Chcrtsey and has been closely
associated with the development of the Wheelbarrow robot
used by our EOD teams over the years with such success. His
familiar figure at Grand Central Hotel in Belfast where No. I
Section reserves ' Lofty's Bunk ' (complete with a large size
combat kit) is a mark of the respect and affection that wc have
for someone who over the last seven years has spent so much
time and effort on our behalf to produce an equipment that
makes the task of the EOD operator simpler and safer.
Although Lofty is too modest to admit it. he has been in-
volved in well over four hundred terrorist bomb clearance tasks
in Northern Ireland when he was ' helping the operator.' and
this recognition of his efforts is long overdue. He certainly
deserves our congratulations.
A WORD OF THANKS
From: CAROLE SEYMOUR—Officers Section CRO
Training Battalion and Depot
Dear Sir,-—-Recently it was necessary for me to go into hospital
for an operation, and through THE GAZETTE may I say a sincere
" thank you " to all those people who inundated me with cards.
letters, flowers and presents. Many of the cards came from
people posted away from Deepcut—proof indeed that the RAOC
does have ' jungle drums ' all its own!
It will be some time yet before I am able to return to
work; meanwhile, I'm trying to write individually to all who
were kind enough to think of me.
The picture shows soldiers doing helicopter operating work,
and I would like to point out, as I am sure you already know,
the soldiers are a hazard to the helicopter and themselves with
headdress on and their combat jacket sleeves rolled up.
I would hate to think that the rest of the Corps, and indeed
our readers outside the Corps would get the impression that our
soldiers were not properly trained, or were not properly
supervised in their drills.
The photograph may well have been taken out of context—
no doubt we will be told.—Editor.
TO EX-POWs
From: R. E. HURST, MA (Oxon), Principal Lecturer.
Dear Sir,—Some years ago, readers of several regimental
magazines helped me with a piece of research on which I am
engaged in my spare time. As a direct result of their kindness
and interest, I have assembled a vast amount of information,
much of which has not previously been recorded.
However, the task I have set myself is a dauting one and
further help would now be much appreciated, particularly as I
have rather ground to a halt.
1 am a member of the ' Forces Postal History Society' and
am making a study of the mail that passed from and to POW's/
civilian internees in the two world wars. I am particularly
interested in the Japanese camps of World War Two and was
recently awarded a top national postal history award for an
illustrated study of POW and civilian internee mail.
Briefly, what I am seeking is:
(a) general background information on each of the camps
(b) information re-postal facilities
(c) postal items both in and out of the camps—preferably not
badly creased or folded—such as envelopes (not necessarily
the actual letters), Red Cross cards, air letters, postcards,
notification of capture and release, telegrams, aerial leaflets
and the like.
If any of your readers can assist in any way, however
small, I should be delighted to hear from them.
Russian Language Wing, RAEC Centre, Wilton Park,
Beaconsfleld, Bucks. Tel: Beaconsfield 6121 Ext 214.
EXERCISE SNOW QUEEN, HUT 9
From: STAFF SERGEANT LEO GREEN
Dear Sir,—Exercise Snow Queen is nearly at an end and much
good ski-ing has been had by all.
The slopes at Grasgehren have had ample supplies of snow
and also penty of sunshine which has resulted in many a
' squaddie ' going back to camp looking as if he's been to the
Mediterranean.
The students have had excellent instruction from the resident
instructors, namely W02 Pete Knoll, Lieutenant Collins, Corporal
Brian Palmer, Corporal ' Ossie' Oswin and W02 Keith Heritage
who vaguely resemble 'extra's' from the Royal Ballet at Covent
Garden.
On Course 4 we had an impromptu dental job done by
W/Conductor Winkworth when one of the students broke part
of a tooth during a mishap on the slopes. With the aid of a
good spotlight and some sandpaper the W/Conductor did a first
class operation of filing down the offending molar.
Many other interesting and amusing incidents have happened
too numerous to mention but then, why not come along next
November when Exercise Snow Queen reigns again in Southern
Bavaria?
— 341
FOR
THE
RECORD
See pages 334 to 339.
I GLEAN most of the material for this section of THE GAZETTE
from either talking to people or by extracting suitable pieces
from Unit newsletters.
I would, however, be grateful for any short, chatty, newsy
items that you feel might have a general interest or be worthy
of permanent record. They can be with or without a photo-
graph—though preferably with.
I would like this part of THE GAZETTE to become a forum
for keeping all ranks of the Corps in the picture of what of a
serious—and not so serious nature, is going on. You know
the sort of thing—did you see in THE GAZETTE that?
Things are happening every day—send them in, 1 am sure
that others will be interested. Editor.

Book number R0403a