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RAOC Gazette - page 134

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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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Early date 1983
Late date 1983
Transcription The football team eventually won a medal of some sort
after coming close in all the other competitions it had entered.
This was the Fair Cup Trophy awarded by the referees of the
division. The trophy was presented after an easy win over
207 Signal Squadron who are the Company's arch rivals.
Corporal Loynes had the misfortune of having a brilliant goal
disallowed after coming on as substitute. He still chunters
about it. Lance Corporal Calvert withstood the pressures of
being goalkeeper for the last few games before he was posted.
The team is now desperate for a new goalkeeper. All volunteers
will be given a chance! There seems to be a number of people
interested in the left back position, not least Staff Sergeant
Busuttil. The 2IC is determined to hang on, as class and
skill will always win through.
There have been a number of changes in the Company:
Private Angliss left for Bicester, some say to be straightened out.
Although he has had a number of medical problems his cheer-
ful personality will be missed.
Lance Corporal Calvert's
dedication to driver training will also be missed. Welcome to
Captain Tidmarsh, back after a number of courses, also Corporal
Loynes and Privates Pollock and Beattie. Congratulations to
Sergeant Benson, Lance Corporals Sibley and Kirkhouse on
their recent promotions.
Stop Press: Staff Sergeant Holt has received his posting
order to Dulmen, which pleased him no end!
13 ORDNANCE
COMPANY
THE month has seen 13 as a firmly established force in Munster-
lager. The Sappers don't know what's hit them—or should that
be the other way round as some members of the unit have
had their ID's rearranged. There's now a truce and peace
reigns, at the moment.
We are slowly building up the Company on the vehicle
and stores side. A lot of hard graft has been put in by all
involved and it's not true that we are running out of ideas in
what to do on a sports afternoon!
Sunday of the third week saw most of the Company deploy
into the woods that adjoin the F st S Harderode for Exercise
Essential Triangle. This was a practise for the big one in
October/November (ET). The task of outloading simmo ammo
from the site which should have taken a day, was professionally
completed within a few hours. The rest of the week was
spent tarting up both F st S for the SATO's inspection. On
return to camp, the same weekend saw the departure of the
OC and his specially hand picked band of men, to Morocco.
This was to participate in an adventurous training exercise
called African Diamond, but we know better—don't we lads?
You'll have to wait until next month to hear their side of
the story.
Congratulations are given to Sergeant Geordie Bowen on
passing his MHE Instructors Course and to Sergeant Barry
Whitebread and Lance Corporal Ally Rowen on passing their
Crane Ops Course. We welcome to the unit Lieutenant Clive
Woodyear, Corporal John Dickie and family and Lance Corporal
Steve Manning and hope you enjoy your tour here.
(Regret photographs arrived too late for publication.—
Editor.)
3 Armoured Division
A
HEADQUARTERS
SINCE the last input from this Head-
quarters there has been considerable
movement of personnel so therefore here
is the current staff list:-—
G2/G3. Staff Sergeant John Bentley,
Chief Clerk; Staff Sergeant Gerry Trottier
1
and Corporal Bob Smith, Ops; Corporal
Dave Benstead, Trg; Lance Corporal
Neville Sullivan, O and D ; Lance Corporal Jock Swanson, G2
and Private Horace Hortop of EPS.
G1/G4. Major David Griffiths, S02 G I / G 4 (Ops); W02
(SQMS) Roy Bartram. Chief Clerk; Staff Sergeant Hugh Ward
and Lance Corporal Norman Smart, Ops; Corporal Alan
Robinson, MS; Lance Corporal Derek Draper, Gen and Private
Mick Curtin who deals with write-offs.
Legal. Staff Sergeant Mac McLoughlin who is Chief Clerk
supporting an ever expanding department;
P Info. Sergeant Stuart Andrews, the divisional photographer
(rarely seen in this location).
WRAC.
Contrary
to the ' one
army' who
concept
separate
men-
tion
the staff
is made
branches:
for the W/Corporal
WRAC
element
Ginnette
Powell,
have a recently
G2;
W/Lance
joined
Corporal Julie Boa kcs and W/Privatc Dawn Holbcrry of
Registry. Welcome!
