Page 397 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
The second successful development was based on the child’s pony chair. It is made entirely of seasoned bamboo and screws (nails will suffice). The bamboo requires shaping – this is a fairly easy procedure providing a blow lamp is available for bending dampened bamboo. The early patterns were made by a village cane furniture maker, but latterly some of the handlers turned out fairly adequate specimens. Handlers experience difficulty in applying rattan joint bands – experience showed that insulating tape was satisfactory and was, of course, easier to apply.
The saddle was fitted over a saddle blanket and surcingled in position. Vegetation-filled, waterproof bags were often used in lieu of a blanket, but they were not satisfactory in this instance.
The two saddles described here are consistently practical for loads of 100-140lbs. In unit trials, the loads presented for carriage seldom exceeded 120lbs because bulkiness barred further addition. In unit trials both saddles have been stressed to 170lbs using sand filled ammunition boxes. The saddle stood the strain well but, in the case of the “sunka” improvisation, the back and rib pad filling was insufficiently resilient.
The challenge of ill-fitting saddles and training handlers was constant....
The type of animal that it may be possible to impress may not conform to the true pack type by virtue of lacking conventional shape and strength of back. The withers are often high and the desired increase in width of weight bearing rib from front to rear is often insig- nificant.
The need therefore exists to be thoroughly conversant with cause and effect signs that result from ill adjusted saddlery, even if it be on a non-pack type back. It was one of our experiences that, in our anxiety to get the minimum amount of the load borne on the part of the back supported by the false ribs, we placed the load too far forward, thereby impeding shoulder movement.
A further considerable challenge exists in training handlers with the minimum delay. In two up-country Battalion trials, the necessary handlers only received 24-hours training and experience – they arrived in unit one morning and departed the next evening. To meet difficulties, the Warrant Officer IC Animal Transport accompanied the party as advisor but was instructed only to correct gross management faults. Our training syllabus proved fairly comprehensive. Nevertheless, instruction was not given in recovery of an animal that has slipped awkwardly down a bank. The handler did not think to unload his animal prior to attempting recovery! Animal experts will all say that is elementary, and that is true, but it will be in this sort of elementary
training and instruction that we may fall down unless we appreciate the full implications of extemporised animal transport in a mechanised Army.
In conclusion...
The Corps should remain alert to possible animal transport needs in the future. There can be no doubt that adequate numbers are being given experience in conven- tional animal transportation. It is however questionable whether their training is being progressed beyond the conventional standard.
Additionally, there is a need to combine with the pack horse training establishments on the continent, to adequately record the construction etc details of animal equipment used throughout the world and to continue research in zootechny.3
During the Indonesian Confrontation, SSgt Colin Brown was the Corps leading expert regarding pack transportation at that time, and much of his work is summarised in the previous paragraphs. He vividly recalls that the pack animals that were used, were Borneo ponies, but specifically they only worked with the Australian and New Zealand Commonwealth Brigade on the Thai border. It was hoped that these ponies would later be flown into Kuching and deployed in the jungle, but sadly this did not occur for various reasons. There was much discussion of the use of mules prior to the conflict but they were not actually put to use with British troops during the Confrontation.4
“Walk march!” – into history:
In 1969, The Royal Corps Transport (RCT) Pack Transport Squadron based in Aldershot was disbanded, due to defence reductions, leading to all Pack training and equipment being devolved down to the RAVC Training Centre in the UK and to Hong Kong.5
This meant the retirement of the last set of transport horses in the British Army, and the mechanisation that had begun in the 1920s appeared to have been completed by 1970. Horses were retained only for ceremonial duties, including with the Household Cavalry, The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, and for mounted tasks in the Corps of Royal Military Police.
But the Royal Corps of Transport, which uses all kinds of road and cross-country vehicles, ships, aircraft, and hovercraft and in the past has loaded donkeys, mules, ponies, camels and buffalos, had handed over the last of its horses at the disbandment parade of H Squadron at Buller Barracks, Aldershot. The Transport Corp retained,
3 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 35 No 2 Autumn 1964.
4 Written testimony provided by Ex RAVC WO2 (RQMS), Mr Colin Brown dated 7th December 2020.
5 A/BR 1055 AVR Loose Minute, dated 4th April 1975.
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