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RAOC Gazette - page 203

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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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Colour Yes
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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription of the downhill ski team which did very well considering the
lack of training. Sergeant Archie Henderson, our International
Rally Driver, took the Adjutant to Sweden for the Ice Rally
where he narrowly missed selection for a works Opel drive
in 1980.
STORES PLATOON 12 ARMOURED
WORKSHOP
1 AM putting pen to paper to let you know how a real Stores
Platoon operates, and all you out there who buy a copy this
month can cash in on a real scoop.
I'll start by giving you a short run down on the make-up
of the Platoon. While more than half the Platoon is away graft-
ing under muck and bullets at the NIRW, the Stores Platoon
rear party is led by our newly promoted Lieutenant Gary
O'Sullivan who recently played a hard and rough game of rugby
against the Red Berets and came off looking more like the
Padre. 1 believe now he has returned the white collar and
started training for the next game, in which we hope you have
better luck, and congratulations on your promotion.
In the absence of our W02 George Down, NCO IC PC
and A is now taken up by Sergeant Jim Munday who is doing
very well in Army and German Orienteering competitions, and
at this point we would like to say goodbye and good luck as
he shortly goes to Belize for a six months holiday.
As his back-up (and I do get his back up) is yours truly,
who also does a bit of running, like running the raffle, platoon
parties, coffee swindle and in between times 1 also run the Minor
Assembly and Pack Account. But alas since I've had my car,
I've not been doing that much running of it (there must be a
lot of bad drivers on the road these days, I've had an accident
with at least two of them).
On our Major Assembly Account we have said goodbye
to Private John Edwards and in his place we welcome Private
Jock Quinn, who having only been a Supply Clerk since last
August is settling in and slowly getting to grips with the
Beastly Account.
We welcome the return of Private Pat Doherty from a six
months tour of Belize who has taken over on the CENTREMS
Account and assures us that the acount is in order and please
can he go back!
On stocktaking and reconciliation and who also runs the
LV7 account, we have Private Fitz Fitzpatrick who recently
got married and is settling down in quarters, we wish him and
his wife Angela all the best for the future.
With these and our civilians, Edgar, Trudi, Kathy, Angela,
Janet, Shirley, Karen and Lesley our typist, we have managed
to run the office to a very high standard.
On the Storehouse side we have Staff Sergeant Les
Sandison. As second-in-command of the Storehouse we say
" Bon Voyage" to Corporal Tony (Ted Heath) Holt and wel-
come Corporal Les Robinson and family to our little fold.
Out and about in all kinds of weather we have our two
Eager Beavers Lance Corporal Pete Smith and Private Keith
Watson who have the unenviable job of Major Assembly and are
responsible for the issuing and receipting and the general care
for the Major Assembly park.
In the backloading area is Private Martin (Starski) Perry,
who is concerned with the return of Minor Assemblies and
CENTREMS as well as entering for the ' Driver of the Year'
competition, in fact the results have just come in
RMP
one, Perry lost, and the entries for next years competition have
just been filled, Ah' well, you can always watch it on TV.
The make-up of the K60 and L60 Power boxes is the
responsibility of Private Dave Crockett. In the expense cage we
have Private Greg Murdoch standing in for Private Gilly
Gilbert who is away looking after his wife and new baby
daughter Tracy Louise.
On Receipts and Issues we have Private Jeff (watch your
backs) Wadsworth, Privates Dave Taylor and Moff Moffat and
all these with our civilian jack of all trades Derek have made a
grand job in keeping the Stores Platoon in progress.
On the Mechanised Transport side we say farewell to
Sergeant Dixie Dean and welcome his replacement Corporal
Dave Ferguson.
Lance Corporal John Logan has taken to the chair in the
office and driving everyone mad with phone calls. Well it's
better than driving the wagons I suppose. Backed up by Privates
Brian Dolton. Sammy Mainwaring, Jock Dazell and Edward
Pearce, the Mechanised Transport Sergeant, Sergeant Ken
Franklin assures us that he has no problems and everyone is
doing a grand job.
At the end of March we all welcome the return of the
NIRW and hope they enjoy their well deserved leave.
Some of the boys in a destructive mood under the guidance of an
mischevious looking Belgian C S M .
cadre in the fastest time over the highly demanding assault
course. Unfortunately, his driver fell at the second fence and
what was first thought to be a simple leg injury has developed
complications. All of us at Elles Barracks wish Private Rhodes
a speedy recovery.
We were no sooner back in barracks before many of us
were on the move to Haltern as either our shooting team or the
range party for the RAOC BAOR Skill-at-Arms Meeting. We
hope our workers contributed heavily to the success of the meet-
ing and we do know that our team was very successful in that
they were third, and the highest placed minor Unit, in the all
events Challenge Cup and the SMG trio of CSM Flowers,
Corporal Boulton and Sergeant Kelly won the SMG Cup
with the last named becoming the SMG Champion.
Congratulations this month go to Private and Mrs Hay on
the birth of a premature but healthy and lovely daughter and
also to Staff Sergeant Kelly and Sergeant Montgomery on their
promotions to these ranks. A big welcome is provided for
Corporal Doran and Privates Fletcher, Calderwood, Williams,
Trusswell and Mackin (a brother for Paul). Sadly missed will
be Sergeant Maye to Blackdown, Sergeant Skekel to Bicester,
Corporal Smalley to AIDU, Corporal Chadwick to SHAPE and
Private Broadbent to the warmer climates of Belize.
COMBAT SUPPLIES CADRE
OUR small, but jolly, band is about to change quite consider-
ably. Staff Sergeant Manny Avallano is off to wage war with
androids of ICP BAOR whilst Sergeant Dave Robertson,
complete with new Rover 2600 wheeled palace, leaves us to
move down the road to the FAMTO store at 4 Field Ambulance.
We are about to gain Alan Patterson and Sergeant Archie
Henderson in return.
This years silly season has been cancelled in preference
for a four and a half month Northern Ireland tour. Fortunately,
or otherwise depending on your outlook, the Combat Supplies
cadre are staying behind in Minden for Crusader 80. We are
still trying to decide whether we are better off or not!
Our gallant leader, ' Jean Claude Killy' Blatherwick, has
eventually been caught for a course and is attending JDSC in
June. He was last seen wandering around Regimental Head-
quarters asking everyone if there was a dry ski slope near
Warminster. The only member not mentioned so far, Staff
Sergeant Chris Elkins, continues to give sterling service but,
due to lack of sightings recently, is rumoured to have gone into
hibernation in the Quartermasters bedding store!
Although only few in number we are slowly making an
impression on the Regimental sport scene. Manny Avallano
recently starred in the team completing in the Division Table
Tennis Championships and has been selected to play in the
BAOR Championships. Captain Blatherwick was a member

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Book number R0403a