Page 110 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

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The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 41 No 2 Summer 1970.
Letter dated 12th May 1976 From Lt Col I G C Cochrane-Dyet RAVC O/C Lab and Stores in D/DAVRS/6/7. Planning. Rebuild of RAVC Training Centre. Minute dated 18th May 1976 from Lt Col K R Morgan–Jones ADAVRS to AG Sec in D/DAVRS/6/7. Planning. Rebuild of RAVC Training Centre.
THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
ban had been placed on the importation of domestic pets following the death, from rabies, of a dog called Sessan in Newmarket in March 1970. It put the situation surrounding animal transpor- tation under the microscope. The dog had been imported from Pakistan and released after the full eight-months in quarantine so what happened next put British officials into a spin considering the spread of the disease in Europe at that time. This was an animal health issue that the RAVC found themselves involved in, just as they had three years earlier with the FMD outbreak.
During 1973 the AVRO for the Southern Sector was responsible for forty-seven dog detachments, as well as two equine Units, and a remit that included conducting related surveys for possible employing Units. The RAVC School and Stores continued to arrange the Dog Trials up to just before 1973 at which point the ADTS (Army Dog Training School) took over. However, the ‘School’ maintained its role supporting the Aldershot Horse Show, running the Director’s Conference, and assisting with the Aldershot Army Display and being responsible for the Regimental mascots. This job had its lighter moments as happened in April 1974 when, with great pleasure and pride, the home of the British Army reported that “Taffy”, the goat mascot of the Royal Regiment of Wales, had spent his UK quarantine at the RAVC School and Stores. During his time there the savvy mascot had, by all accounts, proved himself invaluable in keeping the grass short and as a disposal unit for leaves!
While the Welsh Regiment was always going to have a “Taffy” as mascot, the 1970s marked a time of great change for some of the other regiments. The demise of H Sqn RCT (Royal Corps of Transport) proved highly emotional for all concerned including the RAVC farriers who ably shod the Squadron’s strength of forty horses, supported by a saddler. Many a Veterinary Officer had their first introduction to horses going on a long night trek through the ‘jungle’ of Aldershot. It was often their introduction to Pack Transport.17
Saying goodbye to H Sqn was hard enough but the 1970s was a decade of tough situations and decisions that began with debates, tarried to-and-fro, regarding the most important issue to threaten the Corps’ future – the relocation of the RAVC School and Stores, the latter being the senior Unit in the Corps and its spiritual home.
presence in the south of England, as argued by Lt Col K J Marchant, and to rename the established RAVC Laboratory and Stores. A counter to the former proposal from a Major C T Marshall, in a memo dated 6th May 1976, stated that half of the two thousand caseloads related to animals that were not publicly owned, therefore justifying the use of MOD finance to fund the laboratories. He also argued that more than 50% of the Stores required at Aldershot were, in any case, ordered from Defence Medical Equipment Depot (DMED), Ludgershall. Therefore, in his opinion, there was no requirement for a Store at Aldershot. The savings incurred in closing the Aldershot site, could, it was suggested, be channelled into the proposed rebuild at Melton Mowbray.
Lt Col I (Iain) G C Cochrane-Dyet RAVC OC Laboratory and Stores, while accepting this title change, conducted a vigorous defence of the Aldershot establishment stating several valid reasons. He steadfastly maintained that Aldershot was the right location since the majority of MOD animals were located in the South of England and their number included the horsed elements, essentially the Cavalry regiments and the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery (KT RHA). On this basis he argued that the veterinary surgeons that were attached to these Regiments would be unable to adequately serve the needs of the rest of the Army in the Southern Sector. Also, the excellent X-ray facilities would be lost with animals having to travel a greater distance, which would incur further financial outlay. A return to utilising civilian veterinary surgeons would not solve any problem adequately as it would always result in higher costs and be seen as a retrograde step for the Corps.
There was also the fact that the ‘School’ contributed its military professional assistance to the numerous local military events such as the horse and dog trials, and the Aldershot Military Show etc. If this assistance was removed, the reliance on civilian veterinary surgeons would potentially lead to events being cancelled based on increased costs.18 The Assistant Director Army Veterinary and Remount Service, Lt Col Keith Morgan-Jones, agreed with the OC in Aldershot stating categorically that: “The argument to retain the Unit, therefore, is based upon the need for a military veterinary presence in the Southern Sector.”19
Several days later, in a minute to the AG Sec, Lt Col Morgan-Jones strengthened his argument
It was deemed appropriate to retain a Corps
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