Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 135

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 With the hard work (it was fun really) behind us the whole
Battalion got together for a barbeque and disco that evening
which went down extremely well judging from the sore heads
the following morning. But all in all I think it will be a day
and night long remembered by all.
The only two newcomers to the unit are Privates Bob Leslie
and Andy Wakerly both of whom on their arrival to the unit
went straight to Denmark for a weeks military training, hope
you have as good a time in the unit during your stay as you
did in Denmark!
And we say farewell for a short time to Lance Corporal
McLuskie who leaves us for a detachment to the Falkland
Islands.
33 ORDNANCE
COMPANY
THE majority of the Battalion went to Denmark for the annual
military training camp. Whilst the MTIs and soldiers worked
hard long hours the officers and SNCOs were out for even longer
periods looking for a suitable ' watering' hole for the lads
R ' n ' R. They eventually found one, on the penultimate
night. For the culturally minded leader there is an excellent
museum of Danish ' renaissance' art which can be found at
the following grid ref: Map Series M745, LI 122—260798. Any
casual visitor to Denmark looking to broaden his cultural
horizon would be well advised to pay the museum a visit.
My commiserations go to those members of the Company
who had to spend two weeks on Exercise Rollerball supporting
the RCT and, as a result, missed out on Denmark, however, do
not despair there is always Vogelsang in November.
Finally, before closing I would like to welcome Corporal
Steve Sargison, Privates Steve Jones and Mark Pitman to the
unit; may their tour be financially rewarding and aesthetically
pleasing!
STORES SECTION 2 FIELD REGIMENT
WORKSHOP
SINCE our last entry, we have come back from the firing
camp in Soltau. The weather was just right for a firing camp,
it rained for two weeks solid.
During the camp we went on numerous drives to our
various locations. One of these was of particular interest to
WOl Jim McGowan who decided to take the whole packet
down a tank road, saying it was a shortcut. We would have
got down the road, had it not been for the two tanks bogged
in up to the top of their tacks. The fun really started when
we had to reverse the whole packet down the road, a feat in it-
self, as we had to keep to the track we had made going in.
On Exercise Blisterfoot (Vogelsang) we had no trouble buy-
ing or selling things because we had with us Staff Sergeant
Lariat's Emporium. You could buy anything from dustbins
to snickers. He was also the Vogelsang wrestling champ for a
short time, but the pace was too much and he just had to hang
his shorts up.
Sergeant Stan Matthews stayed awake for more than three
hours at a time, this must have been a feat in itself. Speaking
of things, Corporal Ginge Evans whilst on a run around the
countryside lost a member of his team. Who thought the name
of the game was get lost and stay lost for the longest time
possible?
One of the best events of the exercise was the stretcher
race. There were six teams, some of five men, some of six.
The course was twelve kilometres long, but don't think that it
was just an empty stretcher—no such luck! We all received a
little present of five tank track lines which weighed about ninety
kilos. So ended a very enjoyable week down at Vogelsang.
We welcome Private Bernie Lyons from training into our
fold, and hope that he enjoys his stay here.
154 SUPPLY PLATOON (V)
THE Platoon arrived on a sunny Saturday, to join their Com-
pany in Munster. It was a lovely welcome, as it was the
Battalion Open Day and we were invited to a barbecue and
disco in the evening. We must be the envy of the RAOC TA,
what a welcome!
On Sunday we commenced our Military Skills under the
guidance of CSM Scott and his military team. Once again we
were moulded into the Organisation of the Supply Depot. Staff
Jordan with his Yorkshire sense of humour guided the new
members of the Platoon on the rigours of Army Life, while
Lance Corporal Kemp displayed his talent as Platoon guide
around Munster.
A football match was played against 33 Ordnance Company
and they beat us, but they were wearing boots. We had our
revenge at the Unit Games Evening, when we were the winners,
including the quiz. We might not be footballers but we could
manage Mastermind.
Corporal Jones is to represent the Battalion in the BAOR
Corps Sports, is he the first TA soldier to be a participant with
his Regular Army Comrades?
