Page 301 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Remember friends – and incidents, And some were quite a lark
But that was before the square became A place for cars to park.
Yes, the barracks had their failings They were draughty, cold and damp– And their replacement will it seems Look more like a holiday camp.
For this is the age of progress
(So called) the model of the day, And everything that is getting old Has to be swept away.
So, replaced by better buildings,
we’ll not see their like again,
but there is something else you will not see you’ll not see better men.34
(An ode to ‘The Top Camp’ by John Hewitt)
Troops leave the old camp and enter the new
It was on that same January day that the Commandant and each OC led their troops out of the ‘Old Camp’ and in to the ‘new’ camp – a proud moment for all. Whilst everybody in the new HQ settled in to their new respective offices, the troops became accustomed to their new living quarters.
The new barracks undoubtedly offered a consid- erable improvement on the hutted camp that had served the Corps well for over five decades. Many of the new facilities were, it was agreed, “fantasti- cally superior ”. The All Ranks Club was extremely well equipped and attractive, not a patch on the old NAAFI! At the time, the Salvation Army were running a first-rate meal service, because, at the eleventh hour, the NAAFI decided not to support the project. The “Sally Army ” stepped in to provide an excellent service not only in its restaurant but by replacing Neil and later Larry who used to take snacks and drinks to all the working Divisions of the DAC in earlier years. On the recreational front the new sports halls were outstanding and the Fitness Suite, which was put into immediate use by all personnel at the DAC.
The official opening of the new barracks at the DAC, on 29th May 2002, was a relatively low-key affair, even though the officiating VIP was no less than Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal. No stranger to the Corps’ home, the Princess pulled the cord to reveal the brass commemorative plaque on a wall in the HQ before a small but select audience of DAC personnel. One thing the royal
visitor did not do during her visit, was to name the new barracks since no name was considered suitable and appropriate to the joint service nature of the DAC. It was expected that, since the official opening had passed, the new barracks would remain a camp with no name. However, so the PFI could easily identify the various blocks, each was branded using historic local names including Stonesby, Charnwood, Belvoir...etc
The RAVC Memorial
A few months immediately before the RAVC Association Reunion in September 2002 the RAVC Memorial was extended and refurbished by the Defence Animal Centre.
The work, which was completed just in time to enable the annual memorial service to be held there, was carried out by LCpl ‘Rodge’ Utley and LCpl Chris Byles, both RAVC, under the direction of the stonemason, Mr T Purves, and funded by the RAVC Benevolent Fund. The memorial plates that used to stand at the side of the original were set into the new stonework, and Corps’ founder, John Shipp’s headstone, moved from 101 MWD Sp Unit in Aldershot (in anticipation of their move to new accommodation in the future) and given pride of place in the centre of the walled circle. The intention being that RAVC personnel, past and present, would be reminded of the Corps’ origins as well as the sacrifices made by many past members.
As the Director said in his speech to the RAVC Association Annual Reunion: “The result is a fitting tribute to our fallen comrades. The DAC, and those that did the hard graft, should be congratulated on their vision, hard work and skill. What we have now is a permanent and excellent reminder of their efforts.” At the appropriate time it is planned to plant some trees in the vicinity to complete the overall effect.35
The Indoor Riding School (IRS): ‘Out with the old and in with the new’
It was on Thursday 28th February 2008, that HRH The Princess Royal returned to the DAC to open the new Army School of Equitation Indoor Riding School. She was introduced to staff who were closely involved in the planning and design and construction of the new facility.36
The emotion of the time was, perhaps, best captured in the winter 2010 issue of Chiron Calling – by SSgt Shelly Needs: The tears and the sweat, mixed with the dust, are now only memories that many
34 Chiron Calling Winter 1998/9, An ode to ‘The Top Camp’ by John Hewitt.
35 Chiron Calling dated Winter 2006/Summer 2007.
36 Chiron Calling Summer 2008 ‘HRH The Princess Royal opens the New Riding School.’
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