RAOC Gazette - page 211
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 |
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Presentation of the RAOC plaque by the author to the Ships Master, Captain Robin Plant. as possible I was reminded loo late of the old army adage " Never volunteer for anything." It's a backbreaking task to say the least. I was much more at home accompanying the RAC sales team during the Challenger task demonstration. Here in Dubai I met two ex-WOsl in the Corps; John Shelldrake and Jim Martin both now working for the Dubai authorities. John with the Police and Jim with the Army. John took me on a tour of the State including a visit to the old Ammo Depot at Sharjah; sadly never used after the British Jeft. The whole place is now derelict with a main road and roundabouts through the middle. From Dubai it was the long slog back into the Arabian sea and on to Jordan. Before commencing these longer distances all the exhibitors would leave the ship and fly to the next port as the ship couldn't carry the fresh water for all, consequently the troops could spread out in the accommodation and relax. In Jordan I met Lieutenant Colonel Ford and Staff Sergeant Dave Williams the only two RAOC reps there and spent the odd ' happy hour' with Dave in Aqaba. Aqaba was certainly the most picturesque port we visited surrounded by rugged mountains with Israel and Sinai desert just across the bay. On then, back through the Suez Canal (in a matter of hours) we arrived at Alexandria. A person may describe Alexandria as picturesque or colourful, a melting pot of many nationalities, an exciting extrovert city. That person would be misguided. The whole place is a crumbling, edifice of what once was and will perhaps never be again. The time came to leave Alexandria. The rain lashed down and the wind blew as the loading of the vehicles began. The port itself was closed to all shipping because of the ' shelf' at the harbour entrance which, if caught without enough water underneath it, would break a ships back. Nonetheless we had a tight schedule to keep for MV Viking Venturer was required to be back in service ferrying passengers across the Channel two days after our return. Once the ship was loaded we moved off along the ' fair- way ' whilst tugs strained to push any ships at anchor out of the way. It was a nerve racking business and the Master had to sign an indemnity certificate accepting any blame should the ship be damaged. Fortunately, we escaped unscathed though the Master says he aged ten years. Well it was almost all over. On the way back the exhibition was partly dismantled by contractors flown out from England. Fortunately the weather improved and we returned to our favourite pastime of ' taking in the rays.' We arrived back at Marchwood. It had been very difficult but interesting project for all concerned but by all accounts a very successful project for British Industry if all the superlatives on the many signals were to be believed. For me the provisioning, siting, stowing, accounting, dis- posal and technical control of all ammunition matters on a project such as this was a unique and very interesting task that usually occurs only once in a career. It's all going to happen again in two years, another voyage of mystery, so if you're nominated as the ' ammunition man ' give me a ring and I'll tell you some additional tales. — Lieutenant Colonel Hudson, Commanding Officer of 6 Ordnance Battalion, driving the first M l 7 Self Propelled Cun into 63 Ordnance Company. Photo P. Holdgate. Staff Sergeant Timothy Cole with his wife Olivia, daughter Sarah and son Andrew. Pictured in Storehouse Barracks after the presentation of the British Empire Medal by the M C R M Major General W i l k i n s . 174 — |
| Book number | R0406 |