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RAOC Gazette - page 159

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Corps RAOC
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1980
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Colour Yes
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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription 1st Armoured Division
HEADQUARTERS
RAOC
" DIDNA' fash ycrsel, sir, we'll tak' them
on the second leg. The' showed sevcra'
weaknesses," said broken-armed, one-goal
hero of our football team, Jock Falconer,
as he left the field after a two to six drubb-
ing by 3rd Armoured Division Ordnance
Company in the DDOS Cup. As optimistic
.—g(Pt2§y as Oliver Twist—and about as successful—
*J££*^i& n e w a s disappointed. Either the weaknesses
did not reappear, or as touch-judge he did
not feel able to exploit them, for his team lost two to six in
the other leg too! Still, with spirit like that, no one was
surprised to see him, Daily Telegraph in hand, asking Sergeant
Bob Maxwell for the Commissioning Manual the other day.
" Jus' browsin', Sir," he commented.
We've had some snow, too.
Sergeant Bob Maxwell,
Corporal George Henry and our civilian local affairs expert
Herr Peter Raeder, arrived at the Headquarters shortly after
7 am before setting out on a recce. It took them twenty
minutes hard work to clear snow from the Escort to find when
they reached the number plate it was the RC Padre's! The
owner was not surprised to find his car clear even after a
heavy fall of snow—merely reflected on the power of faith—
but it led to some pretty unchristian mutterings from the
recce party, and, I gather, a certain amount of putting-snow-
back-on, went on too.
We had a games night with the Armoured Division Ord-
nance Company, a handicappers dream as it turned out. The
match was drawn, with Major Ron Brown beating the CRAOC,
Lieutenant Colonel Clive Pickard in a deciding darts match
with callous disregard for his own career, and individual
trophies going two to Soltau and two to Verden with one
each for a Private Twissel, Corporal Evenden, Warrant Officer
Sheriff and Officer (Major Jeremy Baines—Dominoes).
A great cheer for Captain Tim Cross who has passed his
staff exam.
We were pleased for him, but also for us—
perhaps his attendance record in the Branch will improve!
But seriously, and sincerely, well done Tim.
A
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
IN some ways this has been a confusing month. We have not
known whether to put on our skis as the snow fell or don our
water wings as it turned to rain. This has played havoc with
our sporting programme. Footballers and runners have had
to turn their energies to the more mundane task of snow
clearing.
Welcome to Sergeants Duke and Linton, Lance Corporals
Wheeler and Wilkinson and Private Hawes! Don't despair lads
—it's not always this wet in Soltau!
Farewell and good luck to Corporal Blakey, Lance
Corporals Bousfield, Gardiner and Cook and Private Carpenter.
Congratulations to Lance Corporal and Carole Kelly on taking
the plunge. Congratulations also to Corporal Davies on his
transfer into the Corps: a wise decision.
Our attention is focused in many directions at the moment.
We have a detachment on Exercise Flying Falcon; practising
with Clansman. Privates Robinson, Hardy, Adams, Ahmed
and Tingling are all taking advantage of Exercise Snow Queen.
Private Hawkins managed to depart for the slopes the day
after he arrived here: like your style, what's the secret?
STORES PLATOON 1 ARMOURED
WORKSHOP
THIS column is written in the wake of a glorious football
match against 2 ADOC. This we sadly lost four two in the
last few minutes of the thirty allotted for extra time. At
the conclusion to the match exhaustion could clearly be seen
on the faces of both spectators and players. Thus proving to
all that it had been a spectacular and hard match with our
two skilful goals being scored by the demons Corporal Dunhill
and Lance Corporal Hardman. Private Payne's dive saves in
the goal mouth confirmed everyone's belief that he has
suicidal traits. All the team must be congratulated for their
efforts, especially Sergeant Brymer and Corporal Barclay who
would not let age or dignity suppress their vigour.
The platoon's five-a-side football teams ' Cream' and
' Bigg's Bouncers' have flourished under their skippers Staff
Sergeant Beedham and Lance Corporal Biggs, and now have a
firm hold on the top of the Workshop league. Private Gosney,
now he has had a haircut, has found he is more streamlined and
thus faster.
