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RAOC Gazette - page 47

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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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 Privates
Brammer
Coates
Emmott
Jasper
Lewis
Lightwood
Mitchell
Perera
Stebbings
Winstanley
Warrant
Stuart
6 Ord Bn
Veh D e p Ludgershall
Fwd Veil Dep Recklinghausen
Ord Dep Antwerp
Ord Dep A n t w e r p
Veh D e p Ludgershall
Ord Dep A n t w e r p
Veh Dep Ashch'urch
Veh D e p Ludgershall
Veh Dep Ludgershall
SUPPLY CLERKS
Officers 1
CAD Kineton
Warrant Officers 2
Frater
Stores Sect 26 Comd
Griffiths
Trg Bn & Depot
Manders
Kuwait Liaison
Nixon
Ord Svcs
Wksp
RAOC
Team
Berlin
Staff
Sergeants
Rogers
Stores Sect 50 Comd Wksp
Wallis
HQ 1 (BR) Corps
Sergeants
Baker
Douglas
Gunn
Hope
Hughes
Major
Mellitt
Corporals
Banton
Flower
Lowthian
McBride
Roper
Saczewski
Wood
Stores PI 15 Fd Wksp
3 BAD
Sup Dep Colchester
9 Ord Bn
HO BAOR
Log Sp Bn (Falklands)
Fwd Ord D e p Dulmen
Fwd Ord D e p Dulmen
655 Sqn AAC
SS REME Wing RA Range
Hebrides
5 Ord Bn
Log Sp Bn (Falklands)
QM Dept Ord Svcs Viersen
RAOC Cyprus
Lance
Corporals
Ainsworth
Billington
Davidson
Moody
41 Coy
Log Sp Bn (Falklands)
Log Sp Bn (Falklands)
Stores PI 4 Armd Wksp
Privates
Doughty
Evans
Goddard
Harrison
McGrath
Slight
Warrant
Mills
Log Sp Bn
Log Sp Bn
2
:.... Log Sp Bn
Log Sp Bn
Log Sp Bn
:
PETROLEUM
Officers 2
(Falklands)
(Falklands)
Ac Sp Unit
(Falklands)
(Falklands)
(Falklands)
OPERATORS
Petroleum Centre
DISCHARGES—JULY 1983 ROLL
WOsl T. Thomas, R. J. Hubbard, W. A. A.
Upton and A. Roberts, WOs2 B. S. Stevens,
P. Simmons and M. Stevenson, A / W 2 R.
J. Ambridge, Sergeants S. Andrews and
R. L. Bartlett, Corporals R. F. W. Wardlaw,
H. Jeanne, R. J. Billing, B. Ward, J. J.
Ward and R. G. Finan, Lance Corporals
J. R. Campbell, D. B. Carr, M. R.
Armstrong, D. P. Leathley and W. H.
Harper, Privates F. J. Windle, B. Woods,
C. C. Sindall, W. A. Hughes, P. W. Peaple,
C. J. Puk and W. P. Bailey.
THE NEW ARMY WIFE
BY A BAOR WIFE
HAVING been a loyal reader of THE GAZETTE for some years,
I think that it is time that a little space be devoted to that
unfortunate individual, the new army wife.
I think a little advice may help the girl who is contemplating
marrying a soldier—or for the wife whose husband is currently
enjoying basic training and is awaiting the eventual move to
a place unknown. What a good place to start!
Geography. At school, London was the capital of England,
Hong Kong was remote, oriental and only seen on up-market
television holiday programmes, the Ruhr was the foundry of
West Germany and Belize was a dot at the top of the triangular
bit below America. For you, from now on, Blackdown is the
capital of the world, Hong Kong is two days, fourteen dis-
posable nappies and twenty three ladybird books away (see
section on flying). The Ruhr becomes the tricky bit where
hubby always gets lost when travelling from Zeebrugge to Det-
mold at three in the morning, and Belize is where your husband
disappears to for six months whilst you save up for the new
three-piece suite.
Special attributes an Army Wife must attain. Your husband
will frequently disappear for days, weeks or months at a time.
