RAOC Gazette - page 158
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 |
BIRTHS RUDD— On 10th February 1983, at BMH Iserlohn, to Donna and Sergeant Roger Rudd, a daughter Natalie Samantha, a sister for John. SKIDMORE — On 27th May 1983, at Ards Hospital, New- townards, Northern Ireland, to Sergeant and Mrs S. R. Skidmore, a daughter Holly. SMITH.—On 8th June 1983, at Swindon Hospital, to Gweneth and Lawrence, a daughter Christine Louise. (Gweneth is the daughter of Captain (Retd) and Mrs Geoffrey Garrick). ENGAGEMENTS PIBWORTH—TAYLOR.—The engagement is announced between Alan, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Pibworth, of Langney, Eastbourne, and Karen Patricia, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Taylor, of Brickhill, Bedford. MARRIAGES ALLEN—FRY.—The marriage took place at St Mary's Church Andover, on 9th July 1983, of Rachel, only daughter of Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs B. Allen of Wilton, Wiltshire, and Graham Peter, youngest son of Mr and Mrs R. E. Fry, of Andover, Hampshire. Major General Alexander Young. one of the first Corps Officers to do so, proceeding from there to the Base Ordnance Depot Bicester. His period at Bicester was relatively short, but marked by his being selected for the rare accolade of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, and posting, in 1954, to Headquarters Middle East Command as ADOS Ord 5. From the Middle East he next moved to BAOR as CRAOC 4th Division, and from that appointment he went in 1959 to Head- quarters BAOR again in the prestigious appointment of ADOS Ord 5. He returned to the United Kingdom in May 1961, on promotion to Colonel, and to the appointment of ADOS Ord 3. a busy appointment, at the hub of Corps policy, and one which he filled so impressively and successfully for two and a half years. His efforts in Ord 3 were rightly rewarded by his selection for the appointment of DDOS Eastern Command which he assumed, in the rank of Brigadier, in October 1964. He returned to Bicester, as Commandant, in December 1966, where among all the vivid recollections that now come to mind, I especially recall him taking the salute at The Queens Birthday Parade, tall, slim, and, as always, so impeccably turned out. In mid 1967 his selection for the appointment of Director of Ordnance Services was announced, as from March 1968. But his stay at Bicester was to be even shorter than that announcement envisaged. Following the tragic death of Major General Geoffrey Wortham in October 1967, he was at short notice moved across to Didcot, to serve as Commander Base Organisation in the rank of Major General for a period of months only before moving on to become Director. His period as Director, from March 1968 to April 1971. was hectic and momentous. I worked closely with him at that time, and eventually had the honour of taking over from him, and am perhaps uniquely placed to say that so much of the formative work which was done during his period, and which helped to influence and shape the Corps as it is today, was due to his conceptual imagination, his great drive and his powers of example and advocacy. He was awarded the CB shortly before his retirement, and few if any have been more deserving of it. He continued to serve the Corps as a Colonel Commandant, and was the Representative Colonel Commandant in 1972. when we shared the honour of entertaining the Colonel-in-Chief when Her Majesty opened the rebuilt Blackdown Barracks in June of that year. In all, a long and illustrious career. But mere dates and titles cannot convey the essence of this impressive Officer and man—his capacity for work, his utter dedication to the task in DEATHS BRIDGE.—On 5th August 1983, Mrs Maud Bridge, wife of Lieutenant Colonel T. D. Bridge of 20, Fairfield Gardens, Portslade, Brighton, Sussex. PHIPPS.—On 25th June 1983, at home, 25, Acomb Wood Close, Woodthorpe, York, suddenly, David Owen, dearly beloved son of Major (Retd) Dai and Gwen Phipps, aged twenty years, brother of Colin, Christine, Janice and Carole. ®bit\mxit$ MAJOR GENERAL ALEXANDER YOUNG, CB IT is a sad task for me, and yet an honour to be asked, to write a final salute to Major General Alex Young, whose un- expected death on 17th July came as a great shock to the Corps, past and present. Over many years our careers had intertwined. We served together on a number of occasions; several times I had taken over appointments from him, and to know him as intimately as I did was to recognise an Officer of massive ability, stature and personality. But at this time our thoughts first go to Joan. Alex and Joan were for so many years part of the life of the Corps, and the hearts of their very many friends now go out to Joan, and to their son Steven and his family, in their loss. Alex was a Corps man from the beginning. He joined RAOC in the early days of 1939/45 War, and gave over thirty years of dedicated service, in a career that included most of the major appointments in the Corps, culminating in an outstanding period as Director of Ordnance Services from March 1968 to April 1971. His war service included tours as GS03 in the SD Direc- torate, and as DADOS Ord 1, of the War Office. After the war he was for two years DADOS Caribbean, and it was on his return to a DAQMG appointment in Q(Ops) War Office that we first met and began a long and amicable relationship. He attended the Joint Service Staff College in 1952, being — 1 1 — |
| Book number | R0406 |