RAOC Gazette - page 36
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 |
It is the crazy season for the CQMS department, with the onset of Summer Camp looming. Staff Sergeant John Woodcock, Lance Corporal Clegg and Private Bacon are like the proverbial ducks; calm on top, paddling like hell underneath. Welcome to Private Fowler. The big event this month has been Braithwaite's Bunker Bash; a fiften mile sponsored run from FVD to Wulfen. Over sixty runners took part and they all completed the distance. Special thanks must go to the W02 Tony O'Connor and Staff Sergeant Geoff Williams who organised the event, ably helped by many others including WOl Colin Payne REME, Mrs Sheena Forder and Lance Corporal Daniell R Signals. The day was a great success and congratulations go to all who participated in one way or another. The last event this month was the unit social organised by Sergeant Pete Gee which was a resounding success made even more so by the knowledge that we have just won the BAOR Minor Units Tickle Fitness Test—a fitting tribute to Major Braithwaite? 1st- British Corps A ^^k M ^k ^K ^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^^•^^F ^ B ^m ^ ^ ^y HEADQUARTERS RAOC SAD but fond farewells this month: to Brigadier John and Sonia Skinner, Captain Tony and Nora Parry, and temporarily to Falklands-bound Sergeant Bruce Watson. It would be inappropriate of me to add to what has been said by way of farewell to Brigadier John and Sonia Skinner. His legacy was described by Brigadier John Alway at a recent meeting as the "high profile image of RAOC within 1 (BR) Corps." Certainly, we will miss you; you go with our kindest regards and very best wishes. ; Tony and Nora will be missed as well. They have both contributed to the running of the Headquarters, one in the Branch (Tony) and one in the Typing Pool (Nora). Good luck and God speed. In Sergeant Watson's rucksack heading south are a cricket bat, snooker cue, squash racket, a volley ball, a basketball and a goalkeeper's jersey—just in case. A ' man of options' is our Bruce. A warm welcome to Brigadier Paviour, and Captain Stuart and Sheila Addy. A 1 Ordnance Battalion HEADQUARTERS fronted by the 2IC complete with gun in hand, thought this was a robbery by some splinter terrorist group and almost started handing the money over. I suppose the sight of a Land Rover outside with the engine running did not help matters. Battalion Headquarters ran a one day patrol competition with five teams provided by each Company. The winning team was led by Corporal Ken Connolly and resulted in the OC's wallet being lighter by two bottles of champagne on return to barracks. On the final morning of the exercise the Company came under attack, resulting in the normal stand-to and the QRF de- ploying under the command of Staff Sergeant Mick Potts and Sergeant Steve Barraclough. When told this could be the SAS, the Company was determined to stay and fight; when told it may even be the might of the Warsaw Pact, the Company was even more determined to stay and fight. However, when told the enemy was in fact the Harbour Party, the Company crashed out to the EBOP location. The QRF bought the Company time by withdrawing whilst still engaged in the fire fight and members of the attacking force dying in a manner which would not shame a John Wayne movie. The week after the exercise has seen the football team being busy playing two matches, the first against 41 Ordnance Company in which we won three two, the scorers being Sergeant Steve Barraclough two and Lance Corporal Joe Wilson one. The second game was against 2 Coldstream Guards in which we came second, the final score being three two. Our scorers were Staff Sergeant Keith Holt and Lance Corporal Joe Wilson. We welcome Lance Corporal Wilson ACC and Privates McCaffrey, Booth and Kirkhouse, and say a sad farewell to Corporal Szkoda, Lance Corporals Wilson RAOC and Wigg, and Privates Sanders, Powell and Peacock. STORES PLATOON 1 ARMOURED WORKSHOP THE CO called an Infantry type exercise and twelve members of the Platoon took part, led by Sergeant Brummie Thynne. He would appear to be in heavy contention for the ' Golden Blanket' award, and the exercise season has only just started! Our next jaunt was to act as enemy for the Ordnance Companies. 11, 12 and 13 were on exercise and the Platoon were ' asked ' to attack them at various times during the wee hours. The Platoon strength was six led by Staff Sergeant Brian Coull and we took on the three Companies and annoyed them, so much so that we have not been invited back. On the sporting side, Corporal Geordie Hutchinson played in the Craftsmans Cup against 4 Armoured Workshop and scored two out of the four goals scored for 7 Armoured Workshop. Come on Hutch, improve or drop out! W02 Charlie Hunter wants his usual attention, his long weekend was from Tuesday till Monday—not bad Charlie! Our Mission Controller, Captain Knight, has just returned from his sailing mission at Kiel and is putting in the hours at work prior to going to Canada for a small hike (four weeks). Private McDowell has gone on leave to get married—try and get there on time for a change! Corporal Tony Smith is at present deployed in the Falklands and from the mail we are getting he is not happy, he says his idea of sub standard accom- modation is not a tent with holes in the roof. Still not long to go now Smudge—call it a portable shower. Private Bill Malcolm must have it good, he hasn't written to us yet—what's he up to Smudge? ! Our other detachment in Paddy Land led by Lieutenant Bouch are keeping busy asking for Jiffy Bags of (we think) duty frees—sorry boyo it's illegal! A final word for our two best workers (it must be true if they say so) Private Paddy Mc- Gaughey is posted to Donnington and Private Andy Mahon is off to Bicester—such choice postings, you still have a while to do here yet, how we will miss you—especially Private Mahon of the sliding Dagenham Dustbin fame. WE must open our notes this month with a mention of Lance Corporal Kev Davies, the CO's driver, most unfortunately, left out of our last notes—much to his chagrin. We have, as always, been extremely busy since our last report with a couple of L exercises, including our first Battalion exercise. We also said g o o d b y e to Brigadier Skinner who we hope enjoyed his farewell visits to our units as much as we enjoyed the farewell lunches. : On the personnel side our congratulations to Lieutenant Colonel Mullins on his appointment as DCOS LFFI. Corporal Dave Cook will reach the Islands before the CO but hopes that his stay will be a little shorter. Sergeant Dick Goodfield has left us for greener pastures although it is rumoured that his is in the Falklands now. We have also said farewell to Major 3 Ordnance Battalion Charles Bayley (Chuck to our colonial friends) who leaves to take up the reins at Recklinghausen. HEADQUARTERS Welcome to Sergeant Ray Davis our new Sergeant Mat, ' WHERE do I start?' There has been so having found himself on exercise night shift on arrival he is many' points of interest over the last looking forward to a quiet period (little does he know that was month that it's quite difficult to pinpoint a quiet period). a starter. However, here we go. 11 ORDNANCE COMPANY Many congratulations to everyone in BRIGADIER SKINNER visited us as part of his farewell tour. achieving a one hundred per cent pass on He talked to the senior ranks over coffee in the Sergeants Mess our recent much dreaded BFT. In fact before being entertained to lunch by the officers. Staff Sergeant John Pascoe enjoyed the We deployed on the Battalion exercise Hard Provider. experience so much he did the course several times! First out the gate (again) was the CSM and his band of cut Materiel and C Sups personnel continue to be out of their throats known locally as ' The Harbour Party," most of whom claim to have been thrown out of the SAS for being too rough! The first two locations were villages and it was in the first that 29 — the 2IC, Captain Thompson in the role of recce officer, walked into building. the local bank to seek permission park vehicles around the The German behind the to counter on being con- sjNTgJ, ^™" |
| Book number | R0406 |