Our hearty Cooks—Sergeant Sharp and Corporal Cave—are
enjoying the task of supporting the Catering Staff at Munster.
To our fellow TA colleagues, Sergeant Sharp has obtained new
menus, so be prepared in the future, at our Training Weekends.
We thank OC 33 Ordnance Company, Major Laird and his
Staff for the wonderful reception, and organisation of our
Annual Camp.
Look forward to see you all in 1984.
4 Ordnance Battalion
1
BATTALION
HEADQUARTERS
^ ^ ^ ^
THE lean, mean and tanned look is now
^ ^ • 1 ^ ^ .
the order of the day, and our S02 (Mat)
^^H^^^k
Major David Bentley has set the trend with
i^^^l^^^B
a permanent tan acquired on holiday in
. VH^^^^^B
Corsica. Rumour has it there is also a
^^^^^^^m
sunbed at home!!
^^^^^^
Our intrepid Sergeant Kenny Hogg
seeks a young and nubile Au Pair as the
1
"" burden of looking after his sons has left
wretched strains on his brow.
The DGOS paid us a short visit on his first visit to BAOR
in his new capacity.
We offer congratulations to our shooting team on qualifying
for Bisley, which means our Adjutant Captain Mike Lewington,
will be absent yet again, still this could mean POHR for our
Chief Clerk Ian McPherson, Lance Corporal Iain Bond of the
pressed shirts shocked us into disbelief on achieving best recruit
on his RPC2 course, well done lad!
On the sporting front, the Battalion Athletics Team worked
hard but just failed to come through in the relays. Next year
will be different!
41 ORDNANCE
COMPANY
HAVING successfully managed to organise a major athletics
event, the ' Detmold Garrison Charity Volkslauf,' which attracted
an estimated one thousand runners and raised a considerable
amount of money for charity, the Company turned its attention
to the 4 Ordnance Battalion Athletics meeting.
This sporting extravaganza was primarly designed to select
a Battalion team for the BAOR RAOC Competition; but it is
always good to welcome members of 42 and 43 Ordnance
Companies to Detmold on a sporting and social basis.
Star performers for 41 Ordnance Company were:—eight
hundred metres Lance Corporal Thompson and Driver Martin;
four hundred metres Second Lieutenant Young; fifteen hundred
metres Private Sanders; high jump Staff Sergeant Lambert;
long jump Private Whiting; javelin Staff Sergeant Lambert and
hammer Corporal Doughty.
A scratch tug-of-war team did very well to worry a very
competent team from 42 Ordnance Company but, in the end,
experience and practise paid off. However, Corporal Wittekind
deserves special praise for producing a unit team in under a
week!
After the athletics the officers moved to 42 Ordnance
Company in Minden for a Battalion Ladies Dinner Night. An
excellent evening was enjoyed by all, although Captain Paul
Blaber and Lieutenant Andy Nixon still can't recall much of it!
Other social events have included a unit disco and a
Bar-B-Q; both events were highly successful and well supported
and thanks go to the Junior Ranks Club Committee for the hard
work and effort that went into making these events such a
success.
In between all this social activity the unit has continued
to work hard and long in its technical role. Special praise must
go to Second Lieutenant Chris Gooderham, Staff Sergeant Mc-
Gurk and all the lads in the Storehouse who have been perform-
ing minor miracles.
Finally, congratulations to Corporal Walker on his pro-
motion to Sergeant, and a warm welcome to Private Burns on
his return from the Falkland Islands.
i
42 ORDNANCE
COMPANY
SPORT seems to have been very much to the fore recently. The
footballers were very disappointed to have been beaten by 53
Ordnance Company in the semi-final of the CCRAOC Cup; we
had hoped to meet 43 Ordnance Company in the final to make
it a 4 Ordnance Battalion event. Still, no excuses—CSM Bill
Rice assures everyone we'll be there again next season. Staff
Sergeant Pete Learmonth seems to have really got the Nijmegen
Team going well; they entered the Charity Volkslauf in Det-
— 112 —
Book number R0406