RAOC Gazette - page 302
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 |
Training? No, the Admin Officer trims the tree which reached from the pool, through a wall, over the security fence and on to the airport road flyover. By mid day people were venturing out, and the damage could be seen. Throughout Hong Kong and the New Territories damage was severe, but the loss of life was luckily quite low. The warning number eight was withdrawn early on the Friday evening. Blackdown Barracks and the Depot looked quite a mess on Saturday. Structural damage was limited to some cladding off the storage buildings, the roof of the QMs, the swimming pool wall and a lot of windows. Because we got the maximum into covered storage, vehicle damage was limited. The main casualty being our unit coach which got in the way of a free flying radio mast and is unlikely to be available for some time! The sad part of Saturday morning was surveying the absolute havoc wrought by Ellen on Blackdown's trees. At least half of our maturing trees were blown down and hurled about, and nearly all the others were more than severely pruned. It took days to clean the place up, but it will take years to replace that so welcome greenery. Some statistics on Typhoon Ellen: The storm warning number eight and Hurricane ten signals were in force for twenty five hours, during which we had only twelve inches of rain, but driven by winds of up to one hundred and thirty miles per hour. In and around Hong Kong twenty eight ocean going ships were either sunk or driven aground, whilst in the local pleasure boat centres more than one hundred and fifty boats, including our unit Junk, suffered the same fate. At least seventeen people died as a result of this typhoon, which left many families home- less, particularly in the squatter areas. For the Ammunition Sub-Depot personnel, living in the middle of the ' Fragrant Harbour' was no joke either during the typhoon. However, apart from a massive blow down of trees and tons of sand and debris (including a very bloated pig) land- ing where least wanted—on jetties, roads and in the swimming pool—damage was superficial. The only injury was to the 2IC, Major Stan Woods, who suffered from ' over-stretch ' (of aged muscles) sustained in the post typhoon clear up of his property! CORPS WEEKEND 1984 A Corps Weekend centred on the Headquarters RAOC Training Centre, Deepcut, is to be held from 1st to 3rd June 1984 inclusive. Whilst the majority of events will take place at Deepcut, the weekend will incorporate the Travers Clarke Athletics competition to be held in the Military Stadium Aldershot. The following is an outline of the likely programme of activities: — Friday 1st June—Officers Club Ball to be held in HQ RAOC Officers Mess, WOs and Sergeants function to be held in HQ RAOC Sergeants Mess, and a Junior Ranks function in the Cannon Club. Saturday2ndJune—Training Battalion and Depot Passing Out Parade, Travers Clarke Athletics and Beat- ing Retreat. Functions for Officers, Senior Ranks and Junior Ranks in their respective Messes. Sunday 3rd June—Church Parade and Curry lunches. To ease the problems associated with long distance travel every effort will be made to provide overnight accommodation for those requiring it and additionally it is intended to set up a caravan park. The intention is that the weekend shall be a Corps family affair and to this end, the needs of children will be catered for. The Corps Weekend, which will be administered and organised by the Commander HQ Training Centre, is a new venture, the success of which will depend very largely upon the support it receives, especially from members of the Corps and their families serving in the United Kingdom. Further details will be published in THE GAZETTE later. — 251 — |
| Book number | R0406 |