You usually have advance notice of this, but occasionally,
perhaps when you are just about to sit down to a romantic
supper that has taken days to prepare and cost a fortune, there
will be a ring at the doorbell and you will hear those two
words that mean chaos—' crash out.' Within seconds there
will be boot polish in the consomme^ puttees in the pate and
the washing basket tipped all over the floor in a mad search
for the face veil that hasn't been seen since junior had it round
his head doing his Adam Ant impression. I seriously believe
that all wives should be supplied with a freezer by the MOD
to preserve all the meals uneaten because of crash outs, last
minute duties, delayed returns from exercise and rugby ' third
halves' that drift on into the evening in the name of camaraderie.
Because of your husband's absence you should really try to
learn one or two handy household hints to keep your house in
reasonable order whilst he is away. Let me list a few examples.
You should be able to fit electrical plugs (British and Continental),
fit a new washer to a dripping tap, trace and replace a blown
fuze—from your top floor German flat to the cellar via four
floors, do a five thousand mile oil change and replace a
gear box!
For those of you about to marry I suggest that on your
wedding list of presents you include a ' his and hers' tool box.
Through all trials and tribulations wear a smile, grit your
teeth and save your moans for the Wives Club.
Wives Club. Commonly known amongst the men as the
' Mothers Mafia.' Quicker than the Tom Tom, all powerful,
all knowing. Most Garrisons have them. Weekly meetings
held in a room designated for such meetings but the real Head-
quarters is always the NAAFI foyer.
Before now, it has
been known amongst the wives when the men were due to
return from exercise before the OC even knew. The meetings
do however give you a chance for a moan, groan, drink and a
chance to get away from the children for a couple of hours.
Booty Parcels. When you are overseas you are bound to
receive parcels from Grandma containing a few presents for the
children. Gradually you will make requests and after a year,
your parcel will contain things that will set your heart racing
in eager anticipation as your fingers fumble to undo the
wrappings. My last parcel contained a bagful of zips, elastic
and buttons from our local market, four copies of the Derby
Evening Telegraph, a large bottle of Boots yeast tablets, three
machine knitting pattern books, four British type babies
dummies (they always run out in the NAAFI) and a British
Rail timetable (London Midland region).
Armylese and Abbreviations.
Oh what a difficult section
this is. There are so many abbreviations that you can conduct
a complete conversation in Army jargon the list of which is so
long it deserves a dictionary of its own. Please consult your
husband on the following and inwardly digest for essential future
use:—BIA (out of date, but still used) SAAFA, NAAFI, OC, CO,
RSM, CSM, De-scale (nothing to do with kettles) _A10s, the list
is endless.
Flying. Now this is a skill you really must reduce to a
fine art, particularly if you have babies or young children. You
really do need a survival kit carefully packed. Let me list a
few items. Disposable nappies, plastic bags for disposal of the
aforementioned, a bag of fruit (satsumas ideal when in season)
packet of biscuits, four ready made bottles of baby milk, face
cloth, towel, a smile and a bottle of Valium.
Time nappy changes carefully, Luton airport has a lovely
baby changing room so that by the time you are on the plane
baby is comfortable, until the pretty stewardess suggests that
junior vvill be far better off in the sky cot. This is a sort of
plumbers bag that hangs from the ceiling of the aircraft—
superb until the Captain decides to give you a look at Southend
and banks at forty five degrees.
Refuse the meals and stick to your fruit and biscuits, it is
virtually impossible to eat pork pie and red cabbage with a
plastic fork whilst keeping two kids under control. Fiddling
with the packets of coffee creamer and a hot flimsy cup of
coffee is a nightmare, as by the time you reach this stage our
friendly Captain decides that it would be nice for you to take
a close look at the Dutch Polderlands, and with another bank
and dive the creamer ends up garnishing the mayonnaise and the
coffee garnishes your best coat you've just had cleaned because
you've heard how expensive cleaning bills are in Germany.
When you eventually arrive in Gutersloh you're tired, the
kids are tired and you are a bit bewildered, but once you see
your hubby there ready to take you to your new home, all
will be well.
I wish you a happy life in the army ladies. There will be
lots of lovely times ahead for you, lots of challenges and a few
tears, but every minute is worth while. Good luck. J. S. (BAOR)
— 40 —
Book number R0406