RAOC Gazette - page 284
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 |
ASM Maint Avn next door has been roped into the cycling team as well—no doubt to do on the spot punctures and other repairs! I suppose this dubious combo could be the first cycle borne AMG/MSD. 7 FLIGHT AAC. The picture shows Corporal Brown in his official capacity as Fire NCO demonstrating how he put out aircraft fires during the Berlin Airlift! He arranged a teach in, with the Aircrewmen using the fire extinguishers themselves and then set fire to some part of the airfield so the lads could put it out using some of the tenders they have at Gatow. The morning was very educational and enjoyable as most of the Air- troopers and Lance Corporals hadn't done this sort of thing before. THE GAZETTE Sergeants Phil James and Mick O'Harc should he celebrating promotion to Staff Sergeant. Over in Gl /G^ Staff Sergeant Colin Wykes deservedly passed his EPC(A) and now eagerly awaits his posting order. Staff Strgcant John Smith knows where and when he is going, downstairs on promotion to take over from W02 Laurence Rich in JSIS. l.aurcncc then dis- appears to Bielefeld on promotion. Congratulations to every- body. This month we have seen changes in some of our senior personnel. Major Hodgcns has departed for Aldershot. Captain Harcourt for Lisburn and WO I Ncwsham for civvy street. Wc welcome Captain Lilley and WOl (Cdr) Ncal who arc welcome reinforcements to Supply Branch. 12 FLIGHT AAC FAACO. Corporal Pete Yardley has now settled in; recently the Coca-Cola Company organised a four by two mile relay at RAF Wildenrath. Corporal Pete Yardley ran for 12 Flight's ' B ' Team, and although he didn't come first (or even one hundred and first) he put in a good personal time. As he said himself he's built for comfort not speed. All in all it was a good afternoon enjoyed by everyone. The only thing to mar the event was the rain. Composite Ordnance Depot Hong Kong OUR notes this month arc dominated by the Depot annual Summer Camp, which was held at Erskinc Training Camp, a beautiful and peaceful site over- looking the South China Sea. well away from Blackdown Barracks and the noise and bustle of Kowloon. The camp was in three phases, the first for children and the next two Ordnance Services Cyprus for the soldiers. The camp was run by the Admin Officer. Major John Livingstone, and his team which comprised Lieu- AS the Summer holidays drew to an end leave tenants Goldic and Simpson, Second Lieutenant Maybcry and and families appeared uppermost in our minds. CSM Cook, plus numerous others who attended as instructors. On a sunny Saturday recently RAOC families Most activities were of an adventurous training nature, and in- Island-wide gathered at the Corps Beach Hut cluded abseiling, orienteering, canoeing, dinghy sailing and for a day of lighthearted fun and games. A board sailing, with the military also enjoying gas chamber splendid day of excesses: food. wine. It's a tests, IS drills—including VCP practice—radio training, and Knockout and an evening disco was organised various training lectures and films. by the Stores and Vehicle Depot. Eddie Waring During the week of the children's Summer Camp we were watch out—Staff Sergeant Barry Salway is after grateful for the assistance of six mums, who were appointed your job! team supervisors. They also became (unwilling?) participants The fun has not prevented the start of a visit by a Work in many of the activities! Even though the strain on the mums Study Team, the conclusion of a visit by the Defence Auditors, may have been great, the children obviously enjoyed their two trips to UK by the 2IC and the bi-annual audit boards, to week! Second Lieutenant Richard Maybcry and W02 Jim sav nothinc of the extra work involved in supporting Reid came in for some abuse on the nature walk after they BRITFORLEB. took the wrong turning with their group, and ended up walking Staff Sergeant Mick Brough is at present training the Unit down a stream bed! Their excuse was "we were just following Tug-of-War team whilst the Chief Coach. W02 Dave Leach the kids?" Lieutenant Julian Simpson—a very large officer who absents himself on Walkabout training. As part of that training, dwarfed all the kick (and staff)—was quickiy named " the jolly- the now ' famous ' four—Stanton. Curtis. Long and Devlin, green giant." He has since returned to the UK but whether to started the season well by winning the Caledonian Climb. During Shrivenham or a new career in TV commercials is not clear! the same week Sergeant Stan Burke won the Army Tennis Open The soldiers enjoyed their camp as well: everyone agreed it Singles Championship and, ably assisted by Major John Wright, was great to get away from the fumes and smoke of Kowloon. the Regimental Doubles title. and breathe relatively fresh air. Needless to say. evening activity Finally congratulations are extended to Corporal Nick was more lively than in the children's week. However, people Bowdler on his promotion to that rank. were made to exercise their brains in the evening, as well as their right arms, with a quiz, command tasks, and lectures on such diverse topics as Nuclear Deterrence and Insurance which, on reflection, are not diverse at all. British Forces Hong Kong Also this month we report on the Blackdown swimming HEADQUARTERS club, which grew out of ' the Polywogs.' This is run by dedicated . '\ A mixed bag of news from Headquarters coach Staff Sergeant Graham Robertson, whose three times ^^^^ British Forces Hong Kong this month. The weekly beasting of his willing sufferers has so far produced no T ^y^^^M b'Sgest news item must be Typhoon Ellen less than one hundred and forty awards: seventy four for ! ' ^ j r f e ^ W B which came by Hong Kong early in Sep- distance swims including a non-stop ten thousand metres, and j «^i» ' tember. Most of the Headquarters person- also sixty six ASA survival awards from the bronze medal up l_±__ •..•~ r Zt••':..-• '• n e ' escaped with minor damage at home but to the season's three champions: holders of the Honours Award: " "* the typhoon created much damage and Ten' Livingstone (eleven years), Nicholas Balsdon (fourteen years) devastation throughout the territory. The emergency services and Major Mike Davison (over twenty one!). coped admirably, and apart from damaged trees lying along the We also have underway our adventurous training expedition roadsides life returned back to normal very quickly. ' Exercise Jungle Heights IV.' which is currently in Brunei Although summertime is the season for typhoons it is also attempting to climb Mount Kinabalu the hard way. The the season for Junk Trips. Individual branches close down for leader, Captain Doug Doherty, left Hong Kong resplendent in odd days and disappear into the wild blue yonder. The Superin- solar helmet. Let's hope it provides sufficient protection to his tendent Clerk took his trip courtesy of Headquarters Gurkha brain to allow him to write the next article for THE GAZETTE! Field Force, surprising some of the things he gets up to! Arrivals this month to whom we say welcome are: Lance This months military-training-with-a-difference was the BFT. Corporal Cliff Conway and Sergeant Steve and Mrs Carol Moor- Brigadier Hodges, our Deputy Comd/COS tasked the GSM with house. We bid farewell and good luck to Staff Sergeant Paul organising the BFT for the whole of the Headquarters one Wilkie, and Sergeant Vince Haley and their families. Friday morning. The whole Headquarters paraded together at 0800, and at precisely calculated times started the test at staggered times. The RN Captain-in-Charge Hong Kong fired K u w a i t Liaison Team the ' starting pistol' while the rest of the sailors looked on in amused amazement. However, the best part of the test was HEADQUARTERS. The Headquarters is made up of one still to come. After the run, a dip in the swimming pool followed Colonel, two RAOC Staff Clerks, one REME Clerk, one RAPC by a champagne breakfast. A rather unique way of doing the Sergeant and one RAF Sergeant. Just about the right ration—one BFT and a very pleasant one too. Officer to five Other Ranks! WOl Stewart McNaughton is the Admin Officer and he is not happy as he has had to retire And so to our personalities. By the time our notes are in — 237 — |
| Book number | R0406 |