Page 257 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
wealth gathering. As the event drew closer, it was understood that the Irish and Middle East extremist organisations were posing a real threat to the UK Delegation.
Staff Sergeant Chris Ham from ADU NI RAVC, and his AES dog ‘Fred’, were seconded to the RMP Close Protection Team for the entire visit and conducted daily searches of UK Delegation Offices, VVIP rooms and searched all vehicles before use. Searches also included the buildings adjacent to hotels where the VVIPs were staying, the conference room and all baggage plus whatever else was required. This overseas tasking required an Operational dog be removed from NI and, due to Rabies quarantine regulations at the time, the dog could not be returned to the UK. Conse- quently, Fred had to have his rabies vaccination when he reached Harare. After the event, SSgt C Ham escorted Fred to Germany, however that was after the pair had made the best of their deployment. While in Zimbabwe, Chris visited the Zimbabwe Republic Dog Training School and viewed training of both dogs and handlers and observed all dog procurement, veterinary departments and educational training wings.
While SSgt Ham and Fred remained focussed on anti-terrorist duties for the CHOGM, the dog was creating headlines for quite a different reason. The search dog, which had flown out to Zimbabwe, was, originally named ‘Kaffir ’ – more than enough information to cause a diplomatic stir.
When word of the dog’s name reached the Protocol Officer at the High Commission in Harare, there was more than a moment of disbelief – followed by serious diplomatic worry. The press attaché in Harare said: “I don’t know why anybody named it that. It’s a very offensive name and it has to be changed.”
Of course, changing a search dog’s name is not so simple – if it doesn’t recognise its own name then recall is impossible. Nevertheless, after some discussion, the handler was told to call him ‘Gaffer’, hoping that the dog would not spot the difference.10
It was all that could be hoped for .... given the very sensitive circumstances.
Chris Ham took up the truth of a similar story which began in the UK. He shared: ‘Fred’? ‘Ruff Justice’ in Zimbabwe in the October 1992 issue of Chiron Calling.
It was during the late summer of 1991, that I received a phone call from a Senior Officer from the MOD asking if the Army Dog Unit could provide overseas assistance. I quickly thought
where, when, who, what and how long and then said: “yes!” After all, we do provide a service. However, it was much later that more details emerged about the task and how it was to last for nearly three weeks in Southern Africa – Sunshine City, in Harare, Zimbabwe to be precise – the country with one of the world’s natural wonders, the magnificent Victoria Falls. Amazingly, no JNCOs were available, and it was directed by the OC that I take on the task, thinking of it as yet another stamp in the passport.
The aim of the overseas deployment was to provide AES cover for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 91, held every two years, with over forty-five Heads of State attending. This was a prime task, even more so following the explosion in the Sheraton Hotel during July 1991, which wrecked the lower floor where the Conference was scheduled to be held.
Work started immediately on teaming 8A80 AES dog ‘Kaffir aka ‘Fred’ (as already said, renamed for diplomatic reasons) and, after about three weeks, the then SM, Dave Sawyer, ‘passed the team out’. Very soon, the newly re-named Fred, and I were on our way to Rochester Row, London complete with a new outfit, courtesy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and, after a cocktail of jabs, I reported for a briefing by the OC of London District Provost Company. It was then I was told that a member of the RMP team had been taken off the assignment in order for Fred and myself to go. Another possible opening for the RAVC, I considered, which must be successful, especially as the CHOGM takes place every second year on Commonwealth soil. I quickly met the rest of the team and we were soon jetting off to Harare – business class of course.
After 10 hours flying, we touched down. Fred was quickly moved through immigration shadowed by the scores of reporters sent to cover the event. Here Fred was immediately vaccinated against rabies. He didn’t mind that too much, but the tattoo in his ear he resented deeply – it being similar to something depicted in one of the early dog training manuals.
Soon we set to the task in hand; searching the hotel where the PM was to reside, along with the entourage of the No 10 office. The size of the delegation was an amazing sixty-seven, in all; between them, the No 10 office staff shredded enough paper, during the course of the conference, to bed-down the entire DTW for a long spell.
Behind the gloss, the search operation was much the same as any other, although brightened by
10 Broadsheet Article circa November 1991.
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