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RAOC Gazette - page 147

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Transcription rugby side against the RAPC. We would like to have reported
a victory but regrettably the game finished as a six all draw and
Peter remains adamant that this was the strongest RAPC side
in years.
EMPLOYMENT TRAINING
SCHOOL
CROSS COUNTRY has dominated the scene here in the School.
WOl Fred Rowberry and Sergeant Tom Dooley, the Secretary
and Assistant Secretary respectively, were heavily involved in
the planning and staging of the South East District finals and
the Zone 1 Eliminating Stage of the Army Junior Champion-
ships. Both events took place at Deepcut on 7th February 1980
and an afternoon of splendid racing ensued. The Training
Centre came second and qualified for the Army Finals two
weeks later, coming sixth out of twelve teams. A detailed report
will appear in next month's issue.
We say goodbye to our RCT representative, Sergeant Lee
Johnson and thank him for the work he has done as a clerical
instructor. In his place, also from the RCT, we welcome
Sergeant Ron Phillpots and hope that he has an enjoyable
tour.
APPRENTICES
COLLEGE
HEADQUARTERS
COMPANY.
Things have been running
true to form in Headquarters Company with everyone dashing
about in five different directions at once. Sergeant Paul Wilkie
was last seen heading towards Brecon muttering something
aboul Senior Brecon Courses. The ELT Wing (yes, they really
do exist) have been hiding in North Wales putting the Appren-
tices through their paces. They somehow managed to get back
just in time for half term.
In the sporting world, Headquarters Company have excelled
themselves in recent weeks. Corporal John Hladkij came in
sixth position in the Corps Cross Country Race and our swim-
mers, Corporals Steve Jenkins, Trev Watson and Lance Corporal
Steve Woollaston won the Chain of Command race in the
College Swimming Gala.
Welcome Corporals Bill Gibson and Nobby Clarke to our
fold; hope they enjoy their stay with us.
Major General Callan talks to A/Corporal Buchanan of Balaclava
Platoon, Apprentices College Corps of Drums, during his farewell
visit to the U n i t .
must be described as a comfortable victory over 'A' Com-
pany. Although having very few first places we were able to
collect valuable points by taking second, third and fourth placings
each time. A special mention must be made to A/Lance
Corporal Murray who, after helping the team to victory, went on
to win the College Individual Free Diving Competition. A
final mention must be made to the support the team received
from the remainder of the Company. It was tremendous and
obviously helped towards our success.
Our Company community project continues. During this
month both Bruneval and Balaclava Platoon have continued
the good work at White Lodge.
'A' COMPANY.
'A' Company is presently 'on going' despite
the other Company beating us in the swimming competition.
Never mind, we won the Cross Country (again) so we're all
square for the moment.
The tank has just arrived. Tank? you say. Yes, we've
just inherited a Centurian tank and it is standing proudly out-
side 'A' Company office as a College mascot. It will have to be
immobilised as the temptation for subalterns to drive it on to
the Mess lawn after a Dinner Night would be far too great.
Platoon exercises are continuing at a rare pace and it is
getting to the point of hunting Anguilla and AJamein Platoons
as they were both away for a week on platoon camp at Leek
followed quickly by ELT camp in Wales. They are soon to go
on Company camp in Fremington and that will be followed
by their Platoon Battle Camp in the local area. All in all they
should be in Barracks for seven weeks this term!
Arakan Platoon have been down to Cardiff to help out at
a home for handicapped children. They all had a good time and
a couple of them intend going down there again—no doubt to
take out the nurses they met there.
Ardennes have just been accepted into the Army and are
walking round the College like old sweats—watch out Dundee
over half term!!
We have welcomed Lieutenants Moore and Oldham to our
happy band and hope that they enjoy their stay here.
Corps Mobile Display Team
EXERCISE GOLDEN CROSS is a 'Shop Window Display'
in the Army Careers Information Office, in the Strand. Being
situated not a pigeons error from Trafalgar Square, this office
has the advantage of attracting a huge variety of people. During
the month we have been manning the display, we have been
ably assisted by NCOs attached specifically for the display,
from outside Units.
Here, we have been able to show off some of the lesser
known aspects of the Corps, but as usual, the centre of at-
traction was ' Wheelbarrow.'
In addition to this, were portrayed an Ammunition Tech-
nician in full airborne/frogman equipment, which aroused a
lot of interest, and a Ventek 2000 mini computer, which is
cassette operated, and provided much entertainment, with an
assortment of TV type games. I didn't learn much about
computers but I do know now that I need a wedge and not a
putter to get out of the water!
These items were supported by a Field Petroleum Testing
Kit, and a dummy in an NBC suit Sorry Private Blackburn, I
meant the show window dummy.
Surprisingly, the NBC suit aroused almost as much interest
as the free fall—sub aqua—knife fighting EOD man. There
were many queries as to where individuals may purchase one,
and a certain visitor of origin not of these shores, expressed
an opinion that it probably was a contravention of the Geneva
Convention, in that it made the wearer unidentifiable as no
shoulder flashes could be seen! Shoulder flashes?
There were a good number of sensible enquiries how-
ever, which were ably dealt with by Corporals Bradshaw,
Worthington and Duffy, and Lance Corporals Kennedy, Hing-
ston, Morrall, Nosal and Hutchinson. Well done lads, and a
special thanks from McDonalds.
Apart from the Strand display, we have been fulfilling our
responsibilities, with a static Arms and Services Display at the
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and schools and college
lecture presentations, throughout the South East.
Captain
Paul Simpson has really got his finger on the button now, and
his presentations really go with a bang!
' B' COMPANY.
Balaclava Platoon under the watchful eye of
Lieutenant Ian Biddle and Sergeant Colin Taylor, were seen one
cold February morning departing Deepcut to conquer Snowdonia
as an external leadership exercise. For Sergeant Colin Taylor
it was a case of returning to his native land. This became
obvious as deeper into Wales they got, the less intelligible his
orders became. On the first day the Platoon carried out a low
level walk in which they quickly discovered that mountains,
although nice seen from picture post cards, were hard work
to climb. On the high level walk the Platoon encountered blizzard
conditions all the way to the top of Snowdon. The descent
was less hazardous but still hard work. After a well earned
rest day the Platoon carried out an expedition and although
the Platoon considered themselves fully acclimatised, A/Private
Bennett still managed to suffer from exposure. It was a tired
Balaclava Platoon that were seen returning to Deepcut.
On the Permanent Staff side a great many red faces could
be seen after an APFA test carried out by the College PT
Staff. A certain member can now be seen frantically battling
with the red circuit in the gymnasium.
The highlight of the month must go to the ' B ' Company
swimmers who retained the College swimming cup in what
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Book number R0403a