Page 150 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
their Service with the Unit. There was praise also for the veteran dogs who were still showing the younger dogs how the job was done. One of the two dogs given special mention on the day was serving Sweep dog 8B44, affectionately named “Snip”, who had lost an eye in the line of duty but still managed to successfully corner his quarry. By the date of the celebrations Snip had caught 502 of them in his long and distinguished career. Snip’s canine colleague, “Chief”, Sweep dog 8A71, went on to capture over seven hundred and twelve illegal immigrants.
A brass plaque, commissioned to commemorate the landmark 10,000 captures, was unveiled by Brigadier R A Pett MBE. It marked the moment on the evening of 17th April 1987 at 1900 hrs in the Ma Cho Lung area when two-year Sweep dog “Caesar ”, handled by Cpl Ho Siu Por and LCpl Lau So Yuen, made that ten thousandth arrest. Caesar, who had only arrived in the Colony from England six months earlier, was on the night patrol when he had scented and given chase.
Commending the action of the dogs and handlers, the Brigade Commander, in his speech said: “I am not sure who supported who on the border, whether it was the DASU supporting the Battalions or Battalions supporting the DASU.” It was an interesting point and one which demon- strated the professionalism of the handlers and recognised that, although the dogs had arrested thousands of illegal immigrants, there had not been a single case of any of them being critically injured or maimed.
In a heartfelt personal account of his time working on the border, LCpl Sun Chung Hing wrote:
“People in the front of the crowd must disperse at once peacefully, or we’ll open fire.” This warning is very familiar to me because I heard it many times when I was only six, during the riots of 1967. I admired the Army greatly because the troops were smart and obviously well trained. Since that time the intention to join the Army was firmly in my mind.
In April 1980 I noticed an advertisement in the newspaper stating the HKMSC was recruiting new soldiers. I applied straight away. Luckily enough, I was one of those selected and I reported to Lyemun Barracks. Later I came to understand that Army life was completely different from to my school days; we were required to be obedient, quick witted and smart. With the help of the instructors and my colleagues I passed the basic training period.
I was then posted to the Border Detachment of the Army Dog Unit Hong Kong. I was very pleased with my job because I can reach different places on the border
where people are not normally allowed to enter. But at the same time, it is a very hard job to track and arrest illegal immigrants, day and night in the woods and in the swamps. It is really a great challenge. However, when we know that we have successfully stopped the flow of illegal immigrants into Hong Kong we will have a very great sense of achievement. Since the day I enlisted, I am very proud to be a member of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps.”20
The Border Detachment also had a Dog Display team which was one of the ‘must see’ attractions in Hong Kong. The team frequently appeared at various community relations projects throughout the year and great effort was put into producing a first-class show. Much of the extra training was completed in the handlers’ own free time, at weekends and on rest days, but the entertaining results made it all worthwhile and put HK DASU RAVC firmly ahead in the British Army public relations stakes. Most importantly, the displays provided a stage for the handlers to demonstrate their skills to the general public which was further helped by their frequent appearances on TV and in the local newspapers.
The climax of the team’s performing career came in November 1987 during the Hong Kong Tattoo which traditionally took place at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Over three consecutive nights the team delighted audiences of over ten thousand people each time. The Governor of Hong Kong, Sir David Wilson KCMG, was one of the many VIPs and dignitaries there to witness the spectacle. Sir David was so impressed that he wrote to CBF to compliment the participants on their performance, which was enjoyed by a further five million people who were able to watch the Tattoo broadcast on both Chinese and English channels.
The Dog Display Team consisted of twelve handlers and dogs performing a selection of well-rehearsed entertaining tricks and manoeuvres beside the normal obedience and agility work. The man work was demonstrated in a mock bank robbery scene and a novelty sleeve attack – when to the shock and surprise of the audience the dog ripped an arm off the local drunk! The drama was increased when an ‘ambulance’ entered the scene and the dog was stretchered off after his ordeal – complete with the man’s arm in his mouth – the screaming ‘armless’ man was left lying on the floor! The Dog Display was a clever way of showcasing the Unit’s skills and a reminder that while the Tattoo performances were taking place colleagues of the handlers and dogs were busy on
20 HKMSC Magazine dated circa, 1987 ‘Working on the Border’ by LCpl Sun Chun Hing Lawrence.
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