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RAOC Gazette - page 120

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1983
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Colour Yes
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Early date 1983
Late date 1983
Transcription EOD Branch/Headquarters 321 EOD Company
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No. 2 A T C .
Left to right rear row: Privates I. M . Griffiths,
A . Hoole, S. J . Botcher, J . W . Thompson, M . M . W h i t e , S. T .
Halliday. Front row: Lance Corporal I. A . W a d e , Privates D. M .
Doyle, P. J . E. W i l l i s , P. A . McCormick, M . R. Hook, P. Humphrey.
when the Corps was at Amhem Camp Watchfield. Suffice to
say they missed and most stores landed on the airfield.
Those who thought ATO and AT on their respective
courses at RMCS at the same time would produce ' fireworks'
(in every sense) can relax. It was certainly a unique event but
all concerned made sure it was also a relatively sober and hard
working occasion. The ATs felt that a beating at skittles
could be rectified when the courses meet again at the Army
School of Ammunition—but only time will tell.
Northern
Ireland
HEADQUARTERS
THIS month (June) it's the turn of the
budding ' Clark Kent' of G3 Branch Head-
quarters Northern Ireland to act as reporter.
We hope readers won't find him too effected
by Kryptonite. G3 has continued to slim
its staff in line with MOD policy. To this
end we now operate a central classified
registry with only one pair of MOD Forms
102. The month of May saw the dis-
establishment of the (O and D) Stats post
with the retirement of Miss Elanor Armstrong who had worked
for the MOD for twenty five years and G3 for thirteen years.
Elanor will be remembered by countless thousands who have
rung 2355 during the current campaign, and we say farewell
to good friend and colleague.
The IE(A) team arrived and departed without too much
'hassle.' Sergeant Trevor Galtress is starting to claim that he.
is the longest serving PA to CLF since Pete Dimmock and not
many remember him. Sergeant Sid Siddiqui, perhaps affected
by his second tour in G3, is taking a six weeks holiday in
Pakistan and telling us all he will be bringing back a new wife.
This will be confirmed in a later edition. The Chief Clerk of
G3 is still the same one, known to many who have served in the
Headquarters since 1970.
Sergeant Sid Bates continues as Chief Clerk of G3 (O and D),
long may he do so. We have recently lost Private Meredith
(DES Clerk) to Sup Branch to be their temporary Chief Clerk
(fame at last) on the departure of Staff Sergeant Jimmie
Gallagher to the LS list in BAOR. Bon voyage Jim. Major
David Chilton visits G3 very frequently these days muttering
about JTPs, time to move, mobilisation and other such matters.
To emphasise the return to normality we have started taking
part in HD exercises along with other Headquarters in the UK.
We congratulate the Supt Clk WOl (SSM) John Russell on
his marriage and wish him and Mary every happiness for the
future, and also congratulate Corporal and Mrs Scott on the
birth of their first child, a lovely girl, Samantha Louise.
Departures this year: Corporals Leo Brooks, Eddie Hodg-
son, and Taff Davies,' WRAC Lance Corporals Linda Barker
and Debbie Horns. Soon, Lance Corporal Pam Allen to civvy
street—her husband is an AT Corporal at Ballykinler. Arrivals:
Corporals Mike Ford, Alec Francis and Colin Scott. WRAC
Corporals Alma Coull and Jane Gosney and WRAC Private
Debbie Bowness.
SURPRISINGLY even with the onset
of summer very little has happened
to disturb the peaceful rest of the
Headquarters staff.
One note of
interest however, was the EOD take-
over of the RAOC Lisburn Garrison
Cricket XI. which resulted in victory
over the Kinnegar XI.
On the posting front, we say
goodbye to Sergeant Alan Armstrong
and his new wife, good luck to them both. His replacement".
Sergeant John Lovell, has wasted no time in getting himself
back to the mainland on ' duty,' he seems to have started off on
the right road.
The Orderly Room has just managed to survive for three
weeks without the talents of Lance Corporal Trev Berry?
NO. 2 SECTION FORT GEORGE. The all change show arrives
at Fort George, as within the last month and the next few days
the whole detachment turns over. With one exception, the bleep
Lance Corporal Gibbons is still caged. The first to go was
Captain Inshaw along with his caddy Lance Corporal King.
Both with many presents after a night of fond farewells.
Corporal Lilly, the ancient twenty three year old followed shortly
and we wish him well with his new posting as telephonist in
11 Ordnance Battalion (EOD).
' Old Father Time' and his RCT crew are next to escape,
and must be congratulated on providing this month's late news.
After an accident free tour they decided to modify London-
derry when a 'wild Pig' escaped. They're definitely leaving with
a bang. Apart from farewells and bumper car competitions little
else of interest, the Western Front has fallen omniously silent.
Have I spoken too soon?
NO. 3 SECTION ARMAGH.
Towards the end of May the
whole section was busy seemingly triggered into purposeful
action by a terrorist attack on Cookstown RUC Station. During
the follow up the Boss Captain Biddle found a largish sum of
money and handed all of it in to the RUC. The team wouldn't
speak to him for a week.
Our list of hellos and good-byes reads like a ' Who's Who,'
goodbye and thank you to: Staff Brian Maxweil. Corporal John
Russell and 40 Commando RM, especially Elvis and Kev our
two trusty Marine escorts. Hallo and ' Cop this' t o : Sergeant
Mike Kettle, Burnie and Kev our new trusty escorts from the
Devon and Dorsets and Corporal Skewie Skews our new Wheel-
barrow mechanic, who now realises that he will run out of
padlocks before Corporal Mai Stubbs' bolt croppers become
blunt, that's all for now folks, see you in another month.
North East District and Headquarters 2nd Infantry
Division RAOC on Headquarters Staff
• ^
I IN the Staff Branches, the author is the
^ J U ^
only Staff Clerk left behind in the mad
^^^^
clamour for short term rates of LOA.
>. I I
Unfortunately, for those who have
J\ • I
departed for three weeks, the LOA is not
« N. ™
the only thing they have let themselves
in for! ' Q ' Newman, the chief Clerk
G2/G3 gave his final instructions to
Corporal
Katie
Lamb
before
his
departure, " do everything," a job
description she is growing used to since her arrival.
Dick Speirs, now a fully fledged CO after his years probation
and ex-Master Butcher, is still a semi-Corps representative and
at the moment would like to put all his files into cold storage.
Old habits die hard.
WOl Mike Mason is busily feeding the computer before
his departure from these hallowed halls; he is now referred
to as the ' Consultant' and a careful watch is being maintained
by G2 on his bank balance. The Superintending Clerk, WOl
' Bill' Rule has been spending some time jumping out of
helicopters lately and will soon be seen on ' It's Amazing' unless
the Broadcasting Authorities intervene.
Finally it's farewell to Corporal Geordie Bird, off to the
sunny shores of Cyprus and welcome to Staff Sergeant Sue
Scamadine from MOD, the latest in the Establishment Com-
mittees ' jobs for the girls ' policy.
REGIONAL
DEPOT
CATTERICK
" T O N Y " said the OC, " The new ammo store has opened in
May, do a write-up for THE GAZETTE and let's get it published
in the same month as the opening." " I'm one step ahead of
— 99 —
Book number R0406