Page 385 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
There were two RAVC officers at CBDE. Major Ann Wood works supporting the Medical Division and I work in a research post in the Defence Microbiology Division (DMD). DMD has three main areas of interest. Firstly, to assess the threat from potential BW, secondly to develop detection and identification systems for BW, and lastly to investigate medical countermeasures to BW. This included both vaccines and drugs (such as antibiotics).
During Operation GRANBY there was intense activity at CBDE. Both chemical and biological agents were considered a hazard in the Gulf. With regard to BW, laboratory systems for detection were rapidly developed, procured and fielded to the Gulf. One method to protect personnel against BW is to provide them with antibodies (produced naturally by the body to counteract disease). For this purpose, a herd of goats were used to raise antibodies against BW agents. These antibodies were collected, purified and sent to the Gulf. RAVC VOs were involved in a programme to investigate the potential of a new vaccine system. The best method of protecting military personnel against BW agents is to vaccinate them in advance with a good vaccine. In the right circumstances, this can be very effective. The disease, smallpox, was eradicated from the world by the use of a good vaccine. Unfortunately, ‘good’ vaccines are not yet available for all diseases. The new methods of genetic engineering offer the possibility to create new vaccines in a very precise manor. Basically, a very safe bacteria is made to ‘resemble’ a dangerous one. This safe organism is used as a vaccine (like the polio vaccine on a sugar cube) and the body develops protection against the dangerous organism that it resembles.
A goal that DAVRS, Brigadier Andrew Warde, set himself during his Directorship was to establish a Defence Post Graduate Veterinary Dean. Encouraging support was received in briefings the Director had with the DGAMS, the Defence Post Graduate Medical Dean, the RCVS Education Strategy Steering Group and, informally, with the new Surgeon General. If the initiative was to be successful, the Corps would have a focus for research and for the professional and scientific training not just for VOs, but the farriers, DTs and VTs too. This was a very exciting prospect and would certainly be comparable with the great reform of 1880 when an RAVC School at Aldershot was established.
The RAVC School existed until 1938 and was responsible for raising standards of knowledge and good practice in equine care throughout the Army for almost sixty years. Only mechanisation
sealed its fate. In 2003, there appeared a very positive need for all ranks in the RAVC to have an in-house key player, a Post-Graduate Veterinary Dean, to coordinate research and develop all aspects of veterinary practice within the Armed Forces. Brigadier Andrew Warde was most successful in the very worthy challenge he set himself, and the important post was established later during his tenure.6
Major Beccy Graves, a notable and successful RAVC VO, completed an appointment with 77 Brigade as SO2 Counter Anti-Corruption (CAC). This was a three-year assignment with the first year being spent on secondment with Trans- parency International (TI), working on their Defence and Security Programme (DSP) on the Conflict and Insecurity desk. During that year Major Graves also worked on a number of projects that contributed directly to research papers and projects run under the DSP, as well as various separate projects aimed to raise awareness in the British military of the risk that corruption poses to military operations. Working alongside a wide range of organisations such as NATO Building Integrity, HQ ARRC, the Stabilisation Unit, Fraud Defence and a number of other NGOs.
Following a year with TI, the Major commenced her role in Outreach Group 77 Brigade as SO2 CAC, and quickly deployed to Kenya on Ex ASKARI SPEAR with the Specialised Infantry. This was the first Spec Inf exercise in Kenya to include a large civilian population. Shortly after returning from Kenya, Major Graves went back out to work with the Eastern African Standby Force on their Mission HQ training exercise, based in Karen, a suburb of Nairobi, for several weeks.
On her return from Kenya, Major Beccy Graves received a short notice deployment to Op BACKWELL (Somalia) as SO2 Stabilisation, which involved working within the J9 Cell in the AMISOM Force Headquarters. During this deployment, the RAVC SO2 was part of the Mission Support Team, which was a small team of British Officers who were embedded in the AMISOM Force Headquarters as mentors and advisors. The Officer also worked closely with the British Embassy Stabilisation Advisor, various UN agencies and Mission Headquarters staff, such as the gender advisor and civil affairs cell.
On return from Somalia Major Graves was assigned as XO Outreach Group. This was a very rewarding role as the team worked to establish the Outreach Capability in line with the evolving
6 Chiron Calling Winter 2002/2003.
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