RAOC Gazette - page 318
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 |
11 Ordnance Battalion (EOD) BATTALION HEADQUARTERS. A seemingly endless stream of builders, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and painters come and go as the Headquarters building gets a facelift and much needed extension to accommodate us all. Thankfully the noisiest tasks are now complete, although the sound of drilling must have awakened a dormant infestation in the roof space. The Hygiene Team were called in to rid us of the problem. Not only did they cure the infestation, they also considerably improved the ventilation by falling through the suspended ceiling in several places and, on departure, reversed their car into a verandah support. All this added a further four figures to the overall bill much to the delight of the DOE. Captain Paul Simpson, our Operations Officer, managed to get away from all the commotion by organising himself a three week course in the United States, followed swiftly by a week's R and R in Corfu! In the Joint Service EOD Ops Centre, Corporal Steve Turner has also managed an escape by gaining promotion to Sergeant and moving to our Catterick Detachment. Con- gratulations. For those left behind, Staff Sergeant Mick Warden, complete with commando look, continues to whip them into shape. Recompense for time spent on ' O ' Groups in local hostelries perhaps! 521 COMPANY. We welcome the following: Lance Corporals Dave Barr, Geoff Mayhew (R Signals) to Catterick, Corporal Grimshaw to Liverpool and Sergeant Dave Cotterill on transfer from 621 Company in exchange for Staff Sergeant Bob Clay. August brought our second Australian visitor, W02 Brian Norton attached on Exercise Long Look. Strangely enough as he arrived the sun disappeared, bringing the seasons first crop of woolley pullies. Corporal Steve Arnold has finally received his new Transit from the MT Fairy, Wentworths Van Hire profits should plunge over the next few months. The Clerical support in the Headquarters, namely Mrs Sandy Sixsmith and Mrs Chris Dyson recently achieved a first in * conning' money from the OC to purchase ' office equipment' to keep them warm in the coming months! CATTERICK DETACHMENT. The main topic of the period is the 521 Company Summer Camp spectacular, thinly veiled as the Death March from Tenko. Day one saw Catterick Detachments happy band of campers leave in a luxury minibus, courtesy of the RCT, on their way to Garelochhead. Lance Corporal Geoff Mayhew, bleep of some repute, led the community singing. Day two started early with an Orienteering yomp in the Himalayan foothills, with the going described as from very heavy to stood still. This was followed by a nature ramble along the 'West Highland Way.' That night in the bar, various members were seen to be walking in a peculiar way, as knee joints and ankles finally seized. Day three was less strenuous with various enjoyable activities. Our Australian cousin initially went sea fishing, but ended up mud wrestling with a mammoth rag worm that was definitely not interested in fishing. Day four continued as for day three, except an early finish saw transport of various natures heading South, East and other points of the compass. Final score, Captain Geoff Lynn—two ankles gone, Corporal Steve Arnold—one ankle gone, ' Q ' Jim Howe and Sergeant Charlie Welbourne will never win ' Come Dancing' again, and the rest of the ground crew are hoping Catterick organises the next hill walking camp in Holland. LIVERPOOL DETACHMENT. Once again Liverpool Detach- ment decisively beat all opposition during the Orienteering/ Survival exercise in the wilds of Scotland, with W02 Dave Couling and Lance Corporal ' M a c ' Logie leading the field. They are now the proud owners of Thermos flasks so generously donated by Headquarters, as prizes for their efforts. It is suspected that it is part of a Headquarters plot to cut down on travel claims. Mention must be made of Staff Sergeant John Howard's triple somersault with a half pike followed by underwater ski-ing when the steering on Sergeant Chris Naylor's power boat broke at thirty five miles per hour. Staff Sergeant Pete Newman dashed! to their aid on sail board but his offer of a tow was refused by Major Swindley when he demanded salvage rights according to Maritime Law. EDINBURGH DETACHMENT. We of the Edinburgh Detach- ment would like to point out that contrary to popular belief, life has been anything but quiet recently. The recent Exercise Big Fish was sponsored and organised by this Detachment and 521 Company now know all about the Highlands and the ' Wee Walks.' We have recently embarked upon a vigorous regimental and physical training programme to see us through into the New Year. All this coupled with providing nightly EOD cover for the Edinburgh Tattoo, as well as cover for the Royal Family at Elgin and Aberdeen has left us with just enough time for the production of these notes. If any copies of THE RAOC GAZETTE find their way down under to those on Exercise Long Look we send our regards to WOl Pickford with the message, " Come back soon, all is forgiven." 