RAOC Gazette - page 267
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 |
HEADQUARTERS COMPANY. We said goodbye to Captain Les Fagg and his good lady Babs at a marvellous Bar-B-Que evening held at the country residence of Mr and Mrs Nash (Gnasher to her friends). A good time was had by all. We welcome to Headquarters Company Captain and Mrs George Thomson from far flung 'A' Company; if you thought you had problems I nearly forgot to mention the OC again (I haven't got over the last admonishment for missing him out). Here it is then; Major Graham has been on Calvert Lake (again) for a few weeks dragging protesting would be helmsmen/women through sailing courses. It seems that only the two following difficulties arose throughout: First: W/Lance Corporal Babs Denny could not identify her craft. When told by OC that it was called a ' Bosun,' Babs, after every mistake on the water seemed to think it was a Frigate? Perhaps the wind muffled her words? Second: Mrs Graham (yes, wife of you know who) was also on the course, and according to sources the ' back seat driver' syndrome really caught her imagination. OC returned to work grey haired, twitching and muttering something about a ' yardarm'? Our sailboards are also seen on the lake, Wednesday after- noons, under the eagle eye of Sergeant Bert Dovell and this exciting sport is really catching on with the lads and lasses of 16 Battalion. One Wednesday we persuaded the oldest CSM in the RAOC to have a go; we lifted him out of his wheelchair and sat him gently onto a sailboard, we could see, he was enjoying himself by his chuckling and splashing the water with his gnarled and wrinkled old hands; well done, Sir. We are glad to see Corporal Ogden back from hospital again and fully hope that the trip to a hospital in London did the trick. Rumour has it he was rushed back here so as not to miss the fishing! Finally, and regretfully, our deepest sympathy is extended to Private and Mrs Bosworth on the sad loss of their daughter, Catherine. 'A' COMPANY. Earnest preparations are now under way to be ready for the BAOR exercise in October. Some reinforcements are now being posted in from Deepcut and Leconfield, including Privates Knight, Quinlan and Waterman. Sergeant Humphries has also arrived from Cyprus, although only for a short tour, prior to his retirement. We wish Privates Brimmicombe and Johnson the best of luck in finding worthwhile jobs on their discharge this month. Generally, employers are happy to provide a job for an ex-soldier, particularly if the soldier has specific skills (such as those gained by service in RAOC). An element of ' Falklands Spirit' is still felt by the com- munity at large. ' B ' COMPANY. Here at the sharp end, life continues at a brisk pace, under the new management of Captain Brian Errington-Weddle, who quickly took the reins and steered the Company on a smooth course during the turbulent summer' months of Adventure Training (courtesy of Headquarters Com- pany), exercise periods, when we cantered down to Camberley, and the hundred and one other administrative and management problems which assail us daily. Privates Scouse Mynes and Mark Hodgkinson were pleasantly surprised when they received field promotions to Lance Corporal on Exercise Camberley Canter. Congratulations to them both. Congratulations also to Staff Sergeant Paul Grant on his promotion to that rank. We say farewell and good luck to Captain Bill Tweddle who is posted to BAOR in order to improve their football, Lance Corporal Nick Neilson, posted to Northern Ireland, Private George Crayden, who almost made it to BAOR in his car, but for a slight misadventure at Dover! New arrivals include Captain Brian Errington-Weddle, Corporal Dave Morris, Lance Corporal Dougie Jarman (from BHQ), Privates Paul Hargate, Andrew Webb and Dale Rodger. Welcome one and all. ' D' COMPANY. Privates Heather Creighton and Sharon Hulbert spent two weeks together with five Cadets helping to run the Milton Keynes Playscheme. Canoeing, sailing and tent pitching were just three of the activities involved, all helped along with lashings of cam-cream! Calvert Lake provided a life on the Ocean Wave, when there was the occasional gust of wind for ' Yachties' Corporal Mandy McMillan, Corporal Babs Denney, Lance Corporal Juile Reed and Private Sue Street, under the watchful eyes of Major Mike Harris and Corporal Holt. Congratulations to all of