Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 205

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 mental competition in which twenty teams took part. The team
was Staff Sergeants Pat Peters and Paddy Fitzpatrick, Corporals
Pete Archer and Brian Aitchiso'n (the current Platoon Cham-
pion) and Lance Corporal Dave Germain.
Private Price plays football for the Workshop, and Lance
Corporal Hutchinson plays for both the Workshop and the
Regimental teams. Corporal McConnell plays hockey for the
Workshop and occasionally the Regiment.
We have also been represented in the Workshop ski-ing
team, which came second in the REME ski meeting (Minor
Units) Slalom and Giant Slalom, by Corporal Mick Grcenhalgh.
Lance Corporal Dave Germain is in the Workshop shooting
team, which won the intcr-Battcry competition, and on the
recent Marche du Valle de Marnc. Corporal Noel Elstub and
Lance Corporal ' Budgie' Bamford were members of the Work-
shop team.
Corporal Graham Harvey has decided that a Policeman's
life would be too much like hard work, and has withdrawn his
notice of termination.
We have managed to get Private Mick Daly through his
driving test, but not yet, unfortunately, his BFT.
Staff Sergeant Sid Raybonc, our intrepid sailor, is trying to
fit in a fortnights sailing for members of the Platoon between
this years exercise commitments.
When we next sec our illustrious leader, Captain W.
Brewer, who is at present on a course in UK, he will have
entered the state of Holy Acrimony (Not a typing error). Con-
gratulations, and the best of luck from all of us.
Finally, we say farewell to a popular member of the
Platoon, Corporal Pete Archer, who is posted to Cyprus on
promotion, and extend a warm welcome to our new Stores
Platoon Warrant Officer, W02 D. Cook.
STORES SECTION
50 MISSILE REGIMENT
WORKSHOP
ITS quite a while since we graced the pages of Tun GAZETTE
and since then we've had a few new faces arrive, so I better
start off by giving you a run down of the Section.
First and foremost is the new IC Stores Section WOl F.
Griffin, we all hope that he and his wife Marie enjoy their stay
here in Menden.
Next comes Staff Sergeant Dardis on the supply clerk side,
at the moment he is living in Mess (which he isn't too happy
about), but when his wife arrives we hope they also enjoy
their stay with us. We've also heard rumours that Staff Sergeant
Dardis has two sons who are budding footballers, so that will
be two new additions to the Menden Wanderers. •
Also on the supply clerk side we have Corporal Bob
Sherwood and Lance Corporal Keith Helsby soon to depart to
Canada as part of the undermanning process and last but not
least Private Kev Sangster who joined us from Apprentice College.
Now we move to the workers (that's what they tell us) the
Supply Specialists.
IC is Sergeant Doughton, nicknamed the ' Green Maggot'
for the amount of time he spent in his sleeping bag on
exercise. Next Corporal Barrie Jones who's bobbing around
on crutches at the moment. He broke a bone in his foot
while playing a practice match for volleyball.
Private Norman Levett is soon to leave us for 49 RP
Company on promotion, so congratulations Norman and we
hope both you and your wife Val enjoy your posting.
Last but not least in the Stores Section the guys who keep
the place mobile, the drivers. Everybody else in RAOC has
been given new trade names, how about the drivers being known
as Conveyor Specialists.
There are two of us in this section, Lance Corporal Gordon
Heeps and Private Dave Hothersall who has just joined us from
Bracht, hope you enjoy your stay here Dave.
STORES
SECTION
5 HEAVY REGIMENT
WORKSHOP
OUR congratulations to Lance Corporal and Mrs Jim Cureton
on the birth of their son, James Aaron. This addition to his
family will undoubtedly restrict Lance Corporal Cureton's
movements in the world of judo where he recently won the
BAOR bantamweight championships to retain the title for
the second consecutive year.
We have had our share of ' hierarchy' visits in the past
few months. Lieutenant Colonel Hellis, CRAOC Corps Troops,
made no adverse comments so we assume that he was reason-
ably pleased with the Unit. CREME Corps Croops, Lieu-
tenant Colonel Quirke paid us a call followed by a ' social'
visit from Brigadier Ballard, DEME BAOR. It is rumoured
that, during the course of the latter visit, Sergeant Lancaster
created some form of record by saying ' Sir' at least thirty
eight times in two minutes—takes some beating!
