Page 185 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
regular search area for Army dog teams.
The main location in this AOR for specialist handlers was at Drumadd Barracks but this later transferred to Mahon Barracks, where up to 13 handlers and their Search and Tracker dogs were housed. In later years, the dogs and handlers were perfectly placed to search the parade routes during the volatile marching season, including the path taken by Orangemen during the highly contentious Drumcree Parade which took place annually on the outskirts of Portadown. As the normalisation process evolved, after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, both AES and VS dog were used to secure the sites of a number of observation posts and other installations, which were later vacated and then demolished. The RAVC Brigade Sergeant was responsible for the maintenance of all Army dog aspects in his AOR. His staff manned locations such as Bessbrook Mill, with AES and Tracker dogs as well as Crossmaglen, Auchnacloy and sometimes other remote outposts such as
Forkhill which served ‘Bandit Country’. Throughout the Troubles, the safest transpor- tation for dogs and personnel was, without doubt, by helicopter. Moving around by helicopter was not without risk but it was relatively safer than facing the ever-present dangers associated with travelling by road through a series of highly volatile areas. Culvert mines, remotely detonated IEDs, bombs, ambushes and snipers’ bullets were out there as no Army manoeuvre escaped terrorist observation. At Dungannon, in County Tyrone, the UDR had AES dogs as well as also in Armagh and Portadown and at Abercorn Barracks (sometimes called Ballykinler Barracks) in County Down. The search capability was bolstered by a formidable deterrent force of eight Patrol dogs who effectively dissuaded interested parties from visiting the province’s principal ammunition site at Ballykinler. Additional camp security was provided by the resident battalion’s four Patrol
dogs.
Teaming Search with the Tracker dog capability
became routine on deployments. Having the Search dog follow and search the path of the Tracker dog proved extremely effective in locating numerous weapons dumped by fleeing terrorists.
In December 1974 Tracker dog ‘Barney’ was deployed 30 minutes after an ambush in the small village of Forkhill in County Armagh. He was tasked to track the gunman responsible for the fatal wounding of Rifleman Michael Gibson of the Royal Green Jackets and Constable James McNeice of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Barney quickly found a scent which he followed to a hide
in a nearby hedgerow. There, in the undergrowth lay 37 spent cartridges from an Armalite assault rifle alongside 20 nine-millimetre and 3 Garrand M1 spent cartridges.
8th Infantry Brigade, based in Londonderry (Derry), had an area of responsibility that covered 60 percent of the Province extending from the Glens of Antrim on the eastern seaboard through all of County Londonderry in the north west, to Fermanagh Lakeland in the south. Similar to 3 Inf Brigade, the environment was largely rural and a nest for terrorist activity.
The Brigade’s Dog Section was situated within Ebrington Barracks, a strategic military site in The Waterside area of Derry, an area haunted by three-century’s worth of warring spectres. During the Troubles, Derry was deeply divided along sectarian lines: the “Waterside” on the East bank of the River Foyle being predominantly Protestant and, in the old walled “Cityside” (the Bogside), resided a predominantly Catholic community. The range of mountains stretching beyond the city blurring the invisible border with the Republic.
The handlers’ accommodation and office were situated on the first floor of one of Ebrington’s barrack blocks with the ATO and his team occupying the ground floor. In April 1977, during an early morning route clearance of London- derry’s main shopping street, the Strand, an AES dog indicated on a green GPO telephone switch box on the side of the road. The area was immediately evacuated and brought to a standstill awaiting the arrival of the ATO who was, at the time, a newly commissioned officer only recently deployed to the Province. His decision was – to let the box “soak” for a few hours. After 5 hours of major disruption to the city centre, and no activity, the ATO decided to don his protective suit and tentatively open the switch box. Always a moment to hold breath and say prayers, on this occasion, nothing was found inside and the verdict came loud and clear: “False indication by the dog!”
Returning to Barracks the ATO stormed up to the Bde Sgt’s office to complain. Sgt Phil Hobson BEM RAVC, listened to the officer’s rant and calmly explained that occasionally, very occasionally, this will happen. In an attempt to mend the apparent ill-feeling between the sections, Hobson gave the young ATO a much sought after Red Paw badge, for which the calmer ATO thanked him and left.
Army life and family life mix well given the right location – Northern Ireland was not the most envied posting. It was in February 1977 that Sgt Phil Hobson BEM, took over 8th Infantry Brigade
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