Page 133 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
was promoted to Chief Dog Handler with the MSO. “Between 1990 – 1993, I passed a baiter’s course, dog section supervisor and assistant dog trainer’s course with the RAVC and my upgrade courses for Assistant Superintendent with the MSO which meant that through 1992 – 1993 I instructed both Army and MSO dog courses and MSO re-training courses.” Mark’s career with the Corps and the MSO came to a close in 1994. “Sadly, with all the changes and the end of BAOR I decided to leave the MSO and the RAVC TA in June 1994 but memories of the MSO veterans remain very vivid.”
Mark’s memories of the revered Polish veterans offer a valuable piece of MSO history: “I can recall that when I joined-up in 1986 many old Polish and Serbian dog handlers were just coming up for pension. These men were all Ex-Free Polish Forces, or in the case of the Serbs loyal to their King who was living in London in exile. Some were recruited when they were liberated by Allied Forces, others joined straight after the exiled armies disbanded. I personally knew a dog handler named Tschad- kowski stationed in Depot 90, who fought at Monte Cassino in Italy and later on in the campaign to take Hamburg. Many of these brave men went through harsh times in the war and all those I knew were loyal to the bone. I remember every year Orthodox Easter and Christmas was celebrated in Serb tradition with a high-ranking priest in Balaclava Barracks at Schlangen. I was told that up into the 1970s a member of the Royal family of Serbia used to participate in the festivities regularly.”8
All dog handlers undertook training at HQ MSO
Pie chart indicating the nationalities of the MSO as at 30th June 1992.
BAOR Depot, Cromwell Barracks, Hamm/West. The MSO RAVC Training Wing was under the supervision of an MSO Training Superintendent, a post which involved a number of responsibil- ities including the management of initial and remedial training courses for over five hundred MSO dog handlers plus responsibility for the discipline of the instructors, the trainee personnel, management of the kennels and the dogs. The administration tasks included maintaining the duty roster, all records in connection with pay and rations for students and dogs in the Training Wing. There was also responsibility for all equipment and accommodation, stores on charge to the MSO Training Wing. Another key role within the Super- intendent’s remit was that of liaison with the Operational Training Officer (RAVC), the German Police, Registration Office, HQ MSO RAVC, plus the welfare of men and dogs, equipment and accommodation stores on charge to the MSO Training Wing, Balaclava Barracks, Schlangen.9
It was in the Corps’ Journal covering events to August 1962 that the MSO received its first mention. The MSO Superintendents and 1 WDTU Officers were involved in a conference following the departure of Lieutenant Colonel Orr.10 Clearly Lt Col Orr and other RAVC Officers had great regard for the MSO as, the following year, they organised a visit to the UK by Staff Superintendent D Vukmanovic, an ex-Yugoslav Army Officer. Afterwards, the visitor, who was taken to all the principal RAVC units remarked: “Everything I saw at the RAVC units and in the country, deeply impressed me and will remain forever a most pleasant memory.”11 Staff Superin- tendent Vukmanovic was awarded the MBE in the 1965 New Year Honours List.
Two years later, a visit was organised for Supt Marinkovic who attended the RAVC Association 39th Annual Dinner held on 7th October 1967 in London. The veteran remarked: “I was very happy to meet there, the Brigadier, G D Young and so many RAVC Officers and other ranks I once served with at 1 WTDU Sennelager...”12
Normal routine continued through the 1960s. Every other week, during the Guard dog training and employment inspection season, the Chief Training Officer with a RAVC Dog Trainer and MSO Instructor left Sennelager on a Monday or Tuesday to return on Friday. They were instru-
8 Oral testimony by Mr Mark Harrow dated 26th March 2021.
9 The above information was kindly supplied by Training Superintendent Charles Wolinski by written testimony dated 26th February 2018.
10 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 33 No2 August 1962.
11 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 35 No 1 Spring 1964 ‘My visit to the UK’ by Staff Superintendent D Vukmanoviv.
12 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 39 No 1 Spring 1968.
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