Page 333 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
to provide his expertise. Staff Sergeant Paul Bunker and Private Vanessa May also had a cold time at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri licensing the US Dog Teams trained at the DAC.
By complete contrast, the weather in the Caribbean, where LCpl Dan Fiddy had been deployed trialling the use of a drugs detection dog with HMS Monmouth had been bright and very sunny. It is hoped that more RAVC trainers will deploy on this ‘once in a life time tour’ on a regular basis.
Equine Division kindly provided instructors, horses, ponies and a mule so that our personnel could experience the handling of Pack Horses. The bright weather had boosted the crop of MWD output and exceeded all expectations. Well done to all those involved, particularly the Protection Dog Section. All of the above activities/deployments have undoubtedly enriched the lives of personnel at the DAC and more importantly the RAVC as a whole. None would have been possible without the commitment and enthusiasm of the RAVC staff in Canine Division.
Whilst the quality of Canine Division in infra- structure is still an ongoing difficulty, the OC was confident the values, skills and knowledge of the young soldiers who travel through the DAC continue to improve. The activities of the Division – the ‘engine’ of the DAC have developed the RAVC Dog trainer in more ways than one. The DAC continues to be at the forefront of new horizons. RAVC Dog trainers have a bright future in the Corps – given the troubled world we live in today – particularly as a walk into town, only to be greeted with more newspaper headlines on the latest terrorist outrage.43
Centenary of Number 3 Army Remount Depot, Melton Mowbray
by Capt D R Boyd, RHG/D
In 1903, the Number 3 Army Remount Depot was formed on a 350-acre site at Melton Mowbray. The purpose of the Depot was to supply the Army with the new horses required (remounts) and to rehabilitate injured or sick horses and then return them to duty. In 1942, it became the last Remount depot in the Army and continues to this day, as part of the Defence Animal Centre by providing horses for ceremonial duties.
Early in 2003, Col Dougie A Macdonald (Comdt DAC) and Capt (Bobby) David R Boyd (OC Equine DAC) sat down to discuss the various options available to the DAC to celebrate the centenary of the depot. It became clear to us both that the best way to celebrate one
43 Chiron Calling Summer 2004 ’Contrasting Weather.’ 44 Chiron Calling dated Winter 2003/Spring 2004.
hundred years of horse purchase would be to parade the full spectrum of horses currently used by the Army with their handlers/riders.
We wanted the parade to look as impressive as possible, so I approached the Mounted Units in London and, with my fingers crossed, asked if they would produce fifteen horses and soldiers in full Ceremonial Uniform; to my delight they were very supportive and agreed to all requests. The DAC was very keen to hold the parade at Melton Mowbray, but as fifteen of the eighteen horses were stationed in London, it was decided that the most logical location would be Hyde Park.
On 6th August 2003 the DAC took three horses (RAVC Rider, Pack Pony and a Mule) not stationed in London down to Hyde Park Barracks. There we met up with five horses from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (Drum Horse, Trumpeter, Officer’s Charger, LG Trooper and RHG/D Trooper), and nine horses from The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery (Officer’s Charger, a Leader from all six Sub-Sections, and a Wheeler and a Centre from A Sub.) The last remaining horses on the parade were an Officer’s Charger from the Household Division.
There was huge media interest and when the parade left Hyde Park Barracks to parade around Hyde Park, we were met by three television companies and ten different newspapers/magazines. Col Dougie A Macdonald was kept busy with a number of interviews, and then he proudly took the salute as the Parade marched past. All this was on the then hottest day ever recorded in London (99.6°F degrees/37.5°C). The DAC was represented by SSgt Jason Barnes riding ’Platinum’, LCpl Fawcett leading the Pack Pony and Pte Michaela Cleary leading the Mule.
The media coverage was extensive and the best coverage was provided by Horse and Hound magazine on 14th August (2003), which included a selection of outstanding photographs to mark the occasion. Now the DAC have a brand-new barracks at Melton Mowbray, morale is high, and all members of the Unit are now looking forward to the next 100 years with renewed confidence and enthusiasm.44
2004... National Farriery Competition
Two days of excellent competitions were held at the Army School of Farriery, DAC, Melton Mowbray on 5th and 6th March 2004. The cream of the National teams and the British Army competed for the title of National Champions.
The standard of competition was high making the judges’ job very difficult. The British Army Team of military farriers from all three units again showed the high standard of professionalism and training within the Army by winning the Apprentice Class and coming
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