Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 218

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 an anxious period in the Brigade, with the Chief Clerk checking
his chair and desk every morning and Lance Corporal Parkes
has developed a nervous twitch and a habit of wearing body
armour in the office.
STORES SECTION 41 COMMAND
WORKSHOP
THIS MONTH saw the handover of OC to Captain Tony
Parry from Headquarters RAOC 1st British Corps.
This month too has seen a fair spate of visits in the form of
Commander Supply, Lieutenant Colonel Rees, interested to see
the re-organised Stores area, and Mr Tony Tallents, head of
secondary depots section Bicester, ensuring that the introduction
of stage three of the Stockage Support System was running
smoothly.
Also noteworthy is Mr Ulett's successful completion of the
RAOC Practical Packaging course recently held at Donnington
and last but not least congratulations to Miss Dawn Smith
promoted to Clerical Officer and posted to UPRO York.
STORES SECTION ASMT WORKSHOP
LECONFIELD
WE are sorry to say goodbye to Mrs Pat Hickman who has left
to take up a post at RPO York. We wish you well Pat, and
we would like to welcome Miss Avril Goodrum, may her stay
be a happy one.
Both WOl Fletcher and Sergeant Jim Coleman attended
Summer Camp and as usual it was hot everywhere except the
Ranges that stayed under a damp sea mist, which cleared just
enough for the classification to take place.
Eastern District
LIEUTENANT COLONEL HUGH HEAP
has quit for the wilds of Warwickshire,
handing over to Lieutenant Colonel Roger
Hurles fresh from the land of the penguin
and extreme cold weather clothing, whose
first and most pleasant task was to report
to the Palace for the award of the OBE.
Not for many years, if ever, has this branch
housed so much distinction in the form of
one OBE and two MBEs among our three
military officers with a further MBE held
by the DFA.
W02 Joe Redman is recovering his sanity after working at
Lowestoft on the Accommodation Barge ' Pursuivant,' now on
its way to the Falklands to provide a floating home for the
Garrison. One of his more eye-crossing tasks was the sorting,
identifying and labelling of eight thousand keys for the cabins,
cupboards and lockers in the vessel, but he is expected to make
a complete recovery—eventually.
In the outstations our three OSUs are in the hands
respectively of Major David Ward at Old Dalby, where the
customers are beginning—very cautiously—to appreciate his
sense of humour and fun; Mr Peter Banks from Donnington
at OSU Colchester and Mr Jim Watt presides with an air of
Norfolk dignity at OSU Thetford. Major Brian Smith is at the
Supply/Ammunition Depot to which he cycles daily from his
home nearby. The ASU is in the capable hands of Major
John Crawford and his henchmen—Major Ken Binns, Tom
Britton and Dick Furainger in Colchester, with Captain John
Dale manning the frontiers at Chilwell.
In the world of RAOC Stores Sections we hold a strong
hand in this District, where at 8 Field Workshops Lieutenant
Chris Blong has recently relieved Lieutenant Mark Whitaker,
and at 40 Field Regiment where WOl Frank Fallon is in
residence. WOl George Mather has recently taken over at 39
Engineer Regiment from WOl Pete Coull who is bound for
the land of penguin and ECW clothing, while at 36 Command
Workshop WOl Alan Carroll is the lucky one to have caught
the rebuild of the Stores Section. Finally, at JARIC we are
represented by W02 Stew Jackson who joined ex-RMAS.
32 ORDNANCE
COMPANY
SINCE our last edition the unit has been involved in many extra
curricular activities. Taking these in chronological order the
following has occurred:
A small detachment from the Company, led by the OC,
ably assisted by ACSM Corporal Dave Mansfield and ACQMS
Corporal Rog Cameron went on exercise. After a short period
a cry for help was heard by the rear party for buckets of
mosquito repellent and miles and miles of D10. The weather
proved to be an enemy on Brave Bagheera, especially whilst
wearing NBC suits. The mosquitos eventually won the war,
much to our relief and the Company on ENDEX returned to
Collie.
