Page 105 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
CHAPTER 6
The RAVC in Aldershot: Our Spiritual Home
In 1854 the remote village of Aldershot was se- lected as a training base for the British Army. Within a few years it had become the most fa- mous military establishment in the world. This spiritual home of the RAVC was also the cen- tre for life-changing diagnostic agents and the place frequented by royalty beginning with Her Majesty Queen Victoria and then her successors Edward VII and George V who regularly stayed at the royal residence on site. The story of this unique military base is interwoven with a crucial period in the history of the Corps.
At the commencement of the period covered in this volume – from 1962 to 2021 – the Army Veterinary and Remount Service (AVRS) came under the aegis of the Quartermaster General through the Veterinary and Remount Directorate. At this juncture, the organisation and structure of the Directorate was as follows: the RAVC Training Centre and Depot; RAVC School and Stores; RAVC Dog Training Units; RAVC Record Office; Veterinary Hospitals; Remount Depots; Veterinary and Remount Sections; Veterinary Pharmacies; Livestock Depots; Meat Inspection Sections and, finally, Base Depot Veterinary Stores.
The duties of the AVRS were broadly, threefold. Firstly, to supply all animals required for Service in the Army during war and peacetime, to provide for their veterinary care, treatment and general welfare. Secondly, the Directorate was principally responsible for the training of all dogs and the initial training of horses, mules and other military animals. Thirdly, the Directorate was to provide the training of other personnel of the Armed Forces in dog handling, advanced equitation, farriery and saddlery, animal management and veterinary First Aid. Additional responsibilities were to inspect all animals that were earmarked for slaughter for the Armed Services and to inspect fresh meat that was to be consumed by the Armed Services.1
Mention of the RAVC will, to most civilians, almost always conjure a picture of a soldier and a Military Working Dog but the RAVC School and
Stores, based in Aldershot, had a much wider remit. It provided training in atomic, bacterial and chemical warfare relevant to animals; in laboratory techniques; X-ray practice; radiotherapy; the breeding and management of laboratory animals and, finally, in the provision and accounting of veterinary stores for Junior Veterinary Officers and specially selected other ranks of the RAVC. The Stores were also responsible for the purchase, custody and issue of all veterinary instruments, appliances, equipment, medicines, dressings, and any other veterinary related material.
The RAVC Laboratory was responsible for many examples of important research that had worldwide impact. It was a was responsible for the necessary morbid specimens required for the field and laboratory investigation of disease; the preparation of biological diagnostic agents such as Mallein, sera and vaccines and the examination of rations supplied for animals. Additionally, that they were suitable in quality for consumption; managing the Laboratory Animal Production Unit and, lastly, examining specimens for poisons and poisoning.2
The Corps Journal of 1962 covered several stories that provide a flavour of the varied activities taking place on the Aldershot site at the start of this Cold War decade. It reported on the changeover of civilian staff at Gallwey Road, and that the ‘School’ had taken part in two major shows, the first being the annual Aldershot Show at Rushmoor Arena where the Farriery Competition was run with great success by all concerned, and secondly a new venture in Aldershot – The Army in the 60s Exhibition in which many Regiments, including the RAVC, displayed and demonstrated to the public their latest weapons, equipment and techniques. In contrast and showing the RAVC varying roles, it also included mention of a Captain Robertson, who spent a couple of weeks at the laboratory and pharmacy while being introduced to some aspects of Nuclear Warfare.3
Home comforts will always play a part in the history of a military base and in the following
1 Regulations and Instructions for the Army Veterinary and Remount Services 1960, The War Office, 9th May 1960. 2 Ibid.
3 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 33 No 2 Autumn 1962.
97