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RAOC Gazette - page 19

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Publication date 1983
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Early date 1983
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Transcription ROYAL ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS
ASSOCIATION
60th ANNUAL REPORT 1982
MAJOR GENERAL M. CALLAN CB was President for the
year 1982 and took the chair at the Annual Dinner held at
Central Ordnance Depot Bicester, on 24th April 1982. The
Association wishes to express its appreciation to him for the
interest and support which he has shown during his term of
office.
BRANCHES.
There are twenty five branches in the United
Kingdom and nine overseas. A new branch was formed at
Verden in 1982 and, subject to Executive Committee agreement,
Bristol and Corsham branches will combine in 1983, and Bram-
ley Branch will close, therefore the overall number of branches
will then be thirty two.
MEMBERSHIP.
The Association membership is no longer
stated because, following the introduction of the RAOC Soldiers'
One Day's Pay Scheme, anyone who has ever served in the
RAOC is accepted as a Life Member of the Association. Active
membership is approximately six thousand.
FINANCE.
The accounts for 1982 showed an excess of income
over expenditure of £1,123 after allowing a credit of £1,596
for stocks transferred to the Secretariat Sales sub account on
Secretariat reorganisation.
There was £26,181 in the Accumulated General Fund on
the 31st December 1982 of which £22,386 represented investments
at book value. On that day the market value of investments
was £26,066.
WELFARE.
The RAOC Aid Society made grants for individual
cases totalling £43,039 to six hundred and four applicants in
need during 1982 and donated £24,000 to the Army Benevolent
Fund. As always, Association Branches continued their good
work in reporting cases of ex-members of the Corps and their
families who had fallen on hard times. The customary Christ-
mas gifts, which totalled £540 in 1982 were made to ninety
patients and In-Pensioners resident in Hospitals and Homes on
the advice of Association Branches.
Donations from various Branches, Units and individuals are
gratefully acknowledged by the Representative Colonel Com-
mandant and Executive Committee.
The Regular Forces Employment Association was instrumen-
tal in finding employment during 1982 for one hundred and
fourteen ex-RAOC soldiers.
ASSOCIATION
WEEKEND.
The Annual General Meeting,
Dinner and Association Church Parade were held at Central
Ordnance Depot Bicester, during the weekend 24th/25th April
1982.
This was a great success enjoyed by all who attended. The
Association's grateful thanks are due to Brigadier R. N. Cooke
and all those at Bicester who did so much to ensure that the
weekend was extremely enjoyable. The guest of honour was
Genera] Sir John Mogg GCB, CBE, DSO, DL, who delighted
and amused all present with his after dinner speech, during
which he, most appropriately, paid tribute to the members of
the Armed Forces who were then on their way to the South
Atlantic on the operation to recover the Falkland Islands. To
general acclaim he made special mention of the extra burden
that the personnel at Bicester were bearing in staging the
Association Weekend whilst discharging their duty in support
of the operation.
The Annual General Meeting and Dinner were attended
by two hundred and forty members. After breakfast on Sunday
morning members were able to visit interesting displays depict-
ing the Corps at work and play. This was followed by the
March Past at which the President took the salute, after which
the Church service was held.
CORPS REMEMBRANCE SUNDA Y. The Corps Remembrance
Sunday was held at Deepcut on 14th November and there was a
good turn out of past and present members of the Corps
together with their families.
Wreaths were laid by the Director General of Ordnance
Services, Major General J. Brown CB, on behalf of all serving
members of the Corps; the Representative Colonel Com-
mandant, Major General M. Callan CB, for all past members of
the Corps; Colonel W. J. Walker TD, on behalf of the Reserve
Army members of the Corps and by Mr B. Wesson on behalf
of the RAOC Association.
Unfortunately, due to poor weather the parade was can-
celled, so services were held in St Barbara's and St Oswald's
Churches.
FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE.
The Annual Service at The
Field of Remembrance, Westminster Abbey was held on
Thursday, 11th November. In attendance were representatives
of past and present members of the Corps, together with other
Corps and Regiments of the Army.
In the RAOC plot, one hundred and twenty wreath crosses
and poppies purchased by RAOC Units to the value of £620
were planted by Sergeant Jennians and soldiers of the RAOC
Training Centre. The Director General of Ordnance Services
was represented by Brigadier F. P. Crawley ADC and the
RAOC Association by Brigadier G. E. Dennison OBE. In
addition £20 contributed by units in Scotland was sent to the
Field of Remembrance in Edinburgh.
The Corps representatives at the RAOC plot by Westminster
Abbey were honoured by being presented to Her Majesty The
Queen Mother.
S O U T H ATLANTIC F U N D
ASSESSMENT S C H E M E
THE South Atlantic Fund Assessment Scheme, under which
every case of Falklands injured is being considered by the
Trustees South Atlantic Fund for a grant, is now well under
way but inevitably completion will take time. The Trustees
have directed that any Falklands injured, leaving on any type of
discharge from the Army whether medical or administrative or
end of engagement, is to have his assessment completed in time
to allow the Trustees to make South Atlantic Fund payments
before discharge.
In order to allow time for such assessments to be completed
as priority cases it is essential that the Secretary, South Atlantic
Fund is given maximum notice possible of future likely dates of
discharge of any Falklands injured for whom South Atlantic
Fund form one has been submitted.
— 14 —
Book number R0406