RAOC Gazette - page 119
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 |
accent has been heard more frequently of late after Major Harry S. Truman received' reinforcements from across the Atlantic in the form of the Truman Clan. They appeared to enjoy everything from Trooping the Colour and the Pirates of Penzance to Best Bitter! The Logistics Faculty provided an umpire in the form of Major Mark Blatherwick to keep a watchful eye on a Com- mando Exercise. He states his only problems arose in separating marines and paratroopers during a night parachute landing and eventual marines counter attack. His vocabulary has also taken a turn for the worse. What is a ' run ashore ' and where arc the dreaded ' heads'? The Commissioning Course have also passed on into the big wide world, although questions are still being asked about a certain gentleman playing with two 'wolves' in the Officers Mess Bar. The Don of Health and Safety took his partner in crime off to view such places of national historical interest as Stratford- upon-Avon and Colchester! More to educate others than themselves. We congratulate Lance Corporal Lynam on her continued smile and safe return of her husband after his sojourn in the south. TRAINING BATTALION BATTALION HEADQUARTERS has been in an unusually somnambulent state over the past few weeks with all the officers down in Plymouth for summer camp—Exercise Ono III. Staff Sergeant Alan Dowd and Sergeant Ray Wakley held the fort on alternate weeks—they both agree the CO's chair is more com- fortable than theirs! Meanwhile down in the sunny climes of the South Coast the more adventurous types were trying their hands at canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, rock climbing, trekking and horseriding. The more senior members of the party were seen in the evenings describing the one that got away—which inevitably got larger as the evening wore on. RSM Dusty Miller ended his rather restful week by catching some crabs which he gave to Lieutenant Chris Blong on his return to Blackdown! TRAINING COMPANY. The Company office has seen a fresh face in our new leave/ration clerk Tracey. Her popularity can be gauged by the necessity for a ' No Admittance' sign on the office door. During the recent security operation the company provided many of the Training Centre guards and are to be congratulated on their efforts. Training standards were maintained despite the strain on staff and we all slept safely in our beds. Corporal Norris has recently developed an interest in model aircraft, the flying sort, and can be seen of an evening staring skyward from the football pitch. All personnel are warned that he is not yet skilled and this area should be avoided between 2000 and 2200 hours each evening. Ono III being in full swing the company has most of its sporty types sunning themselves in Plymouth. However, the work goes on and the Company leave sheet has as many names on it as a Swiss war memorial. Training Company again provided the backbone of the Training Centre Athletics team. Some members found them- selves travelling up from Plymouth for the South East District championships and then straight back down again after the presentations. The Training Centre Team succeeded in capturing the large South East District Shield for the first time and the gladiators in training company will now have to train for the next stage, the Zone 1 finals. Could this professional approach create a precedent in the hitherto gentlemanly sport of Athletics? By the time this missive goes to press the results will be known of both Zone and Army Finals. Readers may reflect, with power of hindsight, on our present vain aspirations. On a final note the company extends a warm welcome to Corporal Lynham on his return from the Falkland Islands. APPRENTICES COLLEGE HEADQUARTERS COMPANY. We returned from College Summer Camp at Tenby refreshed by the Welsh mountain air. [See page 91.) With half term break almost upon us, everybody is preparing for the second half of the Summer Term, but before signing off, we say farewell to Staff Sergeant Taff Tarr and his family and wish them well in 33 Ordnance Company in BAOR. They will be missed. 'A' COMPANY. The first half of the Summer term has begun quietly, with only sixty eight apprentices in the Company. The combined fourth term platoons of Aden and Arnhem have been fully committed to trade and driver training, all of which will have completed by the time the Company goes to Summer camp. Alamein Platoon have been continuing with the Military Syllabus and have also carried out a very wet five day battle camp at Hawley. There has been some movement with the Company staff. Captain Mike Davis REME departed in June and has returned to the ' black hand gang' in BAOR. After two and a half years in the College he fully deserves the change. Having seen three Arnhem Platoons through the College he will be much missed. Two other officers have been posted in : Lieutenant Lancaster and Second Lieutenant Gilbert, wish them a happy time in the Company. The sporting scene has been dominated with athletics and to a lesser degree cricket and swimming, and the Company has been well represented in all three. During the recent College trials A/Corporal McPhcrson became the Company's ' Daley Thompson' by winning four events, second in one, third in three others, only the eight hundred metres and fifteen hundred metres eluded him. Our Cross Country heroes, Gracie and Gregory, have made the transition to track and arc turning out good times. A/Corporal Patterson is showing good sprint and long jump form. A/Private Fuller continues to star in the College swimming team. Apprentices Rawlins, Atkins, Hickman and Penman are all showing their skills with willow and leather. The Corps of Drums (Alamein) continue along their uphill musical path, improvement is still being made, even if it is giving both Lieutenant Newell and BSM Wise hair problems. They arc to take part in a band competition later this month. We wish them luck. ' B' COMPANY. There arc several new faces amongst the Permanent Staff, Lieutenant Elwell, who has assumed com- mand of Bruneval Platoon, Lieutenant Malin, Burma Platoon with Sergeant Jones and Second Lieutenant Challinor, who is eagerly awaiting arrival of the new recruits to form Brunei Platoon. No sooner had we arrived back than we sent A/Lance Corporal Holland and A/Privates Davies and Steel off to Sardinia on a diving expedition led by Captain Barnes RAEC. If their suntans are anything to go by, they all enjoyed them- selves. Bruneval Platoon took part in a sponsored walk in aid of the Royal Society for the Blind. It was held at Lamborne Downs in Wiltshire and the platoon raised £75 for the charity. Lieutenant Elwell assures us that he actually took part but we are all asking, "Where were his blisters?". Benghazi Platoon had a Battle Camp in Hawley Training Area. A/Lance Corporal Hawthorne attempted to supplement the Platoon's compo rations with fresh rabbit, but, unfortunately, his ferrets failed to catch ony. We are wondering'whether the ferrets' failure was due to the rabbits taking cover at the sight of Sergeant Maguire in his hammock. Brunei Platoon have been very quiet recently, with most of them on trade training and the remainder spending a week with 81 Ordnance Company for work experience. Burma Platoon have spent their time preparing for their JAEC examinations, but this has not stopped them getting out of the College. On a very cold and wet day the platoon visited first the Royal Tank Corps Museum in Bovington and then the Airborne Forces Museum in Aldershot. RMCS Shrivenham THE Ammunition Technical Officers Course did indeed depart on 27th May 1983. They gave a luncheon party which was attended by the Commandant, the Dean, the Chair- man of the Ordnance Courses Committee, Military Director of Studies from WV Division and the Second in Command and the operations officer of 11 Ordnance Battalion (EOD). Rumour has it that the fee charged for the luncheon included an element for the TFR Wall Fund (an 'in joke'). The Ammunition Technicians' Course, not to be outdone by the ATO's, held a buffet style luncheon at The Royal Oak. For those not aware of the developments at this ' local,' John is about to move to ' The Plough' which is a famous landmark on the A420 at which the RAF used to aim air-dropped stores 98 — |
| Book number | R0406 |