Page 121 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
was completed in just thirty-eight weeks. The new kennel complex, costing £3.5 million, was opened by HRH The Princess Royal later in 2013.
Moving on...
Throughout early 2014, 101 MWD Sqn was reduced to minimum manning and, along with other elements of 1st MWD Regiment, it relocated to St George’s Barracks, North Luffenham. The former RAF airfield opened in December 1940 and during 1941 had become part of Bomber Command. Early aircraft flying from ‘Luffenham’ were Hampden Bombers which laid mines against naval targets. As the pace of the operations grew during World War Two, bombers leaving the airfield attacked shipyards at Kiel, amongst other targets.
During April 2015 101 MWD Sqn ‘reformed’ as the Regiment’s Reserve Sqn, initially located in Building 16 and then later moving to Hangar 2. Fortuitously the Reserves relocated a third time to its new home at Building 200 during January 2016.
Building 200 was previously occupied by the RAF’s EOD Training Flight 5131 Bomb Disposal Squadron. 101 MWD had moved into a building with historical significance – and not for the first time.
Originally building 200 was part of the UK's Main Air Defence network. Soon after the building was
converted for use by the RAF East Midlands radar, which provided ‘approach and climb out services’ for other airfields such as Scampton, Waddington, Marham and Conningsby. The large cinema type Ops Room above the ‘drill hall’ was an Ops Room working to a shared data wall. The highest desks seen at the rear of the Ops Room known as ‘the heights’, were manned 24/7 and provided crucial general radar services.
Much work was completed by 101 MWD Sqn personnel to ensure that building 200 was fit for its new role.
A wish that the Tactical Dog Troop RAVC would be located at the heart of the Army became a reality at Aldershot. It was history in the making at the home of the British Army.
The following words appear on a wooden plaque in the entrance hall of Fitzwygram House, Aldershot to mark the founding of the Army Veterinary ‘School’. The words mark the beginning of the RAVC...the rest is history.
“This School was founded through the representa- tions of James Collins Esq, principal Veterinary Surgeon to the Forces and Major General Sir Frederick Fitzwygram, Bart FRCVS commanding the Cavalry Brigade, Aldershot, 1st June 1880.”
’The Tactical Dog Troop, Strategic Reserve Aldershot 1967. Personnel and dogs in photo L to R. Pte John Stanley & Earl; Pte Tommy Quaile & Tammy; Pte Vic Bennett & Shane; Pte 'Doc' Holliday & Sabre; Pte Dave Shaw & Satan; Pte John Douglas & Rin; Pte Geoff Warren & Chan; Cpl Marshall 'Rev' Revell & Luke.
Photograph courtesy of ‘Aldershot News.
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