And finally the Superintending Clerk WOl (SSM) Pclcr
Daws.
The Headquarters offers its congratulations lo the following:
Staff Sergeant Ward on his recently acquired rank ; Stall Scrgcnt
Bentley and Sergeant McLoughlin on being mcniioncd in the
latest promotions list and again to Staff Sergeant Bentley on
his recent marriage to Maria Sullivan (nee Springer). GI/G4
typing pool, on her marriage and best wishes for her fulure
(with I Armoured Division).
A steady stream of senior visitors has taken place recently
keeping all on their toes. Three more are planned before Exercise
Summer Sales: CDS, DGOS and Commander Supply 1 (BR)
Corps.
3 ORDNANCE
BATTALION
HEADQUARTERS
AS we reported in last months notes, our main activity was
that of Exercise Red Deer which proved to be a hard but
worthwhile exercise for all concerned. Despite wet weather.
most enjoyed it (some more than others!) and anecdotes of the
lighter side of life include such items as Captain Sarii Sladc
having a shocking experience when he tried to shorten a live
power cable with his trusty Boy Scouts penknife : Staff Sergeant
John Pascoe putting his Rover through its paces by ditching it
to test its maximum angle of tilt and attempting to shunt a
four ton box body whilst reversing; and last but not least.
Private John Hunter almost gave himself a double hernia
whilst standing on a roll of hessian and trying to lift it on to the
top of his Rover at the same time—next step the Mr Universe
contest.
Recently the Battalion held its Summer Fete in Winter-
bourne Barracks, Miinster, and the Headquarters joined in by
setting up a golf putting stall. The winner of the prize at the
end of the day was our own young Private Mat Blair ' putting'
our golf pros (Messrs Hart and Pascoe) to shame. So taken
aback by his success, Private Blair kindly donated his winnings
to the charity (SSAFA) for which the fete was held. For full
details on the fete, see the Company notes below.
Sadly this month we say farewell to Major Richard Rhodes
who moves on to bigger things at Headquarters BAOR. but he
will still be able to pop in from time to time as his wife, Sally,
is still in the area waiting for a quarter. Mr Ray Mitchell, our
DFA, is shortly to relinquish his temporary bachelor status
when he rejoins his wife on posting to the UK. We wish both
families all the best for the future.
We welcome Major Brian Mills as our new S02 (Mat) and
Lieutenant Ray LeVar on temporary detachment from 31 Ord-
nance Company to act as Battalion Training Officer in the
absence of ' our man in the Falklands' Major David Hourahane
(for whom, incidentally, we have the following message—" come
back, all is forgiven ").
Finally our congratulations go to Second Lieutenant Sean
Dowe on his recent marriage. We hope that Anna-Lou (and
the Mini Metro) appreciate his return from Battalion Head-
quarters to the relative calm of the Company.
31 ORDNANCE
COMPANY
EXERCISE ODIN SUN took place in Denmark. It was a
military training exercise combined with many sports and ad-
venturous training we could fit into the two weeks. The train-
ing was dealt with by Sergeant Irvine who emptied the trees
of any wildlife whilst trying to empty the lake of fish. The
military training consisted of map reading. NBC. cam and
concealment, night exercise, march and shoot and early morn-
ing PT which was conducted by Corporal Hutchinson who after
trying to make a journey back from town cheaper found that
he enjoyed the night life within the camp. A scoring system
was implemented for each subject undertaken, the exercise being
conducted as a section competition. Victors on Course 1
were Section 2 led by Corporal Martindale, and on Course 2
we obtained a three way tie between Section 2. 3 and 4 led by
Corporals Fazakerley. Pow and Wier respectively. It was an
extremely enjoyable two weeks and a good time was had by all.
The Company, in conjunction with Battalion Headquarters
and ; 33 Ordnance Company, also helped out with the first
3 Ordnance Battalion Fete at Winterboume Barracks. There
were various stalls from each department including the Wives
Club varying from white elephant and bottle stalls to ducking
stools and a boxing ring. The fete was in aid of SSAFA and a
considerable amount of money was raised for the charity.
Second Lieutenant Dowe was heard to complain that he was
ducked five times before anyone had paid any money, we
forgot to tell him about the dress (or undressed) rehearsal.
Book number R0406