Page 180 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
the value of dogs as a capability in the British Army in Northern Ireland were, in the early days, split. According to Staff Sergeant George Yeandle, there were two schools of thought: one side condemned the dogs as useless and the other elevated them to the Hollywood hero film star status of Rin Tin Tin! Years of experience had taught Staff Yeandle that both views were wrong. He maintained that, with due respect to the animal, a dog will only ever be as good as their training and that included the competence of their handler. George Yeandle was a voice of authority and highly esteemed for his dog training prowess having been awarded the British Empire Medal for his work with Guard dogs. Born and bred on Exmoor, he passed on his love of military working dogs to his sons Steve and Eric who later followed him into the RAVC; Steve as a dog trainer and then one of the later Sergeant Majors of the ADU in Ballykelly.
Dog lover or not, there was one point of agreement regarding the ADU’s presence in Northern Ireland – the dogs were essential in providing security cover for the prisons in the Province. Of the 130 dogs active by 1973, over 60 were positioned in Long Kesh and a further 20 at Magilligan Prison in County Londonderry. The dogs were an effective tool to have to hand and were often deployed to suppress riots in makeshift prisons such as internment camps. To recognise their involvement, handlers marked their hickory riot batons with coloured rings to record each time they had to deploy and their dog’s success in subduing the disturbances. So successful were the dog and handler teams in this role that, in late 1976, the ADU organised a Fit for Role inspection. The Colonel A/Q7was highly impressed by all he saw in the inspection and the march past by 60 of the eager Guard dogs and their handlers.8
The Red Paw
As mentioned previously, the ADU NI RAVC was made up of RAVC personnel and volunteer E2 dog handlers from other regiments representing a total of 65 different cap badges. The Unit’s exclusive composition carried out its unique role, seemingly unrecognised by the wider Army until, in 1974 the Commander Land Forces, Major General P J H Leng, MC MBE, granted the ADU NI RAVC personnel the right to wear their own distinctive insignia – the ‘Red Paw’. Measuring one quarter of an inch, the Red Paw represented the bloodied feet of search dogs who had been and continued
to work tirelessly through the rubble and glass scattered at the scene of so many bomb attacks since the start of Operation BANNER. The small metal badge was proudly worn in the handlers’ berets, to the left of their regimental cap badge.
The Red Paw remains an evocative symbol of the bond shared between dog and handler, working together in the face of bloody adversity. The badge is a unique distinction that unites all those who served with the ADU NI.
The Red Paw by Corporal Di Jones RAVC – ADU NI.
What’s in your beret we hear them say? Then comes the story of how the Red Paw came our way.
Of bloodied feet & devoted men, on this fair isle that we defend.
In ‘74 Sir Peter Leng did unite as one our noble clan
Scottish, Welsh, Irish & English too
To honour the dog & the work we do.
To our unsung heroes, the dogs on the ground Whose loyalty, bravery & affection holds no bounds.
This is my tribute to our four-legged hounds.
In years to come, whether peace or disarray Those faithful dogs will lead the way.
To all handlers, young & old, the story of the Red Paw must be told.9
Major Keith Morgan Jones RAVC, in 1974, stated that another 500 Red Paw badges were required: “It appears that they are becoming collector’s items, although,” he warned, “I will personally assault anyone not entitled to wear it.” Entitlement included those who had served with or on behalf of the dogs in Northern Ireland. This included ATOs and others, such as the Gloucestershire Regiment subaltern who, unprompted, save for the initial question of a well-known newspaper, repeated verbatim all the advantages of using dogs in Internal Security situations and how the Army had benefitted from them in NI. He was personally ‘decorated’ on the spot by ADVRS.10
Those entitled to wear the Red Paw immediately regarded it, not only as their official insignia, but also as a badge of honour. For ADU NI members,
7 Referring to Administration and QM functions, known in 2021 as G1 and G4.
8 Chiron Calling Issue 8 dated August 1977.
9 ‘The Red Paw’ by Corporal Di Jones ADU NI Chiron Calling dated Summer 1995.
10 Chiron Calling Issue No 6 article dated December 1975.
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