Page 391 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
TRFs serve as a means of identifying personnel and all RAVC personnel wear the RAVC TRF. It is worn on the right sleeve of the multi-terrain pattern uniform, in the centre of the sleeve, whilst in barracks. On Operations the TRF may be removed depending on local circumstances. The TRF allows easy identification of RAVC personnel whilst in the barrack setting and is has become increasingly important in ‘flying the RAVC colours’ when working in wider Army surroundings of which the RAVC is very familiar.
However, unlike Formation Badges, they are not replaced with or displaced by another Unit’s TRF; this means that an individual attached, or temporarily posted, to another Regt or Corps, continues to wear the Corps TRF, and not the TRF of the Unit to which the individual is attached or posted. Formation badges are worn on the left sleeve and denote which higher formation the personnel belong too.
RAVC Tactical Recognition Flash (TRF).
The Chelsea Pensioners:
From 1692 until 1955, all Army pensions were administered by and paid from the Royal Hospital Chelsea, which is why all Army pensioners were often referred to as Chelsea Pensioners. Those who lived ‘Out’, in the UK or abroad and received their pension in cash from agents around the country were known as ‘Out-Pen- sioners’. Over time, the term Out-Pensioner fell out of common usage and, in more recent times, it’s only those Pensioners who retire to and live within the Royal Hospital who are now officially known as Chelsea Pensioners. These eligible veterans of the British Army have surrendered their Army Pension and are admitted as residents of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.15
The RAVC has had a steady stream of ‘In Pensioners’ since the early sixties, namely, the late WO2 Charlie Bradley and the late SSgt Ted
Parsons. Many visitors would have met Ted and enjoyed talking to him at the Royal Hospital Chelsea or during the Annual Royal Hospital Church Parade held in July each year. At the time of writing the Corps has two former RAVC soldiers residing at The Royal Hospital, they are David Hathorn and Barrie Davey.
Veterans, Associations and Reunions
The UK Government has committed to making the UK the best country in the world to be an Armed Forces Veteran.
We have clear responsibilities in ensuring our people transition seamlessly to civilian life greatly enhanced by their Service. The new Defence Transition Service underlines this commitment, with specialist tailored support to those finding the change particularly challenging. The Armed Forces Covenant is the recognition between the nation and those who serve, of the unique sacrifices, the way of life, and the demands of military service. It is underpinned by two key principles – that of seeking to remove disadvantage because of military service, and that special consideration may be justified, including for the seriously injured and bereaved. This commitment will be enshrined in Law in the Armed Forces Act of 2021 in the contexts of housing, education and healthcare, taking it from a voluntary code in those contexts to something that is enforceable on behalf of Service Personnel, Veterans and their families.
The UK’s first Office for Veterans Affairs was established by the Prime Minster, Boris Johnson, in July 2019. It seeks to pull together all functions of government, harnessing existing and new programmes across the Third Sector and State provision, to ensure this nation’s duty to her Veterans by delivering the UK’s first ‘Strategy for our Veterans’ which was published in December 2019.16 Autumn 2019 also saw the government give the Office for Veterans Affairs a £5m funding boost, the newly created government set-up ensures that ex-Servicemen and women have access to medical treatment and training. The initiative also tracked the growing number of homeless veterans. Rail cards are also now widely available for a nominal fee for any Veteran.
A good example of the longstanding relationship with Veterans is the contact with the RAVC and Mr Albert D Owens MBE, who, in 1998, designed and installed the ADU NI RAVC Memorial at Ballykelly. Albert returned to North Luffenham in the summer 2020 to restore the memorial, which
15 The Royal Hospital Chelsea, the home of the Chelsea Pensioners website.
16 Defence in a competitive age: Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Defence by Command of Her Majesty. March 2021.
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