Page 316 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
A great boon to the QM's Dept, they felt, was the introduction on 1st August of a new system of accounting for equipment: “...Perhaps a QM’s life will be worth living,” expressed a relieved QM.
As for the RAVC, all the head scratching for items to report, brought forward more than the usual number of sporting achievements including swimming, football, hockey and shooting with the WRAC doing particularly well in badminton, rounders, hockey and netball, with several WRAC selected for Army trials.16
Although there was always room for sport, work was full-on at the Army Dog Training School. It was reported again, that despite all the efforts of the wing’s staff, it was having difficulty meeting the need for trained dogs in the UK. As soon as the backlog was cleared, new units required dogs. Over the previous six years, the number of Army dogs had increased by 50%. Additional dog courses were run, in addition to the exceedingly popular dog handling resettlement courses for the Army, Navy and the RAF. Even a number of RAF Police Dog handlers attended.
In October 1968, a Study day was held for RAF dog trainers, eight SNCOs and three civilians. It was an opportunity for the long-awaited new dog attack suit to make an appearance but after Captain Donald Hall Smith tried it on it was promptly returned to the QM with a list of adverse comments and a request from the ADTS for the continued use of the ‘old’ baiting suits.
Just a month earlier the following event took place:
The RAVC Training Centre, Meeting of the British Veterinary Association, East Midlands Division on Thursday 5th September 1968, outlined the RAVC Training Centre as:
General: The Unit is located as an estate of some 350 acres on high ground on the North East outskirts of Melton Mowbray. Approximately 80 acres is taken up as building land, the remainder used as grazing and training areas.
Organisation: The Centre Consists of: - Headquarters.
Remount Depot (including School of Equitation, School of Farriery, School of Saddlery).
Army Dog Training School. Veterinary Hospital.
Responsibilities: The RAVC Training Centre is responsible for the intake, training, posting and discharge of all RAVC personnel: the training of
personnel from other arms in the handling of army dogs, in advanced equitation and in farriery and saddlery: the intake, training and issue of army dogs: the intake, preliminary training and issue of riding and transport animals: the reception and hospital treatment of sick animals from military units.17
The Arms Dog Handling courses were still booked to capacity and it helped that the overseas dogs’ drafts had eased. As for the Equitation School, they reported that even though they had a bad start to the show season the previous year, the results were better as time went by, July saw the Royal Tournament with someone taking part in all events.18
Looking back through the diary, to inspire one’s thoughts of what has passed, reveals little cryptic notes such as: Ron Hill to dentist, Fuel Team’s Visit, Dogs to Hong Kong, Doncaster dinner...the names, places and list of ‘to dos’ are the little things that bring out real constructive items of interest to Journal readers – and, as it happens, to the writer of the RAVC History 1962 – 2021.
The workers but not the reapers, the abused but unrewarded, the servants who receive no stipend, the hod carriers for the elite but without any illusions of grandeur, the back bone of Melton Mowbray, that is the Army Dog Training School.
The ADTS was a hive of activity; its major task was turning out trained men and dogs with the consistency of a mass production factory. Fifty per cent of staff were training Guard dogs for Operations and Exercise; although the Specialist section had been put into ‘cold storage’ and was, as reported: ‘being kept in a fit, not fat, condition’.
Unlike the Farriers, whose success continued in both the Military and Civilian Class Farriery competitions held in Melton, the Veterinary Hospital reported it had nothing eventful to report since its last written submission. A continuous stream of visitors – VIP and otherwise – had not taken its toll on the team who took everything in their stride. Even the contractors’ vehicles, camped outside the hospital for the past fifteen months as the sick lines underwent a complete renovation, were now on the move.19
1970s
1970... In January 1970 work started on the new lecture rooms and offices for ADTS. Meanwhile it
16 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 39 No 2 Summer 1968.
17 Meeting of the British Veterinary Association, East Midlands Division on Thursday 5th September 1968.
18 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 40 Supplement Spring 1969.
19 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 40 Summer 1969.
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