the servicevvomen who passed their Elementary Helm. Corporal Holt saved the day for the becalmed windsurfers that week by towing them back to land from the centre of the lake. Better luck next time to all concerned, especially W02 Slaughter from Headquarters Company — perhaps he will eventually sail further than the jetty without capsizing the sailboard! The Urtifed Kingdom Mobile Force WHO are they? you must be asking. The United Kingdom Mobile Force is Britains second largest land force commitment to NATO. We are second only to the British Army of the Rhine. There are two separate Headquarters; Headquarters 1 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Logistic Support Group. Our notes will therefore be in two parts under these unit titles. - 1 , , _ . HEADQUARTERS 1 INFANTRY BRIGADE. It came as a bit of a jolt to the new S02 Sup, Major David Marks, when he was asked to compile THE GAZCTTE notes for an organisation he had recently joined and therefore about which he knew ' not a lot.' However, on his departure to Manchester, the outgoing S02 Sup, Major Colin Airdrie, was doubtless unperturbed know- ing that he left behind in Supply Branch no less than three founts of all knowledge, namely Captain Neil Jobbings (S03), WOl Barr (BOWO) and Lance Corporal Williams, clerk extra- ordinaire and longest serving member. Other RAOC members serving in the Brigade Headquarters are: WOl Alan Brookes (Supt Clerk), Staff Sergeant Bill Mc- Donald heading the G2/G3 Clerks—Corporals Mick Surch, Wally Watton, Lance Corporal Tony Cliffe and Private Byrne. The G1/G4 staff consists of Sergeant Pete Owen, Corporal Ray Prince and Privates Steve Fazakerley and Andy Wood. The Headquarters staff successfully retained the Brigade five-a-sidc football trophy for the third successive year, won the inter troop cross country and came second in the inter troop swimming competition—creditable performance for a small RAOC element in a very large Signal squadron! In the Tidworth Marathon event, Sergeant Owen finished twenty fifth—not bad considering he walked the whole way in preparation for the National ' Walking' Championships. The remaining clerical staff entered the half marathon and all finished except, that is, those unfortunates chosen to perform various admin tasks on the day! Congratulations are in order for Captain Jobbings on his recent marriage to Lynne at St Pauls Cathedral (name dropping) and to the following for the less harrowing achievement of passing various courses; Lance Corporal Cliffe—Bl upgrading, Privates Byrne and Fazakerley—B2 upgrading and to Corporal Watton—RPC2. Life is not all sport and romance however; already this season no less than five exercises have been undertaken with an FTX in Denmark looming very close; no doubt there will be many a tale to relate next time. HEADQUARTERS LOGISTIC SUPPORT GROUP. The Com- mander is Colonel W. R. Barker (late RCT). The only RAOC officer in the Headquarters is Major Gordon Geddie who joined us last year as S02 Sup vice Major (now Lieutenant Colonel) Richard Tregarthen who is currently sunning himself in Saudi Arabia. Major Geddie is almost recovered from the shock to his system brought on by a posting to Tid- worth after three years in Pennsylvania. The other RAOC personnel in the Headquarters are all staff clerks: Staff Sergeant Tom Ormiston the Chief Clerk, Sergeant Jim McAleavy G1/G4, Sergeant Tom Bennett G2/G3 (congratulations to him on his recent promotion), Private Patrick (Mac) McAllister G2/G3 and Private David Reason. This ' pride' of staff clerks looks after six staff officers which at first sight may seem a rather easy task. But be warned before you volunteer for a ' sinecure ' in Headquarters LSG. On deploy- ment the Headquarters blossoms! The past year or so has been a pretty turbulent period with Op Corporate being the main event. The Headquarters did not actually go but we ' stood to ' and ' stood down ' so many times we might as well have. Exercise Bold Guard 82 was the other main event in our year. The exercise went well until the last day in the field, when ENDEX was given. The CP and all its cells closed down, packed up and departed. Unfortunately, someone had forgotten that the Chief Clerk and his crew were also in the field and they were left sitting amongst typewriters, photocopiers and Thomas bins for a few hours while some wheels were found. — 222 — |
| Book number | R0406 |