Page 127 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
centre were presented. With this plan underway, the VO began training six local, 20 to 30-year-old Dhofaris, to become veterinary assistants.
Also in his correspondence, Major McLaren referred to the useful medium of radio and the distribution of newssheets used to encourage Dhofaris to seek out the services of the VO. He said: “those with sick animals were to inform the staff at Bir bint Ahmed or one of the assistants there, of the location of the sick animal. A daily round is drawn up and the team sets out to treat the sick animals and inevitably many sick people with ailments. All those people with serious conditions are referred to the hospital which is now open. The people, including all those in houses, to the nomadic tribes living with all their worldly possessions in a tent, are very grateful for the attention to their sick animals.”
The veterinary treatment being offered was, understandably simple because, for one thing, the work was mostly being done from the back of a Land Rover and the range and quantity of drugs available was limited. There was also a constant concern and a need to prevent resistant strains of organisms evolving. The modern treatment had to find its way into the community and to be trusted against any existing ancient traditions and customs. For instance, the ancient custom of burning lines, known as ‘wussum’ on a sick animal with a red-hot piece of iron to drive away the sickness, was still in regular use despite attempts to dissuade owners from using. Credibility rose dramatically when on several occasions, a VO had used intravenous calcium infusion for cows suffering from milk fever or hypocalcaemia and often accomplished quite dramatic success (several of the RAVC Vets achieved enhanced reputations through treating milk fever cases). The problem, in the first place, being due to poor quality fodder, the absence of grain and presumably a mineral imbalance in the soil and/or water.
An average day for a VO could result in some 40 animals receiving treatment and many more being sprayed for ticks, lice infestation or mange while clocking up around 30-40 miles on the milometer. There was correspondence between Major J F Clemenger and Lt Col J R Spurry referencing the donation, by the Medical Research Council, of veterinary equipment for Dhofar but most of it was laboratory kit which would have required specialist personnel who had the knowledge to use. Where the brief in Dhofar demanded a pure
and simple ‘Hearts and Minds’ operation, the lab equipment had limited scope, the concept was to diagnose diseases present, particularly when importing so many animals for meat, the ability to diagnose anthrax and pathogens that inhabit the bloodstream of an animal was crucial. Again, in his documents, Major McLaren noted the success of the programme when he wrote: “This assignment has proved very rewarding, and the Corps has indeed been honoured to provide the first veterinary surgeons the Sultanate of Oman has ever had. In closing, may I record the excellent liaison that exists between the Director and Assistant Director of Dhofar Development, the Agricultural Officer and the VO. The VO is also extremely grateful to the Commander of Dhofar, the Commanding Officer the Muscat Regiment, and many others for all their help to the “Arch Scrounger of Salalah”.11
The last VO goes in
Andrew Higgins RAVC, was at Long Kesh, Northern Ireland, in January 1974 when he was informed of his up-coming posting to Dhofar – often known as BFPO 66 – to join 22 SAS and the BATT.
When he arrived, camel trains were still a common sight in the Arabian Gulf and a popular form of transportation for the rebels (known as Adoo, in Arabic) in Dhofar. The camel trains provided an important resupply route into the Operational area from the west, particularly during the monsoon when the low cloud and drifting mist provided the perfect cover for replenishing stores. One unfortunate aspect of the conflict was that the ‘trains’ were often victims in a ground or air attack on the Jebal, something that made Brigadier John Akehurst, the Dhofar Brigade Commander, very uneasy. He was reluctant to accept that the killing of the animals was a necessity and wrote: “the camels were important targets but killing them not only raised the question of cruelty but also distressed the Strikemaster pilots who were tasked with these missions. The policy was not without risk too, as the capricious but animal-fo- cused Jebalis could be so angry if a friendly herd was hit, that all chances of continuing dialogue could evaporate.” Nevertheless, Akehurst argued that camels often represented the only means the enemy had of transporting weapons and munitions to some parts of the hill, and, at the same time, he believed that the civilians would turn against the rebel faction whose use of animals brought this slaughter upon them.
11 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 42 (final Volume) Summer 1971, ‘Hearts and Minds in the Sand’ by Major Brian J Thompson BVetMed, MRCVS RAVC.
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