Page 258 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
short chats with the PM, his wife and the Foreign Secretary. Other tasks included standing in for the Military Police on security desks as well as conveying documents in chauffeured limousines. The movement of baggage proved interesting. I now know what all those well-heeled men wearing dark glasses, who are seen around VIPs, really do for a living.
Having several days free, we indulged in a variety of local delights such as tasting Zambezi beer and visiting a variety of the sights this Southern African country had on offer. I was fortunate enough to get time to go on a mini-safari. Suitably attired in my pith helmet, I gazed toward the distant bush in order to see the magnificent game. This proved both enjoyable and interesting as well as being expensive – when I had the many reels of film develop later.
Another day, after an even longer night spent celebrating my 32nd birthday to be precise, we visited Greater Zimbabwe and saw the Africa that we all probably picture in our minds.
After a spot of liaison, I was fortunate enough to spend the afternoon at the Zimbabwe Police Dog Training School, again this was most interesting. Fred gave an impromptu demo of his search skills, which impressed the dog trainers and handlers of the establishment.
Finally, after watching workmen at a building site drink out of discarded oil cans, we were on our way back to Heathrow, via Frankfurt and BAOR DASU RAVC where 8A80 AES Fred was introduced to his new handler. All in all, a worthwhile overseas trip with experience gained, hopefully to be repeated in 1993. Many still wonder if Fred was really called Kaffir. I wonder if his B270 has any tippex in the top centre of the first page.11
Rwanda – 1994/95
In his first had account Calling Rwandan Recol- lections, for Chiron Calling, Major Tom Ogilv- ie-Graham MBE RAVC, shared his experiences as Veterinary Surgeon, food scientist and water expert in the wake of the horrors committed during the 1994 genocide.
He wrote:
My first knowledge that 5 Airborne Brigade was sending a contingent to the UN in Rwanda was when I read in ‘The Times’ about the advance party being sent out. I then made enquires and with the Directors blessing, offered my services as a water expert, food scientist and veterinary surgeon.
After obtaining some water testing kits from Dr John Slade at Thames Water (he was extremely helpful just as
11 Chiron Calling Issue 9, October 1992 Zimbabwe by SSgt Chris Ham.
he had been for the Gulf War), updating myself in tropical medicine at Edinburgh University and grabbing a load of veterinary equipment, made up by LCpl Katrina Everard at Aldershot, I reported for duty at 5 Airborne HQ.
Prior to flying out, at South Cerney, in Gloucester- shire, I made friends with some of the doctors in 23 Parachute Field Ambulance and was delighted to meet three medics who had been in my Squad on P Company ten years earlier. We all looked forward to the task ahead, although there was considerable uncertainty associated with the immediate future. This was the British Army’s first deployment to Africa on active service for nearly forty years and media reports suggested horrific conditions.
On arrival in Rwanda, we were stationed in the sports complex, the Amahoro Stadium near Kigali airport. Many Tutsis had fled here during the war. The engineers continued to find corpses in drains and surrounding areas for the first few weeks. The conditions were quite squalid but the climate was better than expected. The high altitude alleviated the effect of being so close to the equator.
My first task was to assist in staffing the medical cell at UNAMIR HQ, which was run by the overall Medical Commander, an Australian Army Colonel. This provided good background on the developments on events in Rwanda and I was able to travel all around the country gathering information. I helped to co-ordinate the move of 23 PFA Group from Ruhengeri in the North West, where the attempt to encourage refugees back from Zaire had been largely unsuccessful, and to the South West, where the French had established a Human- itarian Protection Zone (HPZ). On the move south I accompanied 23 PFA Group, which consisted of approx- imately two hundred and seventy medics and engineers from 9 Sqn.
The Commanding Officer appointed me as the Intel- ligence Officer. In addition to G2 tasks, which involved considerable travel and fact finding. I collated all the information gathered by recce parties on refugee camps so that I could advise the CO on where our resources could be best deployed. I spent considerable time in the camps assisting the medics. In addition to putting in IV drips, taking blood samples and making diagnoses on (and treating) conditions ranging from malaria and malnu- trition to grenade and machete injuries. I advised on estab- lishing bulk and municipal water supplies. I also contacted Professor John Cooper who ran the Veterinary Centre in Volcanoes National Park (the location of ‘Gorillas in the Mist’), and was able to assist him with drugs, equipment and administrative matters. In particular, by visiting the new Minister for the Environment and Tourism, we were able to obtain a pass, signed by the Minister, which allowed access to the region.
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