On the sporting scene the unit athletics team came a very
creditable second in the Eastern District Athletics. A special
mention of Corporal Dave Mansfield and Lance Corporal Ginge
Hannibal who both came first in their respective events. We
would also like to mention that the team was invited to take
part in the Army Minor Units Championships. End of mention!
The unit also has a cricket team!
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the
OC, Major John Regan on his selection for promotion. Officers
promotions are a well kept secret until 0900 hours the day of
release! The OC was called to Eastern District at 0845 hours
that fatal day. In his absence the scribes, through their many
reliable contacts, were in on the said promotion, and decided to
congratulate the OC in their own special way. They promoted
' Teddy,' our unit mascot to Lieutenant Colonel and placed him
in the OCs chair. On his return a cry was heard from ' Clueless
Corridor' (Company Headquarters less Chief Clerk's Office) ' CQ
how the hell did you find out?'
A few days later the Company deployed to Kineton on
Summer Safari, where the unit set up various stands and hosted
seventy five students from Welbeck College, and, various other
dignitaries and WRAC. The first round Unit General Knowledge
Quiz was held at Kineton headed by Captain Ted Lloyd-Jukes.
Watch this space for final results. We would like to thank all
members of CAD Kineton for their kind cooperation and
assistance in making this an enjoyable week. A special thanks
to all the WRAC girls who participated in the sports evening
at Kineton! All readers who are familiar with the TV
advertisement for Del Monte Fresh Orange Juice will appreciate
the ENDEX finale by the unit to the OC. On a cue from the
CQMS the company, on parade, on hearing " Major Regan he
say Yes!" there was a sudden cascade of oranges in the OCs
direction.
The Mobile Bath Unit worked by Privates Tunski, Walsh
and Jackman has just returned from Greenham Common.
Their task there was to shower the personnel inside the wire and
not those outside!
Congratulations, or should it be commiserations to Sergeant
Mick Diskin. His wife has presented him with a baby girl
just recently. Now that Mick has three daughters he is think-
ing of trying again, hopefully for a boy.
We say farewell this month to Sergeant Prosser (Pay
Sergeant), Lance Corporal Stenzil, Privates Boulton, Bridger, D.
W. Currie, S. Currie and Timmins. We would like to welcome
back Staff Sergeant Colvill and Lance Corporal Mason from
the Falklands and Lance Corporal Clarke and Private Jones
from Canada. A warm welcome goes out to Staff Sergeant Allen
and Private Pilkington both from Germany, we hope you enjoy
your stay here.
North West District
HEADQUARTERS
FORAYS to the various units, in our far
flung empire, continue apace. The Com-
mander Supply visited the Army Fire
Brigade at Longtown recently, and had
great pleasure in presenting Long Service
and Good Conduct Medals to Leading Fire-
man Mills, Firemen Scott and Townson.
Congratulations to you all. We welcome
our new DOWO, W02 R. W. Waller and
say farewell to W02 Preen, on his posting
to TSAB at Blackdown.
STORES SECTION 42 COMMAND WORKSHOP REME. On
the sporting front, the mood has changed after last months
optimism, and a doleful gloom pervades the air. The three
budding athletes were all soundly thrashed at the Civil Service
Sports Competition, leading to complaints that the opposition
must have practiced! Mavis Campbell pulled a muscle, so the
daily tennis is cancelled until further notice. The greatest
disaster of all befell the OC, he has had his golf clubs stolen!
Judging by the dark mutterings one ascertains that if he
managed to meet the culprit one dark night, evil deeds would
be done! Comment that perhaps his golfing score will improve
now that he has lost his biggest handicap does not help. Rumour
has it that Jean Thornton is back to sixty a day!
OSU BURSCOUGH.
The 2IC Major Gordon, finds himself
wearing three hats yet again while the OC OSU Burscough—
Major Martin, is on leave. He sits in the temporary chair of
OC at Burscough while keeping his 2IC to Comd Sup and S02
Sup (Cbt) hats firmly in place. Mr Shotton, the 2IC, can be
forgiven for informing telephone callers that the OC Major
Martin-Gordon is walking the Depot!
— 181 —
Book number R0406