Second Lieutenant Gorsuch has now joined Sergeant
Walsh in the running of the shooting team. Both the A and
B Teams have been keeping a firm hold on the nineties with
high scores by Lance Corporal Walker and Private Mason in
the RAOC BAOR Postal Match in which we arc lying third
and fifth respectively. We arc also preparing for the Corps
Full Bore Shoot in March despite the scarcity of ranges.
Congratulations must go to Captain Kerr who is in the
Division and BAOR squash teams, and also to Corporal Sid
Bolton for passing his referees course.
Congratulations must also be sent to Sid's eight year old
son Darren who painted the first picture (o be used by BFBS
to illustrate the weather forecasts. The picture showing the
sky over Germany shows considerable artistic ability, could
this be a family trait? Is Sid a latent Lowrcy and I wonder
if the painting of Land Rovers matt green and black gives him
(he inspiration he really needs?
Welcome to Mrs Vivian Graingc who has joined the in-
dustrious team in the office
79 SUPPLY DEPOT {THE FIGHTING 19th)
PUSSY WILLOW has been spotted in the area—Spring is in
the air and our fancies can be expected to tum at any moment.
We welcome back our OC from his Management Course
at Dccpcut. We arc now all wondering what revolutionary
management techniques he will put into practice. Rumour has
it that we arc all going to take a turn in the ' Hot Seat'—Our
Butcher, Corporal Mclntyrc, will no doubt make some drastic
changes when his turn comes around, but rumour also has it
that the OC is not too overjoyed at the prospect of his reciprocal
turn chopping up meat.
Sadly, we must say farewell to W02 Jim Grant, our out-
going Depot Superintendent who has been with us for a
number of years. He moved down to Hildcshcim as an Estate
Warden and we wish him and his family all the very best for
the future. (Road users beware—Jim is learning to drive!)
One out!—One in!—Welcome to W02 Gary Divers and
family from Dulmen. We sincerely hope they enjoy their stay
here at ' Happy' Hohnc. Prior to arrival, Q Divers spent
some three months instructing on Exercise Snow Queen, which,
he claims, was very hard graft—we don't believe a word of it
because he looks far too fit and healthy.
Staff Sergeant Charlie Potts is now well on the road to
full recovery after his rather troublesome operations. He now
returns to UK on posting to the Butchery Section at Aldershot
where we wish him and his family a pleasant stay. (Phew!
The ' car tax ' man nearly got him.)
Our ' Darting * enthusiasts, Messrs: Grant, Pembroke,
Cannings and Potts have done well once again in helping the
Station Sergeants/WOs Mess to come second in the 1st Armoured
Division League—good throwing lads!
2nd Armoured Division
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
LOTS of arrivals, postings, babies and
transferees this month, which tends to
make an Active Edge more interesting
and keeps Staff Sergeant Marriott and
Corporal K. P. Brown off the streets.
Site guard left the company running
on a skeleton crew, but with driver train-
ing now in full swing, people on courses
and leave there's still not a lot of meat
about, we plod on regardless.
The Training Wing (all two of us) still try to keep people
happy with the odd course, Corporal Roberts REME wants to
jump out of aeroplanes and Private Breen wants to get places
on skis so it's not all work and no play. In fact talking of play,
Private (I've gone off civvy street) Rigby wants to play around
with our brand new motor bikes and get a trials team off the
ground. Our first competition is in two weeks time at Nien-
burg so hopefully we will be organised enough to enter and
get some photographs to flaunt in next months edition.
Congratulations to Lance Corporal and Mrs May ACC and
Private and Mrs Van Nuil who both produced sons recently.
We lose Private Quinn to 12 Armoured Workshop, Lance
Corporal Morgan to Northern Ireland and Lance Corporal
Jenkinson and Private Bellamy on discharge. Corporal K. P.
Brown having transferred from 1st Battalion Devon and Dorset
Regiment, is now happily installed in the Orderly Room. True to
form, what you win on the swings you lose on the roundabouts;
and this month is no exception since Private Goddard awaits
his transfer to the Royal Military Police.
We say farewell to Staff Sergeant Lewis, Sergeants Skyrme
and Frost, Corporal Rees and Private McFarlane. Good luck
o o
— 360 —
Book number R0403a