Page 6 - Chiron 2024

The birth of a standard
by Pauline Clark
Iexpect some of you are wondering why there is a memorial plaque in The Royal
Army Veterinary Corps plot in Westminster Abbey every year-for a civilian dog, let me tell you of our remarkable friend Boomer, born in 1979. He was a big, black, long-haired dog, being a first cross Newfoundland and a German Shephard Dog (GSD) a very special companion to our son Daniel.
He was the one who got Daniel walking; Daniel even named him Boomer, his previous being Fluffy. It was in May 1982 that the dreadful Hyde Park nail bomb, took the lives of four of the Blues and Royals alongside seven of their magnificent black horses, as well as injuring countless soldiers and their horses, the worse being Sefton.
It was in November 1982 an article appeared in, The Dog’s Monthly magazine, it was about the role
the animals played in the first and second world
And Remount Services, coat of arms or emblem, poppies for the memory of the fallen men and women who served alongside the animals, and this slogan I found most appropriate: Remember also the humble beasts that served and died.
The materials were: needle, thread which had to be both strong and colour fast, so embroidery silk was my choice as it came in over 500 shades and kept its colour and did not fade. The task began... having no skills at sewing I first had to learn how to embroider, and was given a book on teach yourself embroidery, so I set about learning how to sew animals onto cloth. As I had no idea what the R.A.V.A.R.S crest looked like I went to RBL and asked to borrow one of theirs to copy, it took 18 months to finish making the flag IT was on remembrance day, I took the flag and our dog Boomer, up to London to take part in the march past the cenotaph but on arrival
Boomer’s salute to the fallen
they were not a fighting troop, being only ceremonial, so did not have the same reverence that was held for a soldier who was in the main at risk of being killed in action!
Undeterred, I set about my quest, to bring the animals and personnel of all regiments including The Royal Army Veterinary Corps, that served with and died alongside, fellow troops in all conflicts, on all shores, the respect and reverence shown to others in times of war. The standard has had a long, interesting journey, to become a symbolic memorial to all animals and those of the R.A.V.C. R.S to who we owe so much, thank- you from the bottom of all our hearts, and with reverence we will remember them all.
In loving memory Boomer-aka- Fluffy of Kenstaff the dog who marched with pride and who is remembered in the royal army veterinary corps plot every year for which my son and I will feel truly honoured.
wars, also the
role of the Army
Veterinary and
The Medical
Corp were
to play, as I
was not born
then, I had
no idea how they helped us. So,
on reading about their work my thoughts turned to how I would
be the best way to commemorate. Creatures of the land, sea, and air,
in war time. I decided that to design and make a flag, would be the best way to go about it, so with the help and guidance of a few members
of the RBL and others, I set about designing it. First, I needed to find
a suitable fabric, it had to be strong, durable and of the right colour, I chose a dark mid blue, jute canvas. The design had to incorporate these animals; horse, dog, elephant, camel, pigeon and cat, it also needed the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
at the Horse Guards was told to “Get that filthy dog off my parade ground now!” undeterred, I replied “You’re here to represent
the people who died, he’s (Boomer)
here to represent the animals who
died” as I said that the very senior gentleman said it would be an honour to have us march alongside the men and women who were there to remember their fallen friends and fellow soldiers who were lost in two world wars. After the march past I went to the gardens of remembrance at Westminster Abbey to look for the plot for the Blues and Royals, with
a view to placing 4 crosses on their plot in memory of the four who died in the Hyde Park bombing there
was no plot for them, they were not mentioned, when I enquired as to why, I was told they did not matter as
“You’re here to represent
the people who died, he’s (Boomer) here to represent the animals who died”
4 / Chiron Calling