Page 171 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
on State occasions, dressed in the traditional style.’ The initial training was done at Shoeburyness and all the old skills and techniques had to be re-learned with the help of officers, NCOs and soldiers who had served in Horse Artillery Batteries. On 15th May 1946, The Troop moved into the barracks at St John’s Wood and The Riding Troop fired its first salute in Hyde Park on 30th June 1946, on the occasion of the King’s official birthday.
This was history continuing to be made for The King’s Troop.11
Taking up the reins – the 1960s
The powerful splendour and skilful horse- manship showcased in the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery Musical Drive is a once seen never forgotten experience. As said previously, as a popular feature of the Royal Tournament since 1882, the Drive comprises six gun teams, each containing six horses performing intricate manoeuvres to the accompaniment of music. The climax of the display being “the scissors”, in which the gun teams, in full gallop, cross each other from diagonal corners of the arena leaving themselves with only inches to spare as they cross. This is a unique feat performed by a unique Regiment – the Kings Troop being the only mounted troop of the RHA, as the rest are mechanised.
Having such a strong Royal connection with His Majesty King George VI it is perhaps inevitable that The King’s Troop has always received its fair share of visits from his daughter.
The Troop was given a great honour by an informal visit from Her Majesty the Queen on November 15th 1962 when the Sovereign was welcomed by the Commanding Officer and inspected a Sword Guard at the main gate. She then toured the stables and Gun Park before spending some time in the pharmacy talking to the Veterinary Officer, Captain C A McGilligan RAVC, and visiting the ‘Sick Lines’.
The Queen toured the Full Dress Room, Top Harness Room, Saddlers Shop, Farriers Shop, and the Riding School where she observed the remounts in a ride before being shown the Chargers’ Lines where Her Majesty was shown ‘the Pride of the Troop’, Captain Templer’s, ‘M’ Lord Connolly’ who had enjoyed success that year achieving second place at Little Badminton and individual champion at Burghley.
The Troop was meant to move to Aldershot in the spring due to the rebuilding of the barracks, but this
was postponed, so Sgt Paddy O’Shea’s hard work in re-decorating the Pharmacy for the Queen’s visit had to last much longer! Sgt O’Shea BEM, had left by November 1962 to be posted to Aden.12
By all accounts, the weather in 1963 proved the greatest challenge for The Troop and the phrase: “Isn’t the weather shocking?” became well-worn. First came the snow came, calling the hunting season to a halt. The horses had to be kept indoors as there was only a week of better weather to let them out, although the icy conditions curtailed draught training for some considerable time. During the usual hectic three-weeks at the Royal Tournament, The Troop took part at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and in the State funeral of Lord Alanbrooke (17th June 1963) which went according to plan – until the rain came down. However, the men and horses were on parade that evening at the Tournament, thanks to the efforts of everyone involved. There were a few occasions when the weather caused a wash-out, including twice at the Bath and West Show and at least four times at the Royal Show at Kenilworth – or was sunk in a mud bath. That year The Troop hoped for better things while camping at Shorncliffe, Kent.13
Sadly, for the King’s Troop, it was a hope that was not to be realised. The men reported having gone through the wettest of summer shows and then being blown out of camp at Shorncliffe. All the horse tents were blown down in one night and had to be re-erected by the HQ staff. Luckily, the horses were away at Section Camp and, thanks to the wonderful reception given to the staff by the local people, the horses and men returned much refreshed from their holiday. There was only one more hurdle to clear that year – due to an outbreak of strangles at the Depot, the remounts arrived later than normal and went direct to Aldershot for breaking and training. All this under the eagle-eye of the VO who was constantly on the look-out for anything amiss.
The summer of 1964 saw, it was reported in spring issue of the Journal of the RAVC, an excellent batch of horses proceeding into draught in preparation for the usual full summer programme of Salutes and Shows, culminating in September with the British week in Copenhagen. Unfortunately, the season started on a sad note: ‘Spud’ (4357), the last of the horses posted to the Riding Troop in 1947, when the Saluting Battery
11 Soldier Magazine dated January 1981.
12 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 34 No 1 Spring 1963.
13 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 34 No 2 Summer 1963.
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