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RAOC Gazette - page 87

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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1983
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Early date 1983
Late date 1983
Transcription with his doubles partner Commander Maintenance, Brigadier
Tyler. Also in our team are Major Jeremy Baines, WOl Chris
Kelly and Sergeant Roger Child.
As for the remainder of Supply Branch, Sergeant Mick
James is recovering from a minor operation and is soon to join
the fold before departing to another branch within the Head-
quarters. Sergeant Nigel Ings is on the annual regimental train-
ing camp, appropriately called Paper Break. Sergeant Bruce
Watson obviously forgot to pack his pen and paper before
departing for the Falklands, but news does travel slowly!
Another internal move saw the departure of Private Chris
Owen and the arrival of Private Kevin Haywood.
action,, quick convoy move and a very forced march. Sergeant
Beesley avoided the latter by dropping a four tonner tail board
on his head and Lance Corporal Pasola's pitiful cries as a
casualty about to be abandoned by the withdrawing QRF will
long haunt CSM Fellowes's dreams.
1 Ordnance Battalion
A
HEADQUARTERS
THIS month's issue covers the Headquarters
in its MASH role and is dedicated to our
epidemic of injuries and illnesses.
A tour of the wards takes us first to
Captain Simon Ward who is recovering
from severe malnutrition of the wallet after
two weeks in the UK. Next door Lieutenant
&*!£§>•—ZoP^K?
Colonel Keith Mullins has been admitted
i& "*<4jfT£>«*'^W
for observation as he seems to have large
red marks appearing on his collar—a
suspected case of promotion to full Colonel.
Major Ted
Walcroft reclines in the next bed recovering from having his
extension fixed. Our medical officers include Major Al Truelove,
chief surgeon and renown for his cutting remarks, Major Phil
Hawkins newly arrived 2IC and practising the injection of
new blood, Fire Officers Colin Edgar and Peter Thomas who
try to ensure that all hope is extinguished with their bed-
side manner.
The next ward brings us to W02 Frank Smith who is under
the microscope as part of the Army's Local Study of Longevity
(LSL) and Staff Sergeant Charlie Salmon is being treated for shock
on being selected for promotion to W02. Sergeant Ray Davis
is still to be seen trying to find his bearings whilst Corporal
Dave Cook awaits a wellie transplant before being shipped off
to the Falklands. Lance Corporal John Menzies, who is having
trouble with other people's glasses reposes next to Private
Chris Gaffney who looks very cheeky as he waits for the
dentist to treat. Our newest arrival at the MASH is Private
Paul Johnson, immediately dubbed the ' Bionic Man ' by his
fellows.
Treating this large group of rare medical cases is our
knots expert WOl Pete Osborne, rumoured to have scouted
for Custer; Staff Sergeant Bob Maxwell—laser surgeon first class
and CARESS expert; Lance Corporal Tim Gore who returned
recently from his RPC2 course and now uses his toe caps as
reflecting mirrors, and Lance Corporal Kev Davies who spends
a lot of his time in bare feet as we use his shoes for stretchers.
Our head nurse Lieutenant Karen Morgan WRAC gets her
first mention in our notes despite being away on her RAOC
Young Officers Course. Must find some young RAOC Officers
for her return. Our male non-combatants Peter Raeder, Amie
Mett and Peter Holdsworth continue to hold their end up,
ably assisted by ' Les Girls' Elaine, Jo-ann, Julie and Sabine.
One missing? That's Doris who must join the ranks of the
injured after writing off her car and ending up in hospital.
Speedy recovery Doris. ~
Lastly fond farewells to one of the few inmates to leave
intact, Major Charles Bayley has departed for Recklinghausen
and his own command.
11 ORDNANCE
COMPANY
SERGEANT BELSHAW came back from the Falklands, took
one look at the training programme and decided to leave!
Corporal Woodhouse has moved on to teach yet more Harbour
Party thugs how to cut down forests. Lance Corporal Knowles
became bored with driving tennies and left to drive something
more gentile in Rheindahlen and Lance Corporal Roddy has
gone back to Blackdown to show them what a real field force
soldier looks like.
Every cloud has a silver lining and Corporal Robinson,
Lance Corporals Turner, Dewar and George have all joined
One One.
Every tank regiment in BAOR called in at Stock Control
during the month to see the girls (and ask for stores) and the
shooting team sunbathed at Sennelager at the Divisional meeting.
But most of all we will remember the Annual Visit —
by 72
Commander 7 Armoured Brigade. A close and demanding in-
spection was followed by deployment, crash out, QRF holding
Photo Corporal Jackson.
Is there any other Company that can boast having a Brigadier
M H E operator? Brigadier Naylor, Commander 2 2 Armoured
Brigade, operates an Eager Beaver whilst recently visiting 13
Ordnance Company, anxiously watched by CSM Hart and Staff
Sergeant Doughton.
13 ORDNANCE
COMPANY
POOR old OC the head of the Company. He's only been in
Munsterlager a few days but already he has suffered several
name changes, the latest being, ' Your OC you know, Major Def
Foubery ' never mind Sir.
Whilst sat in the MT office the other day the following
valid points came up. " Looking around the company Sir, have
you ever stopped to think what some of our Sup Specs would
be if there were no stores?"
Keith Doughton could have been a Rabbi, Geordie Franklin
a Highwayman, Jo Dodd a Prison Warder, Alan Parsons a Tic
Tac Man, Basil Breen a Garden Gnome, Geordie Kent a Ballet
Dancer, and so it goes on. The mind reels, look around, you
may be amazed.
The CSM recently asked for four volunteers'for the hated
weapon cleaning. Yes! he got four, who instantly became the
unit shooting team. One days practise, the four plus two
packed a vehicle and set out for Sennelager and the 1 Armd
Div SAAM, Corporal Tony Mason managed to borrow an LMG
and a pistol from 11 Company team, the night before the shoot.
Lance Corporal Ken Collings zeroed both. Ken is REME at-
tached, and I will lay good odd's that the best weapons fitter,
hasn't seen anything like Ken. By the end of day one we were
lying second in the minor units competition. At prizegiving
we ended up fourth. Sergeant Barry Whitebread got into the
SMG 30, Lance Corporal Ken Collings Rifle 50 however neither
listened to the CQMSs advice. Young soldier Ross and Lance
Corporal Scouse Roberts completed the open. Private Ross
did well on his first ever shoot outside ' recruit training.' The
falling plate was lost by one round against the Royal Hussars.
In all a good result—well done.
Welcome to Sergeant Dave Bond and family, Privates
Savory and Jenkersen-Kenshole, J-K to anyone with speech
problems; the Company wish you all a long and happy stay.
Farewell's were bade to Sergeant Scotty and Sylvia Irvine and
kids, Corporal Rick Jones (congrats Rick on your promotion).
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Book number R0406