Page 272 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
from this situation. Only his nearby ADC was able to provide an option: AG rallied. Clearly, loudly, as if giving an order, with pauses, he barked: “Do... something...about...it!”
The result was the authorisation for three Officers; Captains Bleby, Koder and Fox to join ‘Group B Unposted General List’ of the TA in 1981.
The Officers, whose veterinary backgrounds were academia, general practice and then MAFF (Ministry of Food and Fisheries) respectively, began supporting the regular RAVC Officers through attachments and directly helping the Corps in its new responsibility for the TAOR of Leicestershire. The WRAC Officer, under the direction of the Commandant RAVC Training Centre, was initially responsible for the administration of the training weekends at the then ‘RAVC Depot’.
In time, the RAVC TA Officers3 became increas- ingly integral to the Corps Function. Without doubt the driving force for the formation of the RAVC Officer TA, was Lt Col John Bleby TD. Lt Col Bleby had been the senior Veterinary officer in the TA Pool since its inception in 1981, and prior to that he had served in a variety of TA Commissions from 1959 until his retirement on 16th April 1990. A presentation of his Territorial Decoration (TD) took place at a ceremony held at DAVRS HQ Aldershot on 4th December 1989. The presentation was made by the Colonel Commandant RAVC General Sir Brian Kenny KCB CBE.
Lt Col, Professor John Bleby TD JP DVetMed DLAS CBiol FSB Hon FIAT MRCVS passed away 19th July 2015.
The Need for an Officers’ Pool...in context
The Defence White Paper, presented by the then Secretary of State for Defence, Sir John Nott KCB on 22nd June 1982, proposed the expansion of the TA establishment from seventy thousand to eighty-six thousand. By the early 1990s, whilst the Regulars were to be reduced by twenty thousand, the TA provided 30% of the Army’s mobilised strength in the time of war.
The situation regarding the TA and the Regulars was captured in The Times newspaper leader of 23rd June 1982 which emphasised the need for the Regular Army to put aside its professional air of superiority and recognise the potential support from properly trained Reservists. It wasn’t unusual in the early days for RAVC TA Officers to encounter remarks along the lines of ‘only being attracted by the uniform, the dinner nights and the money’. The reality was that members of the TA
3 Notes taken from a presentation to DGAMS Study Period 18th June 1997.
were giving up time from busy, and usually better paid, civilian work. The newspaper report went on to highlight the general policy of deterrence and make the practical suggestion that many people who are unable to meet the training requirements of combat reservists would be willing to provide a range of specialist support.
It was during this climate that Major Paul G H Jepson SO2, prepared a paper in April 1985 for the Army TA and Reserves Committee proposing the formation of a RAVC TA Officers’ Pool established for twelve Officers and, with promotion prospects, to appoint one of them as a Deputy Commander CVHQ as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Subsequently this was authorised on 1st July 1986. The prime purpose being to provide the additional resources required on mobilisation of the United Kingdom Armed Forces at a time of increased awareness of Spetsnaz Soviet Special Forces; believed to be reconnoitring the country on diplomatic missions, accompanying sport and culture delegations, even portraying themselves as businessmen and lorry drivers’ mates to try to infiltrate the country. Increased Spetsnaz activity was particularly suspected at times of increased political tension between the Soviet Union and NATO.
By the end of the Cold War (January 1991) the emphasis had shifted away from a monolithic threat to being prepared for wider challenges including peace keeping roles – the so-called Capability Based Army, which was much heralded by Field Marshal Sir Peter Inge. While politicians went in search of the peace dividend from further teeth arm reductions, the Army had to become more versatile. The Corps commitment accentuated the need for the TA, particularly with handlers, to support the RAVC’s Sennelager Unit and the DAC.
Bosnia had an indirect effect on the RAVC TA Pool, when it was realised that the Americans were better prepared in the field of Civil Affairs. It was almost as if they had discovered aspects of ‘Hearts and Minds’ which we, the British, had forgotten. The smart talk at that time was ‘the nature of peace’ and ‘Conflict other than war’ – such new imperatives led to the formation of the Civil Affairs Group at Minley, in Hampshire, who were very much in need of the TA’s skills.
The aim of the Civil Affairs Group was to form a group of fifty Officers with diverse civil affairs capabilities to be administered by the Central Volunteer HQ, Royal Engineers (CVHQ RE) at Gibraltar Barracks, Minley, by 1st October 1998.
264