Page 315 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
1967... Q Jottings reported an excellent year for the QM’s dept:
Despite the cancellation of the Depot’s rebuilding project, much work was completed on general improve- ments; patches had been put on patches and covered with new paint. Hammond’s Store was once more undergoing conversion into the Amenities Centre. Old stagers will no doubt recall the dances of the late 40s which were held in this grand old building.
The Sgts’ Mess gained a secure bar, and the Veterinary offices and hospital had their face lift. The School of Farriery was, finally, having the floor re-laid and wonder of wonders a ventilation system installed. No doubt the farriers will soon start suffering from chest and throat infections with no carbon monoxide to kill off the viruses! Equitation School had their outside ménage rebuilt and the floor of the indoor riding school was being re-laid after a drainage problem. The War Dog Training School offices and lecture room now have large efficient solid fuel heaters installed. All the main boilers are now on automatic feed systems, so the room temperature is unlikely to suffer when the boiler man sleeps-in during the cold winter months.
Finally, perhaps wistfully, we hope that the discovery of woodworm, wet and dry rot in the Depot buildings might speed up the rebuild programme. We would like to take a look at it before we retire.
The rest of the Depots departments reported on the usual findings in the journal seen over recent years.14
Acquiring items for the Journal was, even then, a challenge most likely because there was so much going on at home and overseas. However, there was a suggestion regarding how this situation could be resolved:
Firstly, I would suggest that we form a liaison touring team whose sole purpose would be to visit Singapore, Hong Kong, the Middle East and BAOR to gather all the information required by the Editor of the Journal. Secondly, I would suggest that every Officer of the Corps should be responsible for submitting one article of interest, be it professional or domestic, for each issue of the Journal.
The duplicated Corps Journal covered domestic issues, such as the movement of personnel, although the Q Jottings were concerned with items such as the austere financial restrictions that had affected most of the country.
After seeing the magical paper giving the monetary allocation and the target date for the rebuild our hopes were rudely dashed by the vast reduction made by the Chancellor in his endeavours to balance the books. Back to the country’s coffers went our three quarters of a
14 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 38 No 1 Summer 1967.
15 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 39 No 1 Spring 1968.
million pounds and once again we were looking around for ways and means of keeping the old place going.
Later alterations to the Old Site included an Other Ranks car park, in what used to be the main fuel yard, a ‘Bar’ in the Officers Mess, a Beer store for the Sgts’ Mess and a rustic fence round the Officers Mess area (whether this was to keep the inmates away from the rest or the other way round, we are not too sure). And, of course, the paint brush was working overtime everywhere.
The QM Dept asked that no one run away with the idea that they spend all their time preparing work services applications, they still had the mundane tasks, although they did admit that the latest regulations on clothing allowance items should brighten up future kit checks. What with civilian pattern towels in lieu of the official article and ‘nighties’ in place of issue pyjamas (for the girls only we hasten to add) the QM Stores will be looking like ‘Marks and Spencer’.
1968... In the duplicated edition of the Journal, dated spring 1968, it was reported that the War Dog Training School was renamed Army Dog Training School and not only had it changed name, the now ADTS had responsibility for training the Admiralty Constabulary, a move that brought a nautical touch to the school. Terms such as, ‘the galley’, ‘stand easy’, ‘going ashore’ and ‘grog’ be- gan to creep into every day conversation.
The School of Farriery/School of Saddlery reported a large new chimney with extractor motor had been added to the outside to improve the ventilation; plus, a new floor had made the School much more pleasant to work in.15
For all the new items and the changes, some of the old problems lingered such as the periods of head scratching and heart searching for contribu- tions to the Corps Journal. As said before, the Q Jottings could always be relied on for the practical up-dates and some of the following will bring back memories of discussions that took place over fifty years ago:
C Block has been renovated throughout and the difference in appearance is amazing, apparently, not that any males would know. It is hoped to repeat the performance in A and B blocks before the year was out. Although the living accommodation is not palatial, it will be much more comfortable than at present.
Finally major alterations are being made to the cookhouse and dining hall, in an effort to modernise it. The work should include cold buffet tables and a new server. The current headache is the rewrite of the equipment table which, ideally, should be completed before the change of Commandant at the end of the year.
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