Page 265 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Indies for the first time since 1968. LCpl Fiddy had his first find of cocaine and heroin within a few weeks of the deployment. During the rest of his tour, he travelled to Turks and Caicos, Nassau, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and finally Bermuda – better than a cruise on the Queen Mary 2!!! The trial continued with LCpl Craig Tait of 102 MWD Sp Unit being part of HMS Richmond’s Company returning to the UK in early December 2004.19
An article in Defence News headed: Hands (and paws) to bathe, presented the lighter side of the deployment of Craig Tait and Casper RAVC. The reporter captured the moment when the partnership took to the water for a swim, and how Casper showed off his paddling prowess:
Having charged across the Caribbean saving lives and restoring order after a series of hurricanes, HMS Richmond has been able to settle back into the more normal routine of patrols and port visits. Fresh from a visit to Montserrat, where volcano tours, (at a safe distance) proved popular, the Type 23 frigate headed to Martinique and the port of Fort-de-France, where she prepared for her next patrol.
On sailing, a mass ‘Hands to Bathe’ was allowed -a traditional dip in the sea for anyone who dares. Joining them was the ship’s ‘sniffer’ dog, Casper, who donned a purpose made lifejacket and was lowered over the side for a paddle with his minder, LCpl Craig Tait, who had to keep Casper on a lead as he swims faster and further than Craig.20
The Corps then gave LCpl Tait RAVC the opportunity to provide his own version of events during that special time in his career aboard HMS Richmond (Richmond to the Relief):
Back in July, when I was gearing myself for my forthcoming AES tour in Iraq, I was called into the USM’s office for a chat, where I was told that I was no longer going to Iraq. Much to my disbelief, I was then offered the Caribbean to which I said: “if I have to sir.” I then had the rest of the day to get my kit together and forget all of the Arabic I had learnt to start on my Rastafarian.
At the main gate we were directed to HMS Richmond’s berth where we were left in the hands of the crew, who had no idea what to do with us because all their Officers were in a meeting. Having arrived at Richmond, my first ever ship, I still had no idea what to expect. I used this time to explore the ship and stow my kit.
My first few days on board were ‘different’, and for the rest of my tour I got used to walking around in a continuous oval and colliding with most things on
19 Head of Career Employment Group letter Summer 2004. 20 Defence News article circa Autumn 2004.
board when it got rough. I was fortunate not to get seasick, which was good as it meant avoiding the huge amount of stick that I would have received.
I had a two-week passage to Bermuda to ‘endure’ until I received my handover from Dan Fiddy and my DD Dog Casper – something that I was looking forward to. Casper and I then had a week at sea to get used to one another before meeting our USCG boarding team and proceeding with CD Ops. On our second day at sea, after leaving Key West, we were stood up and told to get ourselves ready. Sadly, after an hour, we were told that we would not be able to board the yacht as it was being tracked and they were waiting to see where it sailed to. And so went the rest of the trip, with the exception of our disaster relief role.
Our main role, as it turned out, was to deliver aid to the hurricane ravaged islands of the Caribbean, which included Grenada, Grand Cayman and Jamaica for which we were on standby. On arrival in Grenada, I was quite surprised to see how much damage a wind travelling at 140 mph + could do. The side I saw was flattened, not many of the buildings survived with their roof intact, the only exception being the Old Fort.
During the Operation I was on ship’s detail moving and loading stores that were going ashore. Unfortu- nately, the hurricanes had also destroyed a large portion of the prison wall and as a result many of the prisoners, including the old President and some of his followers who were being held on treason charges, got an early release. During this Op, HMS Richmond accommo- dated the current President and some of his top aides until the local security forces and the emergency power had restored civil order.
Our next task was to follow the hurricane in case it passed over the Grand Cayman and to then go to assist them with repairs and aid until the disaster relief agencies could arrive. On this occasion I was on shore party and, with our three-man team, we were tasked to the main distribution centre to assist them any way that we could. This included securing the area and the distribution of the food and water, both of which were in short supply.
We spent three days there with little sleep and were glad to be flown back to the ship for a break and a shower, which was very much needed as there was no water available for cleaning. As in Grenada, it was amazing how much damage the wind, which reached speeds of more than 165mph, could do and I, for one, was glad I had been on the ship keeping the company of 30ft waves at the back of the hurricane.
It was not all hard work and no play. The Skipper, realising we all needed a break after weeks of chasing hurricanes, gave us an ‘all hands to bathe’, which in the sweltering heat was a great welcome and Casper was,
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