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RAOC Gazette - page 202

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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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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription A get well soon note should go to Private Lofty Walton
who unfortunately was involved in a motoring accident, and also
to Private Tye who has not recovered from shock since receiving
his posting order.
We lose Private Barstow and welcome Staff Sergeant Leach,
Sergeant Higham and Privates M. R. Brown, Marshall, Miller
and Reynolds who hopefully will find their feet on Exercise
Iron Band, more about which, later.
87 SUPPLY DEPOT
WE recently said farewell to three Officers from the Food
Technology Course at the end of their two week attachment
We wish every success to Major Ken Collins, Captain Roger
Wyborn and Captain Derek Sumpa as they tackle the next
phase of the course at the College for the Distributive Trades.
During the final week of the attachment the course witnessed
their instructors and guides quickly change into physical train-
ing kit before competing in the Tickle Fitness Competition. A
few days before the event we were told by the DOPT staff that
our Unit was barred from winning any of the prizes due to its
small size. A one hundred per cent pass was the result of hard
training, how about some flexibility in the rules in future?
The list of inspections to which we have been subjected
grows steadily. Perhaps we should have a sign by the gate
(as for pedigree herds in UK) now that we are physical training
tested, classified, injected and certified free from PVR.
We have said farewell to W02 Williams, and wish him
even' success in his new post, on promotion to WOl, at the
School of Ordnance. We welcome in his place W02 Arthur.
Another new arrival is Corporal Anderson. We hope that they
have a happy tour here.
4fh Armoured Division
^^•j^^.
^ ^ • ^ ^ k
^^^H^^^^
^^^™ ^ ^ ^ *
HEADQUARTERS
RAOC
THE major event of the month was the
RAOC BAOR Shooting Competition which
was organised by Materiel Branch under the
guidance of CRAOC. The results of several
weeks of intensive planning are reported
upon separately in this edition of TUP.
GAZETTE.
A notable achievement also came in the
form of RAOC 4th Armoured Divisions
victory in the RAOC BAOR Squash Competition in Rhein-
dahlen. We congratulate our team of Major Jarman. Sergeant
Montgomery and Corporal Bennett on their fine win.
Last month we reported on the departure of Staff Sergeant
and Mrs Jim Burnett and this month we include a photograph
of the couple, with the Senior NCOs of the branch, at the
occasion of their farewell drinks. Readers will gather that the
opportunity was also taken to present Staff Sergeant Burnett
with his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. In fact, the
medal had been earned some months earlier and Jim was under
the impression that he had escaped a formal presentation.
(Better luck with your MSM!).
5 Field Force
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
CONGRATULATIONS
t O
the Unit football team
on winning the Garri-
son M i n o r U n i t s
L e a g u e . Ably skip-
pered
by
Lance
Corporal Phil Hussey
and managed by W02
Ron
Ferguson
this
feat was achieved without conceding a single match. The lead-
ing goalscorer was Lance Corporal Martin Smith with nine
goals. The Unit Orienteering team of Corporal Pete Learmonth,
Corporal Eric Blunn. Lance Corporal Martin Stevens, Private
Martin Noonan. Private ' Scotty' McNairn and Private Steve
Duffield came a very creditable second in the Divisional
Championships.
The new OC, Major Peter Haden, has decided to exercise
both his prerogative and his Unit by taking us all (well almost
all) into the field. Four days back in camp and then out again
on CRAOCs exercise. Don't miss next month's exciting edition
when you can read all about our exciting adventures.
Corporal ' Jimmy' James is off to set up an Indent Clear-
ing Point for the 1 Royal Hampshires in Portugal. Everyone
feels so sorry for him! ! Who wants to spend eight weeks there?
I really must mention the rest of the Unit. The CQMSs
Department is still there, PC and A are sometimes there, and
the Chief Clerk and CSM are never there. Now that the Unit
PRE is over we occasionally see Staff Sergeant John Keefe and
his merry men with clean hands and coveralls.
Finally we say farewell to Sergeant Mick Higham off to
2 ADOC and Privates Steve Wagstaff and ' Elvis' Biddell to
civvy street. Welcome back to Sergeant Dave Jamieson from
BATUS and welcome also to Sergeants Jack Frost and Brian
Robertson, Corporals Stan Glover and Ron Damen, Privates
Mark Greenaway and John Reid who have just joined us. We
wish them all well in their new posts.
Stop Press: Congratulations to Corporal Eric and Mrs
Peggy Blunn on the arrival of a nine pound three quarter ounce
bouncing baby boy.
POST YOUR NEWSLETTERS IN TIME TO REACH
THE EDITOR BY THE END OF EACH MONTH
LEAVING
ONE
MONTH
FOR
PUBLICATION
The senior ranks of Headquarters RAOC 4 t h Armoured Division
at the presentation of the Long Service and Cood Conduct Medal
to Staff Sergeant Jim Burnett. Left to right: Sergeant Knight,
Sergeant Carey, Staff Sergeant Burnett, W O l
(Conductor)
Sutton, Mrs Jan Burnett, W 2 (SQMS) Strugnell, W 2 (SQMS)
Tait, Sergeant Noonan.
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
REGULAR readers of our monthly offering will have noticed
that we missed our notes for April's edition. Our apologies
please but with good reason, as we were enjoying a highly
vigorous fortnights camp at Vogelsang.
The motto greeting us on arrival at Camp Vogelsang was
' More Sweat Less Blood' spelled out in two foot lettering
which we could not miss. Fortunately, although there was
plenty of sweat, there was little blood which was drawn only
once, by Private Knight who gashed a finger—believe it or not—
on the First Aid Box. The fortnight was one of continuous
activity with the emphasis on weapon skills, physical fitness,
junior leadership and many other military pursuits. In order to
maintain interest and high standards an inter-platoon com-
petition embraced all events and was eventually won by Alpha
Platoon under command of Lieutenant Stamps who also won
the coveted award of ' Dirtiest Officer' in the face of his
fellows, Captain White, loaned by CRAOC, and Second Lieu-
tenant Whittaker; this being after a muddy crawl through the
Battle Innoculation Range.
One of several ' interest' activities was a short period of
Tank Killing which consisted of two phases. The first, a
practical lesson in making and throwing fire bombs at a tank
and the second, simply standing in front of a moving tank,
freely driven by a hairy Belgian, grasping the front to adopt an
inverse prone position between the tracks and letting go at the
appropriate moment. All judged their timing satisfactorily so
there were no amendments to the ration role.
CRAOC, Lieutenant Colonel Willis, came along for a
couple of days during which he managed to lead the training
— 393 —
Book number R0403a