Page 352 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
years. Following that, a year in Germany put her in the eyeline of the then DAVRS, Brigadier John Clifford, who offered her a 12 year ‘Special Regular Commission’ for the rank of Major. It could not be a full commission, of course – because she was a woman – but she had her foot firmly in the RAVC’s door.
Julia Kneale’s career contained a number of professional ‘firsts’: seeing Service in NI she became the first female OC of the ADU NI RAVC and was subsequently awarded the MBE for her outstanding work commanding the Unit. On completion of that Operational Command, Major Kneale was posted to HK DASU RAVC to command a larger Unit of two hundred and fifty-six soldiers and was involved in the drawdown to the impending handover of the British colony to Chinese rule at midnight on 1st July 1997.
Later, after promotion to full Colonel, Julia was appointed as the Commandant at the Defence Animal Centre on 26th September 1997, where she played a major role in the Public Private Initiative (PPI) for the redevelopment of the Centre19 and retired from Service on 31st December 1999. As an RAVC veterinary surgeon, Colonel Kneale had created a firm foundation for other women who followed her path. Colonel Julia Kneale sadly passed away on the 8th September 2021.
Major Ann Wood, in response to an adver- tisement in the Veterinary Record relating to the formation of a RAVC TA pool, enlisted with the RAVC in 1989. She was 37 years old. At her interview, Major Wood was invited to join the regular Army on a Short Service Commission (SSC) sweetened with a posting to Porton Down in Salisbury to conduct microbiology research, a subject with which she was familiar having taught the topic at the Royal Veterinary College. She joined the TA pool directly on completion of the SSC.
Prior to her posting to Porton Down, Major Wood received basic training at Melton and at Sandhurst. It was the start of a career seeing Service mostly within the UK, with two brief postings to Sennelager – once as Officer Commanding and the second as the Veterinary Officer. For many years, apart from locum work at Melton Vet Hospital, her TA service entailed travelling extensively in her capacity as a vet visiting units with MWD. In 2011, Major Wood spent a busy few months on
attachment at Aldershot as the Unit prepared, trained and inspected dogs moving through for roulement to Afghanistan. It was during this time that she organised a Special to Arms training weekend for TA and Regular VOs.
Unfortunately, due to her TA service being interrupted by the SSC, Ann was not entitled to the Territorial Decoration (much coveted by the TA) but was eligible for the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal, and bar, alongside the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, both of which she was always proud to wear.20 Major Wood finally put away her RAVC uniform during late March 2012, having reached retirement age at a time when the Army was not allowing extensions. Her last two years had proved most rewarding as OC Cadre of the RAVC Officer Pool within 2 Med Bde.
Heather Gilbert was the first female soldier with the trade of Veterinary Technician to obtain substantive rank of Sergeant in open competition with her male colleagues. Heather had joined the WRAC as a kennel maid in 1988 and assimilated into the RAVC as an Animal Training Assistant. She was also the first female Veterinary Technician to serve with King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.21
Major Jo F Holmes RAVC was the first female veterinary Regimental Officer assigned to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment where, among her veterinary responsibility she was also responsible for fourteen farriers.22
Captain Lucinda Cain was the very first female RAVC veterinary surgeon to serve with the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery at St John’s Wood from June 1994 until December 1996.
The First Female Dog Trainer:
Friday 21st March 2000 was a significant date in the Corps history because it was on that day LCpl Cheryle Simmons RAVC qualified as a RAVC Dog Trainer Class One,23 becoming the first female dog trainer to obtain this qualification. This was a major step forward for women in the Corps who, officially classed as Animal Technical Assistants,24 had previously been prevented from becoming trainers, despite their desire and ability to do so.
The then Cpl Simmons joined the Corps in 1990 as a kennel maid and commenced her dog training career two years later in the transfer of the WRAC to the RAVC. Gaining experience at the DAC on the Specialist Dog Training Section, LCpl Simmons accepted postings to Germany and
19 Colonel Julia A Kneale (Retd) MBE LRAVC oral testimony taken on 14th July 2015.
20 Major Ann Wood (Retd) RAVC oral testimony taken on 1st October 2015.
21 Chiron Calling, Winter 2000/01.
22 ‘The new girl’ Chiron Calling, Summer 2002.
23 Chiron Calling, Summer 2000.
24 ‘Recent changes in the Dog Trainer Career Employment Group’ by Sgt G S Rowles RAVC, Chiron Calling Summer 2003.
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