— 396
Lance Corporal ' Scousc' Rothwell joined us from 3 BAD
only to be (old that he is off to Northern Ireland in (he near
future with the Regiment. Most of his comments arc-generally
unprintable! Nevertheless, we welcome him to the fold.
Private Bolton is struggling hard to become a super
Supply Clerk and he is progressing favourably. His counter-
parts on the Supply Specialist side in the form of Corporal
Bob Boncham and Lance Corporal Jim Cureton have now
banned him from the storehouse. One wonders why?
For some unknown reason Sergeant Lord has become
greatly enamoured with physical training and jogging. Some
say it is because he passed his BFT first time without even
trying. He has now threatened the entire Stores Section with
physical jerks every morning. Seems like a nice guy!
Corporal Charlie Hughes is proud of his brand new
Chrysler Horizon and spends every spare minute admiring
it. NAAFI sales of car wax have increased substantially
recently!! It seems that the boss, WOl McCann, is not too
happy about having this sparkling new Chrysler parked in.
the vicinity of his ancient Mercedes—reallocation of car park-
ing spaces is in the wind!
CORPS STORES
COMPANY
IT was very pleasing that the Unit had a one hundred per
cent response to the Corps Band Appeal. Yet again proving
to us ' Old Sweats' that ' Esprit De Corps' lives on in our
young soldiers.
It has been a fairly busy month for training. Our more
recent arrivals were introduced to the art of hooking up
stores to a ' Wesscx' helicopter.
It made a change for our new Technical Officer, Captain
Hutchinson, (who is an ex-pilot) to be on the other end of
the rope. The highlight of the month was ' Spring Venture.'
This was a short Unit exercise to practice convoy drills,
moving into location, camouflage and other soldierly skills.
The Second-in-Command Captain Dohcrty (code name Cap-
tain Beaky) surprised us all with his training aids. He arranged
for snow on day one and a drop in temperature to minus eight
degrees centigrade for the first night. It was so cold that Lance
Corporal ' G i n g e r ' Shorey's dish cloth froze in use. The
second night gave everyone the chance to play out their
' John Wayne ' fantasies. Second Lieutenant Turner and Sergeant
Salway led their respective patrols in a spirited attack on two
enemy positions.
On the sporting scene the hockey team march on to the
BAOR Minor Units final. The progress and the eventual
result will be a subject for next months sports page.
We say farewell to Staff Sergeants Donnery (Donnington),
Mallon (BATUS), Corporal Foster (16 Tank Transport Work-
shop), Lance Corporals Laydon (1 Bt Platoon), McMullan (Com-
mando Logistic Regiment), Privates Grant (Depot), and Combes
(38 Engineer Regiment). We wish them and their families our
best wishes for the future.
We welcome Staff Sergeant Cook, Lance Corporal Marshall,
Privates Alby, Ferguson, Kccnan and Shanks. •
New additions via the stork. Our congratulations to Lance
Corporal and Mrs Young, a son Mark Anthony, to Private
and Mrs Greenwood, a son Michael Robert and to Private and
Mrs Webster a daughter Kerry Marie.
RAOC in Berlin
A HEAVY fall of snow has now dissipated with the advent of
some fine sunny weather. The Goddess of Victory atop the
Siegessaule, the charioteers on the Brandenburg Gate and Queen
Charlotte on her monument in the precincts of the Charlotten-
burg Palace almost smile at the prospect of a bright spring.
The sun has brought out our straight hitting shooting team
whose target is to win some of the matches at the RAOC
BAOR meeting.
Led by the non-shooting Captain, Ken
Murchison, the team consists of Captain Paul Carter, WOsl
Pete Neale and Les Cheetham, W02 Fred Leversidge, Staff
Sergeant John Edwards and Lance Corporal Bob Nairn. Do
bring us something back from Dulmen, even if it is merely a
brace of pheasants!
On EPC Courses at 46 AEC are Sergeants Jim O'Bryan,
Tom Lynch, Dixie Hale and Pat Powell. They have been joined
by Corporal Pete King who has forsaken the ovens of the
Supply Depot for the desk of the Education Centre.
More names, more courses. Very creditable Grade l's were
obtained by Major Alan Clouter and Major Ian Ross on their
recent basic German course. Our men of carpets and meat,
Major Brian Page and W02 John Bishop achieved Grades II and
III respectively.
Book number R0403a