Bob jangling a tin

         Mr. Bob White, late RAOC *  

The Vice President oversees the business of the Association, particularly with regard to reunions, and guides the Chairman on policy matters. The present Vice President is a retired Regular Army Warrant Officer Class I, and Territorial Army Officer. Having served at all three levels of the British Army he is ideally placed to undertake this role.

Notes on Bob White: 

Conductor Robert James WHITE was borne in Hartley Witney, Hampshire in 1939. Enlisting as a boy entrant in the RAOC in 1955, he was posted to Boys Wing, 1 Regular Training Battalion, Blackdown, Hants, rising to Junior Sergeant.

Transferring to Man’s Service in 1957, Bob was posted to 14 Battalion RAOC Didcot, before serving in  England, Cyprus, Germany and Bahrain.

Promoted WO1 (SSM) in late 1972, he was posted to HQ Army Air Corps and awarded Long Service & Good Conduct medal  (without gratuity) in the next year. In 1974 he was posted to Gibraltar as Fortress Ordnance Warrant Officer, and in 1976 was given the coveted appointment of Conductor RAOC and posted to HQ West Midlands District as District Ordnance Warrant Officer.

In July 1979, after 24 years service Bob took early retirement taken and vowed never to soldier ever again!

On 25^th April 1985, Bob attested (signed on) for service with D (Home Service Force) Company 15 Battalion RAOC at Command Ordnance Depot Donnington Shropshire, as a rifleman/private soldier. D Company was one of three HSF Batteries, Squadrons or Companies operating under the command of a Regular (full-time) Regiment or Battalion, the others being 347 (HSF) Squadron 11 Signals Regiment Royal Signals at Catterick North Yorkshire and 302 (HSF) Squadron 29 (Movement & Control) Regiment Royal Corps of Transport at South Cerney, near Cirencester.

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SECOND SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 30TH JUNE 1986 [Page 8718]  (http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/50583/supplements/8718/page.pdf)

On 1^st July 1986 Robert James White was commissioned as 2^nd Lieutenant RAOC (Territorial Army Group C), remarking that at just under 47 it was no wonder I received some strange looks, often mistaken for a Major! Subsequently all TA or Regular ex Warrant Officers appointed to a combat commission were to be probationary Lieutenant (military irony, just making the point). Bob gained his second pip in November of the same year.

In 1988, Bob’s HSF Company was transferred (rebadged) to the local Territorial Armoured recce regiment, The Queen’s Own Mercian Yeomanry (QOMY), becoming E (HSF) Squadron, based at Telford, Shropshire.

Even though the HSF was disbanding,  somehow Bob managed to keep a low profile, resigning his commission in January 1990.

In June 2002,  Bob attended his first “Conductors’ Day”, and in May 2003 received his Conductors Parchment, presented by Brigadier R Rook OBE ADC, Director Royal Logistic Corps

In 2004 Bob and his comrades from D Squadron spearheaded a campaign to create The Home Service Force Grove at The National Memorial Arboretum Alrewas Staffordshire and in 2010 took over from his former HSF Officer Commanding, Major (Retd) Guy Cockerton, as Association Vice President.

Bob is always seems to be busy and sometimes difficult to contact. Every so often, however, he seeks an update and keeps us on our toes.

Bob wishes it to be known that he “not on the committee”