Page 334 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
overall third place. This also should be put into context that the Army has just twenty-seven farriers, including apprentices, against the National Teams, which have over three thousand qualified farriers and apprentices to select from. This again re-enforces the British Army’s exacting standards in training and profession- alism which had been the case after their 14th place at the International Farrier Competition, held during September 2003 against sixteen teams from around the world.45
2006... Visit of HMS QUORN to the DAC – 200646 On Friday 16th June 2006, HMS Quorn visited the Defence Animal Centre as part of the close affiliation of the two units. The aim of the visit was to continue the close links between both units and to show the visiting party what the DAC has to offer, and its capabilities.
The visit started with a welcome brief from Colonel Tom Ogilvie-Graham MBE RAVC and WO1 (RSM) Paul Williams in the Amenity Centre at HQ. Following this, the party departed the HQ to visit the Equine Div for the first of the displays hosted by the different divisions. The first port of call was the Forge where selected volunteers were tasked to make a hoof pick out of a hot piece of straight metal. After several minutes of enthusiastic banging on metal some weird and wonderful shapes started to appear – unfortunately, none of them could be used safely as a hoof pick on a horse. After the sweat and the tears of the forge, the group were next treated to a Skill at Arms Tent Pegging display from WO2 Treverrow (KTRHA). This involved the collecting of various rings and wooden pegs from gallows and the ground using a sword and lance on horseback. Unfortu- nately, there were not many volunteers coming forward to try this display. Finally, it was the turn of the Canine Division to show them some of the different dogs they use and train, this was done firstly with a Patrol Arm True dog attacking a baiter’s sleeve followed by a Patrol dog attacking a fully suited baiter, under the control of the dog handler.
After careful selection from Lieutenant Commander Taylor, one of the young Officers was volunteered to put on the baiter’s suit to show its weight and size. He was then tasked to run across the field simulating the attack. As he set off at pace in the heavy suit – with the fear of the Patrol Dog soon about to attack him – he realised after about 200 metres that, for Health and Safety reasons, we didn’t release the dog!
Following all the displays the DAC Football team Select XI challenged the representatives of HMS Quorn to a football match on the unit sports pitch. The game started with equal dominance, but the deadlock was soon broken by the DAC with two quick goals. After
major changes in the DAC team at half-time the second half carried on where it left off and after two more goals HMS Quorn started to tire, highlighting the fact they only had a couple of substitutes compared to the complete team changes made by the DAC. The game finally ended 5-0, but the visitors forced some fine saves towards the end of the 90 minutes (The RSM cut the game by ten mins to save the embarrassment to the visiting team).
The day finished with the respective Messes hosting the Officers, SNCOs and JNCOs for the evening. The Officers and SNCOs held a Regimental Dinner to host the visitors and after some fine food and wine, we all retired to the Sgts’ Mess for a few games and some more drinks. Obviously, the games were pre-set and practised by the DAC to, once again, show up the HMS Quorn team. The JNCOs were hosted by the DAC in Quorn Lodge and enjoyed a buffet and lots of drinks until early hours of the morning.
Once again, the visit proved a great success, and highlighted the close links that have been made over the years between the DAC and HMS Quorn. It is hoped that there will be a return visit; though the Quorn team promised not only to get their own back but also to show the DAC their full potential and capabilities.
2007... Royal Army Veterinary Corps 30th Anni- versary Parade to Commemorate The Freedom of the Borough of Melton.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Melton Mowbray on Sunday the 24th of June 2007 when the Royal Army Veterinary Corps exercised its rights to parade through the town.
The RAVC was awarded the Freedom of the Borough on 22nd May 1977, some thirty years ago. The RAVC is one of only two military units afforded the honour; the other being HMS Quorn, which received the Freedom of the Borough earlier this year. People of all ages enjoyed the event as the Corps paraded through the town, ‘with colours flying, drums beating, swords drawn, and bayonets fixed’.
The parade featured all elements of the RAVC and the Defence Animal Centre. The parade Commander was the Commandant of the DAC, Colonel Tom Ogilvie-Graham MBE, who also led the mounted contingent comprising: Major Richard Pope (OC Canine Division), Major Mike Robinson (OC Veterinary Division) and Captain Avison (Equine Division). They were followed by the respective Warrant Officers and the instructional staff of the Equine Division and the Army School of Farriery.
WO1 (RSM) Alan Inkpen commanded the RAVC Standard Party and dismounted contingent. The Military Working Dog Support Units were also
45 Chiron Calling Summer 2004 ’National Farriery Competition’ by WO1 (FSM) Nick Lane RAVC. 46 Chiron Calling dated circa 2005.
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