RAOC Gazette - page 142
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 |
Handover by Commanding Officers in the snow. Lieutenant Colonel L. H. Brown MBE RCT (left), and Lieutenant Colonel A . Norman Bailey R A O C . The Petroleum Platoon has had a fairly routine month and last week was typical, one of our dracones broke loose from its mooring; we started moving ten thousand jerricans from one side of Stanley to the other (practice makes perfect); Private Williams returned from spending several weeks submerged in a submarine; several people inspected the YPF (fuel depot) to find out what stores services are needed and then promptly told us that we are a PRI 4 task so they wouldn't get done anyway; we outloaded packed POL to all the outstations; inloaded bulk fuel from our Coastal Tanker; and, set up an emergency fuel point whilst the road to the YPF was closed for four days. Doesn't time fly when you are enjoying yourself? Departures: Captain Bob Ellis, Staff Sergeant Moffat, Sergeant Whitelaw, Corporal Parr and Private Evans. Arrivals: Major Mark Frazer, Staff Sergeant Edwards, Sergeant Blakeledge and Private Bayliss. The Ammunition Platoon has been boosted by a welcome influx of new members—twelve no less—all from different parts of the world. In contrast we say farewell to W02 Andy Brown —the amazing man who wanted to stay here and Lance Corporal Paul Holmes who definitely didn't want to stay here. The Platoon also says farewell to Staff Sergeant Dave Stewart and Sergeant Paul McGrath. They will surely be missed. WOl Hunky Mitchell, and a majority of the lads have been found returning from Darwin Road, where they have been doing small scale demolitions, looking rather muddy and shell shocked. Corporal Dave Tressler and Private Jock Haggart have been seen in the depot with pen and paper in hand. Funny how it coincides with the rare sunny weather we have. Corporal Paul Mansell has been out to the settlements quite a lot and coming back looking rather pale and green after flying in the Figas Islander. Each time he claims never again, someone puts him on another one. Also out swanning (what he calls stocktaking), has been Sergeant Paul Trent. Again to Ajax Bay who are reputed to have the best bar on the island. The Platoon welcome new boys Sergeants France and Hurry. Corporals Hawkeswell, Besley, Goundry and Moore, Lance Corporal Gabriel, Privates Causer, Lashmar, Hamblett and Scammell. A mention must be made to Private Dunhill who amazingly transferred from a nice warm bakery to join our merry band. To all the new lads we say, no one has that long to do. Lastly we say farewell to Captain Peter Timothy, Corporal Dave Tressler and Lance Corporal Brown, they have in those famous words ' been and done it.' STORES SECTION 37 (FI) ENGINEER REGIMENT WORKSHOP AS everyone will tell you who have handed over ' days to do ' — charts here, things change with the weather and that changes every day. In fact it's common to have the four seasons in one day. We have recently lost three stalwart members of the Stores Section WOIC W02 Geoff (Gizzit) Collinge who was presented by the SNCOs of the Workshop with a brass replica of his staff of office—a tent peg. Geoff flew back to Germany and his parting words were: "Get that sky appreciated." Corporal Ian Vaissiere and Lance Corporal Roger Moody have also left us. No replacement yet for W02 Collinge, which leaves Staff Sergeant Dennis Bates BEM in charge to put things right (only kidding) or is he? Also in the Control Office we have Lance Corporal Alan Pibworth who goes to bed with his boot brushes as they are precious to him. Private Dave Goddard who is not so gorgeous now, supporting a black eye, he's now known as Rocky +. Finally we have two new arrivals Corporal Ken Smith and Private Geordie Toole, both having many ' days to do.' In the Mudhouse er I mean Storehouse, we have Sergeant Zack Fazackerley, Corporal Chris Betmead, who does not now resemble an Argentinian, he's shaved it off. Lance Corporal Scouse Burden and Private Chris Embleton known as Emby who has worn one Eager Beaver out and is now starting on his new one. The Storehouse has had an enjoyable time recently they first started moving into their new tent which took four weeks to be erected by our RE colleagues only to arrive the next morning to find the roof missing so we had to move back to our existing Rubb Shelter. Sergeant Zack has had to create some new locations because of our storage problems. ITB (in the bondoo), BIO (Bin in Office) and a recent one ITO (in the ocean) which all in all makes stores selection a whole new experience. Leaving to songs of joy this month we have Staff Sergeant Bates, Sergeant Fazackerley, Corporal Betmead, Lance Corporal Burden, Private Goddard, and we wish W02 Scanlon, Sergeants Scott and Howarth, Corporal BIythe, Lance Corporal Palmer, Privates Barwick and Kieran a rewarding tour. TERRITORIAL ARMY 65 Ordnance Company (V) SINCE our last episode the Unit has been up to its knees—and deeper—in muck and bullets not to mention spit and polish. Firstly, it is with some sadness that we finally and officially say ' farewell' to 9 Ordnance Battalion. To mark the occasion Lieutenant Colonel Champion was invited to present the Unit's annual ' Best Soldier Award ' to Private Steve Greenwood. This award is a cup called the ' Manifield Memorial Trophy' in honour of the late Captain Jim Manifield, one time the Unit's PSAO. Private Greenwood has been a very regular attender and recently completed the JNCO Cadre Course. In the same month the Unit conducted a platoon in defence weekend at Catterick. The platoons occupied the positions in full CEMO, dug in overnight, patrolled, ambushed and finally withdrew. Selected personnel volunteered for Combat Survival Courses run by Major Dugdale RMP (V). These started with a strip search and ended with smokers trying to roll cigarettes from bus tickets! Volunteers also leamt how to prepare rabbits, fish and chicken for the pot from their live state. They also had lessons on snares, makeshift shelters and collection of water. The final lesson was on abseiling and they thought they were learning how to survive, not the other way around! This phase of training ended with a trade exercise. The Unit moved to a disused camp at Bishops Monkton and set up an R and I control cell and used our one binned vehicle for the exercise. This weekend exercise was part of the retraining due to the Unit rerole. The exercise ended with a ' crash out' taken very literally by one of our PSIs. The Unit's annual shooting competition took place on Hawkesworth Ranges at one end of tie famous Ilkley Moor. 119 — |
| Book number | R0406 |