Page 25 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
The RAVC has evolved gradually, embracing ma- jor changes to its structure and manpower as nec- essary and inevitably as a result of major conflicts from the late 18th century to the present. To put the scale of the development of the Corps into perspective – prior to the 19th century there was no veterinary service in the British Army.
It was the heavy loss of equine life during the military campaigns of the 18th century that prompted the formation of an Army Veterinary Service (AVS). To that point only civilian farriers, who held government contracts, were equipped and responsible for shoeing and providing medicines for army horses, but the demand for care far outweighed what was possible for any number of farriers to provide. This just needed to be recognised.
In 1796 a Standing Committee of General Officers, with the responsibility for all matters involving army organisation, decided that it was time for change in respect of animal welfare within the military and began recruiting graduates from the newly-formed London Veterinary College (LVC). In the same year, Professor Edward Coleman, then Principle of the LVC, was appointed, in a civilian capacity, as Principle Veterinary Surgeon (PVS) to the Cavalry. That position came with the added responsibility of establishing the Army Veterinary Service (AVS). Professor Coleman held the post for 43 years.1
Also, in the landmark year of 1796, Colonels of the Regiments were informed that they would have a ‘Veterinary Surgeon’ assimilated into their regiment who was a graduate of the LVC.2 The first such appointment went to our own John Shipp – our recognised founder – who was commissioned into the 11th Light Dragoons on 25th June 1796.3
Over the next 82 years the AVS was organised on a regimental basis – surgeons recruited directly into a regiment, issued with the uniform of that regiment and made to adhere to the customs of that regiment. There was little contact between the individuals of the AVS. And when the regiment was on the move and on campaign there was little
to zero provision for the lame, sick and injured horses. However, during the Peninsula War (1808 – 1814), Sick Horse Depots (the forerunner of the Veterinary Hospitals) were provided, which showed a measure of progress and understanding of the cruel reality of the battlefield for the horses. Overall, the truth was that little progress was made during the next 40 years and so continued a distinct lack of co-ordination when it came to the availability of the veterinary services and a proper system for treating the sick and wounded.
The inadequacies of the AVS fell sharply under the spotlight during the bitter Russian winters of 1854 and 1855 in the Crimea. Dismal management of the war, both on land and at sea resulted in heavy losses in Pack, Artillery and Cavalry horses. The extreme cold and hunger killed more horses than disease or battle wounds. The overworked and underfed Pack horses perished in harness as did the Cavalry and Artillery horses that were moved into service to replace them. There was no shelter for the war horses and the promised animal fodder never arrived. The total debacle of the Crimean War (1853 – 56) in respect of the fatalities of both men and horses forced radical changes throughout the British Army. The Veterinary Services were to experience a dramatic shake-up for the better.
In 1859 the two separate services of Ordnance and Cavalry were amalgamated under the headship of a Principal Veterinary Surgeon – a civilian post which lasted until 1890. In that same year, Army Veterinary Surgeons were placed on the Army List with an agreed rank structure. There were key factors in the issuing of this warrant – firstly, that it created Administrative Veterinary Officers and, secondly, that it required control, supervision and staff organisation to exist within the Veterinary Service.
The first test of this new structure was the Abyssinian Campaign of 1867 – 68. For the first time in a military conflict Sick Depots were established along the lines of communication. This showed a conscientious attempt to care for
CHAPTER 1 Summary to end of 1961
1 A History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1796 – 1919 by Major General Sir Frederick Smith, 1927, Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, p.27.
2 Ibid. p.40.
3 Ibid. p.52.
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