621 COMPANY. It has been a busy time since our last contribution to THE GAZETTE, with the change over of OCs, all be it only temporarily due to the continued game of musical chairs within the unit. The silly season was brought to its end by our Adventurous Training Exercise in North Wales. The first day and a half went according to plan, but then the rain set in causing landslides and the worst flooding for seventeen years. This resulted in most members becoming wet outside for a change instead of just inside. During the first days activities a few new stars in the Company came to light. Staff Sergeant Bob Clay, having spent more time under his canoe than in it, applied to change his trade to submariner. It did, however, make a good teaching point for WOl Graham Lightfoot and Staff Sergeant John Earey who were the Company canoe specialists for the exercise. Staff Sergeant Chris Edgeworth got the wrong meaning of the in- struction ' circle Lake Gwynant.' For he kept going round in small circles, unable to travel in a straight line. Meanwhile others in the party had already travelled one third of the total distance around the shores of the Lake. Rock climbing and abseiling were supervised by Lieutenant Wilkinson from Depot and Training Battalion, to whom we extend our thanks. The star on the rocks was Sergeant Malcolm Hook who gave an excellent demo on how to unfasten your belt halfway down a one hundred and ten foot abseil rope! The only new arrival is our new caretaker OC, Major Charles Jackman who has joined us from somewhere called Pendine in South Wales. We have said farewell to Lance Corporal Dave Burgess who has now joined RM Log unit having successfully completed the selection course. 721 COMPANY. 721 Company has almost returned to normal following our company exercise. The deep sea fishermen have returned with tales of sharks and other large fish, all of which escaped the hook and line. The America's cup is in no danger, after one day's sailing ended up with both crews paddling across the reservoir. I'm sure that it is against the rules. Sergeant John Mackle has discovered a novel way of in- specting the underside of a Scout Helicopter. You must be two hundred feet up in the air, and then dangle from a rope whilst being suspended from the helicopter. Definitely different. W02 Joe Lundy has at long last been posted from 721 Com- pany all the way to 621 Company. We wish him well in his new appointment and expect to see him on all the exercises. Welcome back to Captain Gary O'Sullivan after his swan across the water, and Sergeant Min Mansell after his holiday in the Falklands. Welcome to the Hereford Detachment Sergeant Steve Holmes and Corporal Tom Povey and his family. Farewells are always sad but Mr Ted Gunby, the Chief Clerk of the Company has retired after long and arduous duty under the command of many SATOs. We all wish Ted and his family a happy long retirement. Logistic Support Battalion A M F ( L ) _ _ _ _ , _ , BATTALION HEADQUARTERS. Since our AMFL, / l a s t e n t r v m e Battalion has completed the ARU, ^f{j3~J enjoyed some well earned leave and taken part in firfUS?* Exercise Ample Express in Denmark. The ARU Jffi?Cffi"j was notable for an NBC attack mounted from T\£>f<Z? H microlytes while the whole Battalion was on \r^lil*i parade. Major Steele, W02 Perry and Lance \ If / Corporal Castle were members of the Battalion \ / y Headquarters team which undertook the com- ^•S mand tasks devised by the Supply Company. The team acquitted itself well despite having eight natural born leaders. AMF(L) COMPANY. The Battalion Open Day organised by Captain Storey, was a great success. Mrs Blakeway took ' It's a Knockout' literally on the water slide (she made a speedy recovery). Sergeants Martin and Turner organised a water game with balloons which provided an interesting spectacle, particularly with the girl team members! 265 — |
| Book number | R0406 |