RAOC Gazette - page 28
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 |
have been heavily involved in Wintex, but the war is now over and the goodies have won. We are now preparing for Battalion EOD exercises to be followed swiftly by Company Military training exercises. For wives and girlfriends, you should expect to see your partner next about mid-summer. W02 Dave Couling has been detached to Bahrein for three months, very nice, but it's a long way to go for a beach and a suntan. Staff Sergeant Bob Craig is to get married in the near future and we all send our best wishes to both him and Anna. We say farewell to Sergeant Ken Cross who is off to Belize, Sergeant Andy Brightman to CAD Kineton and to Corporal Geordie Ross to 15 Field Workshop. Good luck to you all. The Catterick accommodation is being redecorated at present and temporary use is being made of the OCs office by our typists, Sandy and Chris. I think they must have aspirations of greater things to come. Occasionally, units like ours receive complaints of explosions allegedly causing damage to houses etc. It seems more than unjust however, when recently we were accused of causing an explosion a mile out to sea off Newcastle! Photo Demises Gazette and Herald. Lieutenant Colonel Ted Champion who leaves 9 Ordnance Battalion and its globe trotting role for the smaller parish of London District. wounded on both engagements. Last year he presented a Canadian flag, from the Canadian Veterans Association. Alder- shot Branch, to the OC, Major Thomas, with his good wishes for the units success and safe return from the Falklands. (You may remember seeing a photograph of this in a copy of last years GAZETTE). PC and A has lost another three SNCOs in one week, namely. Staff Sergeant Dewhurst and Sergeant Baker suddenly detached, and Staff Sergeant Haverty who is in hospital getting his ankle fixed in time for the next BFT. We are losing Corporal Chamock, currently on his RPCl, he is off to sunny Kenya as soon as he finishes his course. Private Slant, our star foot- baller once again excelled himself in the Army v RAF match in which he scored two goals in an admirable three one victory, well done Phil. Last months notes told of a unit team of canoeists train- ing hard for the Devizes to Westminster canoe race. The race is now behind us with all but two entries not completing the race (both due to injuries sustained whilst competing in the race, one with only a short distance from the finish). The race was held over one hundred and twenty five miles of canal/river and is said to be the most gruelling in the world and all who took part did well to finish. Our thanks go to the unit back- up crews who kept us supplied with hot tea (sometimes) and excellent meals, well done lads and Sir! We are now looking forward to next years race and maybe a better finishing time—" Maybe I " said CSM. We say goodbye to W02 Chris Collins to Cyprus, Corporal Rick Martin detached to Alberta, Canada, Lance Corporal Rennie Green to 11 EOD (Aldershot Det), Privates Dusty Miller and Phil Stant to BAOR, Private Terry Liggett to UKLF and Private Dave Snow to the Depot (while he does his Photographers Course). Welcome to Corporal Ian Gray, Corporal Dennis O'Donnell, Lance Corporals Dave Howard and Jim Watters, Privates Mark Chaplin, Chris Garbutt and Steve Milburn. 11 O r d n a n c e Battalion (EOD) BATTALION HEADQUARTERS. Congratulations are extended to WOl Dave Walker from the military and civilian staff of the Battalion on being awarded the QGM for gallantry in Northern Ireland while serving with 321 EOD Company. Most of the Headquarters staff are back in their posts ad- justing again to daylight living after a mole like existence during Wintex. Exercises are forever with us like the ever stream of visitors to the Battalion—the most recent of note being Major General Davis, COSLOG, who visited Sea Stoat 5 at Longmoor and was introduced to an EOD Licencing Exercise. We welcome Captain Paul Simpson to our small staff and the new appointment of Ops/Int Officer. W02 Alan Wrotchford also joins our team on loan from 9 Ordnance Battalion and in the Joint Service EOD Ops Centre Corporals Geoff Palir and Tony Britt are new faces to the Watchkecper desk. 521 COMPANY. Well, it's the silly season or exercise season again, depending on your point of view. All three Detachments 621 COMPANY. Exercise Sea Stoat 5, an EOD Licencing exercise, was held on Longmoor in late March which got most of the Company together and also four of the Battalion WOsl, three of which were licenced on Day 3. The main comment from the DS being, the No. 2 worked them well! If nothing else the exercise proved that Staff Sergeant John Earey needs more practice in dealing with false letters and Captain Tony Herron must brush up his recognition of badges of rank before he visits Battalion Headquarters again! Sergeant Martin Epton has left us for an Op Banner tour so the RAF can now deal with all their own aircraft bombs while he is away for four months. The following have also joined us since the last edition, Sergeant Bob Revill, and Lance Corporal Dave Smith R Signals in Company Headquarters, Cap- tain Graeme Smith at Colchester and Lance Corporal Rennie Greene at Aldershot to whom we all extend a warm welcome both to them and their families. The Company high point of the last two months must have been the farewell party for our outgoing Supply Controller, Staff Sergeant Frank Kirkman! Not so much the farewell to Frank, but the arrival at the party of a young lady dressed in a French basque with a singing telegram to wish him all the best in civilian life. Despite the many wishes of Sergeant Bob Scott and Lance Corporal Al Ming, she could not stay for more than a few minutes—hard luck lads. 721 COMPANY. The comings and goings in the middle of the night are in the past, for a short time at least as the Exercises are over. The Tidworth Detachment may dispute this how- ever as they have the task of planning the next Company Exercise. Captain Peter Standfield would like to feel he now has his feet firmly under the desk, in the Tidworth Detachment, but the pressure of work though keeps him on the move and every- where but in his office! The Hereford staff managed to find time to absail from a helicopter. Major Mike Stacey was last seen disappearing into the sunset suspended beneath a helicopter by one trapped finger. There really must be an easier way of disembarking from a helicopter. Staff Sergeant Paul Myring returns to the Company from across the water having passed his ATO Captain Garry O'Sullivan going in the opposite direction for his summer holidays. Staff Sergeant John Anderson is busy packing in preparation for BAOR. Sergeant Bob Charlton and Lance Corporal Les Thornley and families are welcome into the Com- pany. Did I say the comings and goings were over? One cannot close without mentioning the Battalion rugby match in the Hill Cup. Unfortunately, we lost seventeen three to the Depot and Training Battalion after a hard fought game. We expect to do better in the coming cricket season and WOl Dave Walker is striving hard to find new talent before the season gets underway, doubtless influenced by the Chairman RAOC Cricket, the Commanding Officer! — 23 — SEND IT TO THE GAZETTE A short article about events—places—people is always interesting particularly when accompanied by a photo- graph. Send it to THE GAZETTE. |
| Book number | R0406 |