Page 109 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Show.11 And in becoming an established entity at Aldershot, the ‘Tac’ Troop provided regular support to 22 SAS as well as providing security assistance to London District Provost Company for the guarding of all the Commonwealth Prime Ministers on their annual conference.12
Always leading by example Major John Clifford qualified for a special mention in the following duplicated edition of the Journal. The Major, with no concern for his own life or limb, gallantly came to the rescue of a young girl, without doubt preventing her murder. He suffered a deep knife wound in his back, which continued to trouble him long after the event, and Mrs Clifford was troubled to see the bloody evidence of her husband’s courage. It was quite shock to all who were there and witnessed Major Clifford’s actions, and those of another Major from the Army Catering Corps (ACC) also involved and badly hurt in the rescue. The offending youth ran from the scene towards a railway line where he met his end colliding with an oncoming train. Clifford’s injury did not hold him back from his duties or the fame that accompanied all the coverage in the local papers.13
But it wasn’t all about field duties that year. The ‘School’ took on a new task following the closure of an old and respected firm in the area – Messrs Bartram’s and Co. As the firm was no longer there to take in all small animal corpses from the RSPCA and local veterinary surgeons for incineration, the ‘School’ stepped in. It was an important task to perform within the community and one the Army took on with its usual sense of respect and duty. It wasn’t the only change that personnel had to absorb and adapt to in 1968. When the contractors moved on site, there was a shared feeling of doom. As the old, well-known buildings of the adjoining barracks and quarters fell under the strike of the bulldozer, the Corps felt very fortunate to find their old buildings still standing every morning. They were well-aware that the shadow of the bulldozer was always hovering.
The summer of 1969 saw the newly promoted Lt Col Clifford duly receive his Commendation for Brave Conduct from the Her Majesty the Queen. Meanwhile, Sgt Marsh Revell departed to Caernarvon for the Investiture of the Prince of Wales. Reports from the ‘Tac’ Dog Troop were full of movement news including, at the end of April that year, the pull of the ‘Emerald Isle’ growing
stronger by the day. All in the Unit, other than the NCO IC, prepared to deploy to Northern Ireland taking with them three Tracker and two Patrol Dogs to help curb the civil disturbance. Sgt Revell, ably assisted by LCpl Bryan Criddle – kindly loaned by the ADTS – held the fort in Aldershot.14
However, there was an emerging requirement for two Tracker Dogs to be stationed overseas in Southern Arabia. The hot, dusty climate was not ideally suited to the use of the dogs and to add to the pain of the deployment, once the task was concluded the dogs were unable to return home due to the Rabies controls.15 That unpalatable decision was bravely borne by the handlers, but it still left an unpleasant taste in their mouths.
Duties closer to home at the time, included the Troop assisting in regular Escape and Evasion Exercises with the SAS in Plymouth and Tactical Study Groups frequently took place with all Infantry Battalions within 3 Division.
Aldershot 1970s style
The Journal of the RAVC, April 1970, included a round-up of all that had happened in Aldershot leading up to the dawn of the new decade. It must be acknowledged that the terminology used in the following extract will be deemed unacceptable to readers today. However, the language viewed in historical context, provides an insight into the feelings being shared at that time in relation to the Empire.
“At the time of writing these notes, everyone is just recovering from the Christmas celebrations, which were somewhat hampered by the ‘flu’ epidemic. This same ‘Mao flu’ has caused some concern among our eastern brothers, who quickly retaliated with a type called ‘filthy Imperialistic flu’ – there are some interesting possibil- ities in this new field of scientific war of words’.16
But while some had their minds on world politics, others were concerned with the ‘politics’ closer to home.
The next duplicated journal made mention of the RAVC Lab and Stores being appointed “Authorised Carriers” of animals following the 1970 Anti-Rabies Legislation. Although this would be restricted to the passage of MOD animals through UK, it came on the back of much discussion with the Ministry of Agriculture, the path being smoothed by a former RAVC Captain, John Statton. The situation related to the British Government’s announcement that an indefinite
11 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 39 No 2 Summer 1968.
12 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 40 No 1 Spring 1969.
13 Ibid.
14 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 40 No 2 Summer 1969.
15 Correspondence between Lt Col Chris Ham MBE RAVC and Brig (Retd) John Clifford dated March 2015.
16 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 41 No 1 April 1970.
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