Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 198

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 Remember the story, in the last issue, of the R and D
Sergeant who broke down on his way to the UK. Well he
tried again the following weekend and actually made it all the
way and back as far as Krefeld, before he broke down this
time. He arrived back at work a little late and not a little
red faced. Better luck next time Alan.
There is a lack of movement in and out of the Head-
quarters this month but Lance Corporal MacDonald of G
Ops is walking the corridors with a smile on his face having
just been told of his posting to Headquarters NORTHAG.
It's not all Technical W o r k at 1 5 4 F A D ! Brigadier Thornton,
Commander Headquarters Rhine Area inspects the A R U parade.
Behind the inspecting officer is W O I Mick W r i g h t and from
right to left front row Sergeant Dick Peacocke, Corporal Brian
Wiggell and Private T a f f Jones.
days to hitch from Edinburgh to Wulfen. Obviously he hasn't
got pretty legs.
We've had a few postings in and out as usual, for in-
stance, In: WOI Arthur Burns from Bracht, Privates Clive
Lefeuvre and Bob Hinton from the factory. Out: our resident
Chess Champion (no more laurels in the intellectual field),
Private Ian Cheshire who leaves us for civvy street and WOI and
Mrs Wright who leave us for the Emerald Isle. Congratulations
to WOI Burns and Lance Corporal Thomas on acting pro-
motion. Love son.
PS. I've been told not to mention the CSM's visit to Records.
PPS. The soccer team have scored a goal and what's more
it was Corporal Phil Warden that scored it—I thought he'd
forgotten how.
FVD Recklinghausen
OUR ARU was carried out by Brigadier Thornton, Commander
Rhine Area and despite the bitterly cold weather, we have
survived.
A major event for us was the visit of the Mayor of
Preston, Dennis Kehoe Esq and members of the Town Council.
The party included Councillor Joe Hood, who as Mayor in
1977 re-named the Barracks "Preston Barracks" to commemorate
the twinning of Recklinghausen and Preston. The Mayor and his
party spent an hour with the Senior Ranks of the Unit in their
club room discussing numerous war stories over a pint of ale.
The Unit again made a successful foray into the Volkslauf
field where a stray contingent entered the local Dorsten Volks-
lauf under the reigns of Sergeants Williams and Widdowson.
The motor cycling and rally contingents continue to operate
with, we hope, the formation of the BFG Car Club.
On 1st April, we changed our Technical (or is it functional)
control allegiance from Headquarters BAOR to 15 Ordnance
Group. We are a trifle uncertain as to which of these two
organisations are rejoicing!
ORD BRANCH
THE exercise year started as Ord Branch participated in
Exercise Crested Eagle, the first exercise of the year to enable
the branch to oil its creaking joints, and to get us in the swing
of things for Crusader 80. Major Putt and Captain Gillott S02
Operations and S03 Operations designate joined us for the day
for a foretaste of things to come or not to come! Apart from
the weather a good time was had by all.
On the sporting scene Staff Sergeant Graham Orszewski
who somehow manages to coincide Army badminton with
exercises returned from the Army Championships not empty
handed but by winning the Army Open Doubles and being
runner-up in the Army Inter-Unit. After that prevailed the
Inter-Services and Combined Services in which Staff Sergeant
Orszewski was selected and rewarded by being presented with
his Combined Services Colours.
Back to the social side of life. The branch held a farewell
party for Herr Heinz and Frau Margarete Sahlmuller, Briga-
dier and Mrs Whalley, Major and Mrs Ward and finally Staff
Sergeant and Mrs Orszewski, all of whom will be leaving the
branch shortly. Herr Heinz Sahlmuller known to all as Heinz
will finally be leaving us in early June after serving thirty
three years with the British Army, a truly monumental feat and
was thus rewarded by being presented with an engraved silver
salver and two crystal decanters duly filled in recognition of his
loyal service to Ord Branch. We wish them both well in their
retirement. Brigadier and Mrs Whalley move down to Head-
quarters BAOR to take over as DOS and we wish them both
well in his next appointment. Major Ward is going on pro-
motion to be CPO Chilwell with the view to closing down the
depot. Staff Sergeant Orszewski goes back across the water to
RMA Sandhurst.
Finally we welcome the new DDOS Brigadier Skinner who
will shortly be joined by his wife Sonia, we wish them both
well during their tour in Bielefeld.
1st Armoured Division
A
HEADQUARTERS
RAOC
WITH preparations for Exercise Spring
Canter, the Headquarters two day warm-up
exercise, well under way, the CRAOCs
driver, who also acts as the Branch MT
Rep, is continuing to spread alarm and
k despondency by repeatedly quoting his
favourite saying when asked for a vehicle
state
^ C T ^ s T S ^ S ^ r f f
-
' Off the road' has, for many
^ ^ *—-"^
nominated drivers, made Lance Corporal
Wiggins a harbinger of doom.
Bob Maxwell our Administration Sergeant, can now breathe
a sigh of relief as the time of the Adjutants return rapidly ap-
proaches after an absence of some three months on a J DSC
course and UK leave. We would like to congratulate the Ad-
jutant, Captain Tim Cross, on the success he achieved on the
1st British Corps
course and welcome him back to the real world.
A
STAFF CLERKS.
Exercise Crested Eagle has
The Materiels section, much to everyones surprise, appears
^^L
ended and we have returned to barracks, to ready
to be running with its usual dedicated efficiency despite the
M^L '
ourselves for the next round of BFT, although it
absence of Corporal Bill Winchester and Lance Corporal ' Jock'
^E ^ ^
should be~, noted that some personnel, who shall
Fajconer who are at this very moment struggling through
^^^^^^
remain nameless, have still to pass the last one.
their typing tests at the Depot at Blackdown in an effort to
^^•|^F
W02 Paul Blaber has received his posting
pass the Bl clerks course. Maybe they are expendable after all,
^ B ^m
orders and is off to Teheran later this year to take
although they like us to believe otherwise.
^^W.
over from Staff Sergeant Roy Coe who was with
Returning to work after a prolonged period of leave, Staff
^^
the Headquarters before posting there last year.
Sergeant Alan Cowlishaw, prior to his posting to Berlin at the
WRAC in the Headquarters have had a good
end of the month, surprised everyone by proving that his
month and promotion is rife. We congratulate Corporal Pat
uniform still fits him, although some assistance was needed as he
Hannah, Lance Corporals Leslie Eaton, Taffy Clarke, Leslie
had almost forgotten how to put it on.
Weeks and Carole Johnson, on receiving promotion.
Sergeant Geordie House expressed surprise when he read
in — the February issue of THE GAZETTE that he was due for dis-
— 391 charge.
Surprise turned to concern when he realised that, al-
though he had signed on again several months before, un-
less month!
the
1A was taken they might forget to pay him at the end of
Book number R0403a