Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 6

Image details

Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
Book page
Chapter head
Chapter key
Chapter number
Full title RAOC Gazette
Page number
Publication date 1983
Real page
Colour Yes
Grey No
Early date 1983
Late date 1983
Transcription By the time you read this they will have completed that walk
from London to Liverpool but we hope to have a report for a
later edition of THE GAZETTE. Nevertheless, should you wish
to help the NSPCC please forward your donation to: WOl
F. Morton RAOC, DSM(A), LE(A) Andover or W02 J. Brookes
BEM RAOC. School of Ammunition, Kineton (cheques made
payable to ' NSPCC'). All monies raised will be used to assist
in bringing help and security back into the lives of the many
thousands of children who are ill-treated annually.
FIREMANS
HOLIDAY
LEICESTER Fire Service Rugby Club recently visited Paderborn
as guests of 5 Ordnance Battalion.
The visit qame about because Tim, the son of Lieutenant
Colonel Bert Flear, joined the Leicester Fire Brigade while his
father was serving with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps Man-
ning and Records Office at Glen Parva Barracks Leicester. He
then became a member of the Fire Service Rugby Team. When
they wanted to find a host for a European tour they turned to
Lieutenant Colonel Flear who was serving in Germany. A
quick telephone call to Major Dick Oldham, the Rugby Officer
of 5 Ordnance Battalion, also from Leicester, completed the
Leicester connection and the tour was on.
change the timings for various reasons and two reunion lunches
were held at the Victory Club.
This year the venue was changed and it was generally
acclaimed by all present that future lunches should be held at the
Surrey Banqueting Suite. An excellent meal was served in very
pleasant surroundings with separate bar area.
The provisional date for the next Reunion is 7th April 1984
and details are normally circulated to those on the mailing
list during December.
The Committee would like to extend the mailing list to
include any other interested ex-Middle Easters (RAOC and
REME). Name, address, telephone number and brief details of
Units served with in the MEF should be sent to the Secretary:
Charles L. Baxter, 129 Benhill Road. London SE5 7LZ.
END
OF
AN
ERA
THE CO of 3 Ordnance Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel David
Harris, recently bid a sad farewell to his Austin 1800 staff car,
one of the last two still in service with the Army worldwide.
The car, which has been cast due to over age and obsolescence,
has we believe, been ' CRAOCs ' car for the whole of its service
with the Army. We wonder how many previous CRAOCs,
and their drivers, remember happy journeys in this particular
faithful old car.
Our photograph shows a Cerman fireman demonstrating a rescue
from a crashed car using hydraulic cutters. He is watched by
Paderborn, Leicester and Army Fire Service personnel.
The local Army Fire Service representative, Mr Barry Hall,
was soon able to arrange a visit to the local German Fire
Station at Paderborn. The Leicester firemen were shown all the
German Brigade's equipment including their crashed vehicle
rescue kit. The mutual interest and professional expertise of
the two Brigades bridged the language barrier making the visit
most successful.
In four short days Leicester Fire Brigade RFC travelled
twelve hundred miles by coach, visited the Paderborn Fire
Brigade and topped off the tour by winning both rugby matches.
Even in defeat, 5 Ordnance Battalion Rugby Club had to admit
that the firemen were the most cheerful and friendly side they
had hosted and were excellent ambassadors for Leicester.
THE
RAOC
MIDDLE
EASTERS
THE Annual Reunion Luncheon of the RAOC Middle Easters
Association was held at The Surrey Banqueting Suite, Kenning-
ton Oval. The luncheon, attended by fifty members and nine
ladies, was presided over by Major General B. D. Jones. Also
present were three Vice-Presidents, Colonel R. H. Wood, Lieu-
tenant Colonel G. D. Barnes and Lieutenant Colonel G. C. Fryer.
Since these Annual Reunions were started after the 1939/45
War at the Duke of York's Headquarters Sloane Square, London,
and later, at the Coach & Horses in Clerkenwell, in the form of
drinks and buffet, a Committee was elected, with Major F.
McWilliam as Chairman, in 1972, to organise reunion dinners
at The Victory Club, Marble Arch. These became very popular
and were well attended until 1981 when it was decided to
It still looks very smart.
Our photograph shows the CO with his new driver, Lance
Corporal Les Pawsey (but we must also mention his driver until
very recently, Lance Corporal Steve Jones, who has just been
posted).
The new car, a Cortina, has a lot to prove before it earns the
title of ' old faithful.'
CADETS
WELCOMED
TO
THE
CORPS
A PARADE was held at the Bohunt Centre, Liphook, to mark
the official formation of No. 9 Liphook Platoon 'A' Company
1 Battalion Hampshire and Isle of Wight ACF. Colonel
Shephard, Commander Supply South East District, represented
the Director General of Ordnance Services and presented the
cadets with their RAOC cap badges.
There were seventeen cadets on parade, their ages ranging
from thirteen to eighteen years. Colonel Shephard congratulated
them on their excellent turnout and reminded them that they
had now joined a Corps with a great historic background.
He went on to say that " when you wear the badge, do so
with great pride."
In addition to proud parents watching the ceremony there
were a number of official guests, including the County Com-
mandant Colonel May, the Cadet Company Commander, Major
Currie, his Training Officer, Captain Hockney and the Liaison
Officer, Captain Gossop.
Book number R0406