RAOC Gazette - page 234
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 |
the only tackle allowed. The poor goldfish in the tank were in and out like a fiddlers elbow! Another successful social event was a games evening between the men and the ladies. Although not able to compete with the men at darts and crib, the ladies more than held their own at dominoes and showed who had the greater brainpower by completely dominating the general knowledge quiz. There are two new faces walking round Rochdale Barracks as we say welcome to our new Depot Corporal. Corporal Hoare, and our new Butchery Corporal, Corporal Stewart. We hope your tour with us will be a long and happy one. Finally this month the Company are girding their loins for the imminent return of our contribution to the SBS (Special Bakery Service) in the Falkland Islands Logistic Battalion. By the time these notes appear we will have welcomed back Lance Corporals Jenkins, Pritchard, Privates Hoare and Williams. STORES SECTION 3 TANK TRANSPORTER SQUADRON WORKSHOP OUR unit strength is five, consisting of W 2 Rick Delamont, Sergeant Robbie Robinson, Corporal Hodge Hodgson, Private Casper Weynberg, and Private Geordie Webb. On the sporting scene Rick is currently representing the Regiment at cricket and is to be joint coach of the Corps Foot- ball Team (BAOR). Rugby training has started in earnest as all we hear from the SSM is how to beat 16 Squadron. Hodge and Geordie are still trying to find out what the Fazacerly Trophy is. Casper is trying to start a paperclip tiddlywink league, but REME want to use their hammers. I am just receiving the story of ' Bjorn ' Robinson, the section's tennis ace, but I will have to wait for his return from Depot to discover the truth. Robbie is currently attending a Fire NCOs course. Postings out are W02 Shakeshaft, to 39 Regt Stores Section on promotion to WOl, congratulations, and Corporal Brewster to Viersen. Cood-bye CQMS. to transport troops and equipment across the channel to invade the British Isles! In truth, it is more likely to be an identical barge of the Weser gravel carrying type which were very common at the time. It is of very simple design, a riveted sheet metal hull with towing posts at the bow and stern. It is just as good at holding water in as keeping it out. For that reason it was installed in the barracks by the Germans as an emergency water tank. Forty years later the barge is still here, full of water, gold fish and lillies. It is a main attraction for visitors and it features in unit farewell ceremonies. This month we said farewell to two prominent members of the unit in traditional style, the CSM, W02 Finch and the CQMS, Staff Sergeant (now W02) Hampton. The CSM, a keen parascender, was introduced to the water- landing and the CQMS, after a short barge-side service was respectfully buried at sea. We are planning to say goodbye to Lance Corporal Lewis next week and the weather is getting colder. In a quieter vein we welcomed Staff Sergeant and Mrs Mullen, Corporal and Mrs Wilson (REME), Lance Corporal and Mrs Robinson and Corporal Ovenden (R Sigs) into the unit family. 64 ORDNANCE COMPANY THE visit of Brigadier Paviour was a very important date for our subaltern, Second Lieutenant Songhurst, who commanded the first ever 6 Ordnance Battalion Guard of Honour which met the Brigadier on his earlier arrival at Headquarters 6 Ord- nance Battalion. Both Mr Songhurst and the Guard were im- maculately turned out. Having seen Mr Songhurst perform it's not unreasonable to suggest that he may be given the | responsibility of teaching drill on the next Battalion RPC3 to 2 course! Don't worry Sir, we're only joking! Staff Sergeant Neal was dashing backwards and forwards to Sennelager ranges preparing his department for the Brigadier's visit and practicing to represent 6 Ordnance Battalion in the RAOC (BAOR) Skill-at-Arms Meeting. Although no silverware i was forthcoming he shot consistently enough to finish; eighteenth in the SLR competition, thirteenth in the SMG competition and sixteenth in the overall Individual Championship, there were eighty nine firers in the competition. One of our butchers. Sergeant Bolton, entered the RAOC (BAOR) Angling Championship and finished a very creditable runner up within his section and brought back a nice piece of silverware which now sits prominently behind the bar in the unit ! club. There were no stories of the one that got away because, listening to all accounts, the one fish that nearly got away was caught by Sergeant Bolton diving in fully clothed to retrieve it! The OC, Major Stone, has regularly been turning out for the RAOC (BAOR) XI and has been joined by Staff Sergeant Neal in the 6 Ordnance Battalion team which recently defeated 154 FAD in the DOS (BAOR) Cricket Cup. They now anxiously await the semi-final match against Ordnance Depot Antwerp at Antwerp. Since the re-opening of the unit club, Sergeant Quinn and Staff Sergeant Wormley have been organizing the entertainment for the Company. The recent spell of hot weather allowed them to organize a Families Day one recent Sunday afternoon. There were games in the childrens playground for the younger ones, games on the sports field for the older ones (dads), a treasure hunt around the barracks for the wives and a delicious barbeque. Another popular attraction was fishing in the static water tank with garden canes, a bit of twine, a hook and a worm being — RAOC in Cyprus is^ v ^ . . ^ HEADQUARTERS LAND FORCES I ^jp 1 ' HELLO ' from the shiny pants of the Island 1 J&-1. I (I'm not allowed to say what I really want to ^*^%_^g^/ say). No comments from us about the sun- ^ R d T 1 T J ^ J shine as we see that the UK is as hot as VVr yW Cyprus. ^ E # a ^ There have been a few changes since our ^^S^W last notes, all in Gl, 4 and 5 Divisions, so it ^ ^ ^ seems appropriate to start there. Staff Sergeant Tony Garland and Sergeant Dennis Johnson have departed and in their stead we welcome Sergeant Paddy Keating and Corporal Geordie Bird. To complete the set-up there have been a few promotions, that of Sergeant Bob Haynes whose status has been raised to Staff, and Corporal Tony Grins- dale who was elevated to Sarge. The WRAC contingent con- sists of Sergeant Lynda Richards (also promoted within the Branch) and Corporal Mary Carroll. Many congratulations to all. G2/3 Divisions long awaited move upstairs finally did materialise, we are now reunited as a Branch and a happy family atmosphere drifts somniferously along the corridor. Chief is still Staff Sergeant Harry Hay and Sergeant Bob Hodgon has had his leg plaster removed at last. Corporal Colin Jones continues to smile his way through the day and Corporal Simon Cockram just smiles—I'm sure they both know something we don't. Our Super Clerk, Conductor Ian Birchall must have a mention (he is the Boss after all). I'm delighted to say that he has completed his demolition of the Headquarters and other places too numerous to mention. After reading of the sporting achievements of other Head- quarters and Units in THE GAZETTE, I can quite proudly report that the Headquarters are all palooka, no sportsman of any standing. We are always too busy anyhow, and much prefer to use mental rather than physical strength. There was one achievement, thinking about it. Our ten pin bowling team did extremely well to avoid finishing bottom of the league—they finished next to bottom. Bye! HEADQUARTERS ORDNANCE SERVICES SOME of us have staged and played in the recent WSBA Tennis Championships run by Major Wright, the Unit achieved remark- able successes. Sergeant Stan Burke, true to form, won just about everything possible for a man, while in the Ladies Com- petition Mrs Katharine Bird and Mrs Jill Catt came home 195 — |
| Book number | R0406 |