RAOC Gazette - page 190
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 |
cases." The three hospital cases thankfully were incurred on the—usually—less dangerous battlefield of the football pitch during a match against the TA Royal Engineer Postal and Courier Regiment who shared St Martin's Plain Camp at Folke- stone with us. A hectic first half saw first Sergeant Brian Christie, Corporal Alf Stevenson and then, finally, an attached ACC Cook, Corporal Tony Knights, carried off. All now, happily, are recovering well. The Sappers had a Piper who played at half time amid bold requests from our Touchline for stamps and telegrams. A request, albeit in dubious taste, to play the last post finally forced the Piper from the field. The week on the Ranges saw all Ranks undergoing a full programme that started with the APTW. All personnel fired the complete range of Infantry Personal Weapons on IBSR Attack and Defence, moving target and fire control ranges. Most highly rated as an experience was the sixty millimetre law with only Sergeant Pete Leggett missing. But then if you are only five foot tall and had to hold the rocket at arm's length over your head to clear the firing bay . . . ! The most frightening experience for many was the grenade throwing. Many stories, none of them true of course, did the rounds that evening. The climax of the week was without doubt the Urban Close Quarter Battle Range. If nothing else, the time spent on the Range complex demonstrated the incredible assistance that video recordings give to Training. The difference between initial dry patrols and the final live firing high intensity patrols carried out by each four man brick was evident to anybody, including the brick members, who watched the video recording of each Patrol. One of the most amusing incidents was a protracted con- versation held by Corporal Albert Sparrow with a dummy in the Post Office. Anybody would have thought that they had known each other and their respective families for years! It was all that Captain Bob Coveney in the Control Tower on the other end of the Intercom buried in the dummy's head could do to keep a straight face and deliver the intelligence that Corporal Sparrow had come to receive. The combination of novelty, relevance, hard work and genuine, if controlled, danger coupled with superb effects made the CQBR one of the most talked about and en- joyed parts of the camp. The second week consisted mainly of skills, two exercises designed to test harbouring and patrolling skills. Camp ended with Watermanship Training notably for Staff Sergeant Dave Kelly's efforts in providing a head start for his boat in the final race, resulting in one tenth of the boat's paddle power protruding from the muddy bank as his boat crawled slowly away. The end of camp saw the effective handover of command from Major Mike Pether to Captain Norman Bonney, the former Second-in-Command. Our congratulations to go to Major Bonney on his promotion and appointment and our best wishes for the future go to Mike and Jackie Pether and their son Tom on posting to Bicester. SPORTS REPORT (Continued from page 130.) It was with some relief and gratitude that we accepted the excellent services of Mr Paul Conner of LE(A), who spared no effort to keep the ball out of our defence during the second half of the season. Things seemed to be looking up with the arrival of Private Jeff Day into the Army and away from his usual County hockey commitments. Bari Cup Competition. This years Bari cup competition was played in the most unpleasant weather imaginable for the time of year. There was no shortage of wind or rain and it is to everyones' credit that the hockey played was of as high a standard as ever. It was also good to see how well the pitches stood up to the hammering and our thanks must go to Groundsman Trevor for all the hard work he has put into the pitches through the season. This years entries for the Bari cup consisted of eight unit, one casual'and three WRAC. The teams were arranged into two male and one WRAC league. The WRAC teams played each other twice for league positions, before the top two teams played off for the Bari Bowl. After a well fought match, the league leaders, Don- nington, came away with the trophy. In the men's competition, there was .some surprise at the arrival of a very slick looking team with some familiar old faces from 5 Ordnance Battalion, who had travelled at their own expense from BAOR to have a crack at the Bari Cup. Despite the weather conditions, the preliminary rounds went quite smoothly before league places were decided and the league leaders went to do battle with each other. The final for the Festival Shield was an all Blackdown affair, closely contested between the Training Battalion and Depot and the Apprentices College. After an exciting game, the age and experience of the Depot side won them the trophy, which whetted the spectators appetites for the Battle Royale between 5 Ordnance Battalion and CAD Kineton. After a game of total commitment by both sides, the well deserved victors were 5 Ordnance Battalion—commiserations must however, go to the gallant losers and indeed all the competitors for the fine spirit in which they participated. THE FORTHCOMING SEASON CORPS HOCKEY is due to receive a few changes this season, which it is hoped will do something to improve player sup- port and widen the field of selection. At this point. I will say that last season was a rather disappointing one for the Corps and Corps hockey in the UK is fast approaching a crisis for lack of players. This was demonstrated at last seasons trials where only three of the eighteen triallists were based outside the Aldershot and Blackdown area. Bari Cup Competition. This season's Bari Cup com- petition is scheduled for 19th/20th September. It is felt that holding the competition at trie beginning of the season will allow the selectors to see who they may be able to choose from for the coming season, rather than see who they should have chosen during the season. Corps Fixture. Our normal fixtures are to be combined into two week long periods which will enable players and units to plan in advance, as well as avoiding clashes with unit cup and league matches. The first Corps week will follow the Bari cup competition, beginning with trials on 21st September. followed by a week of training and Corps matches up until 28th September. The second Corps week will run from 21st February to 1st March 1984. Except for one or two single fixtures, the only other hockey commitments will be: — Army Tournament and BAOR Tour. This year's Army Tournament will be held in Aldershot from 19th to 23rd October. Our dubious performance last year has shown a requirement to field a strong squad and to train up to a com- petitive standard. This year, the tournament will begin with the outdoor competition from 19th to 21st October at the Officers Club ground and the indoor competition will run on 22nd and 23rd October in Maida Gym. In order to provide some training and high level com- petitions before the Army tournament, it is hoped to arrange another cut-price trip to Rheindahlen along similar lines to last year over the period 12th to 18th October. Interested players are asked to keep these periods free, if possible. GENERAL I will end with my usual ' Crie de Coeur' for potential Corps players not to be too shy to offer their services this season. I hope that the early Bari cup competition will prove helpful and urge maximum participation in the Bari Cup. Anybody who would like to be considered for selection, please contact the Secretary soonest:—Captain R. W. Dempster RAOC, 81 Ordnance Company, Candahar Barracks, Tidworth, Hampshire. Tel: Tidworth Military Extension 2632. THE DEEPCUT MARATHON 1983 THIS event over the full marathon distance, will be held at Deepcut at 1000 hours Sunday 30th October 1983. Proceeds will go to the Deepcut Garrison Charity Contribution for 1983. Entries are invited from RAOC members, their dependants and guests. Entry fee £3.50 per runner. Entries close 1st September 1983, or when limit of one hundred and fifty is reached. Normal range of prizes. Entries to: Training Company, Training Battalion and Depot RAOC, Deepcut — 159 — |
| Book number | R0406 |