Page 108 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
an Army dog to maintain he requested they be issued with additional Bergens, water bottles, and ground sheets... for the dogs. All was supplied in a matter of weeks.
Very soon after the implementation, in September 1966, the Troop received their first Op Task – to provide Army Dog patrols around the first Severn Bridge in the last few days after completion leading up to the official opening ceremony on 8th September by Her Majesty the Queen. It was an event the Welsh Nationalist Militants were threatening to disrupt, but the Troop’s task was completed successfully and safely – for all concerned.
The Tactical Dog Troop was based opposite the Cambridge Military Hospital in fairly spartan surroundings, but there were some plus points to the posting. Having to share the cookhouse with the Queens Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANCs), whose parents had dogs at home, ensured lots of canine related conversa- tions. It was from here that the Tac Dog soldier, Cpl Harry Aitken RAVC, was deployed overseas. Harry was sent to the troubles in Aden and when he returned from service with 2 PARA, together with his colleague Cpl Terry Hadden; it meant that by the summer of 1968 the Tactical Dog Troop was back up to full strength. In addition to the usual round of Escape and Evasion Exercises and other ongoing tasks, the Troop had experienced an emergency draw on its numbers. For instance based in Chester, members of the Troop supported the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) during November 1967. There was a period immediately before Christmas when it was reported that more than half of the Unit were away helping MAFF on Operation Field Fare on FMD Control.7
Back then, the initial contingent consisted of a VO John Tanner, and a bunch of fresh Melton dog trainers, including Tommy Quaile, Jimmy Stokes, Clive Lewis, John Douglas, John Stanley, among others. Memory fades of course, but that was the start of something different for the RAVC.8
As always there was news of work completed on the technical side and, in 1967 that included studies on dog rations which involved several dogs from the Far Eastern Land Forces (FARELF) in the research, alongside the Animal Health Trust. During 1968 the RAVC School and Stores was involved in the development of a broad vaccine
for the FARELF disease problem – Tropical Canine Pancytopaenia – and the isolation of ringworm from the Barbary Apes in Gibraltar. The ‘School’ continued to complete monthly inspections of dog holding Units from Essex to Cornwall, Army, Civilian and now RN establishments.
Always keen to report on the ‘School’s’ social scene, the news from 1968 included the Director’s Annual Conference and, at the close of the event’s second day, a dinner held in the iconic McGre- gor-Mandora Mess, where the old faithful staff considered the RAVC to be among their oldest members. As the Mandora was then RAMC, this was indeed true.
Community involvement was always important and that year the ‘School’ was also involved in the Aldershot Military Display and the Southern and Eastern Command Army Dog Trials which was in its second year in conjunction with the Aldershot Horse Show. The first dog trials had attracted twenty entries.9 The following year there were thirty-six competitors in the obligatory obedience and agility with a mystery obstacle, comprising of a pile of aluminium kennels which were wobbly, slippery and noisy and were negotiated with difficulty by a few and easily by the winner. Part two of the trials consisted of night man-work in the Rushmoor Arena towards the end of July 1968.
“Major John Clifford was a great innovator and did all he could to highlight the work of the RAVC and dogs. He was always looking for high profile tasks e.g. Guarding the Severn Bridge opening in 1966; providing security at The Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference at Marlborough House, London in 1968; providing security at the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle in 1969. He also served on the Working Trials Committee of Crufts and volunteered us for stewarding duties (in No 2 Dress) in the Main Ring at Cruft’s Dog Show 1968, all raising the profile of the RAVC.”10
The Tactical Dog Troop were once again in demand providing handlers for an anti-terrorist role at Thetford Training Area, where valuable knowledge regarding the dogs’ capabilities were shared with attendees. Prior to the Exercise, a demonstration by the dogs and handlers gained wide TV coverage which resulted in offers of dogs and in-coming demands from user Units. This primed ‘Tac’ members for deployment to Malaysia to participate in Ex PICOT. On their return, staff assisted once again with the Aldershot Army
7 The Journal of the The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 39 No 1 Spring 1968.
8 Original source unknown but located by Lt Col Chris Ham MBE RAVC March 2021 from his own notes.
9 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 37 No 1 Spring 1966.
10 Notes kindly provided by Major (Retd) Marsh Revell April 2021.
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