Page 440 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
CHAPTER 25
104 Military Working Dog Support Unit (2007 – 2010): Destined for Operations
When the Army Dog Unit, RAVC, Northern Ire- land (ADU RAVC NI) disbanded on 31st July 2007, the remaining dogs and handlers marched proud- ly out of the Province at the close of 38 years of Op BANNER. As the Unit departed Ballykelly, in the wake of the NI Peace Process, it was to be re-rolled and re-named reflecting its new function. 104 Mil- itary Working Dog Support Unit (MWD Sp Unit) was, therefore, established on 1st August 2007.
The Unit became part of 104 Logistic Support Brigade and was based at St George’s Barracks in North Luffenham, Rutland. 104 Military Working Dog Support was a fledgling Unit on arrival, but only seven months later its personnel proved to be fully prepared for their deployment to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
By the time it was subsumed into 1st Military Working Dog Regiment (RAVC) in 2010, 104 MWD had well and truly earned its battle honours on Op HERRICK and Op TELIC.
Background
At that time of 104’s arrival, 16th Regiment Royal Artillery were the main custodians of St George’s Barracks – a site loaded with history. The base, in Rutland, England’s smallest county, was originally built as a training airfield in 1940 and from 1959 until 1963, it was home to the PGM-17 – the Thor intermediate range ballistic missile. The Thor had a range of 1500 nautical miles and was the response to the perceived missile gap, following the launch of Sputnik by the USSR in October 1957.
Its Cold War role over, St George’s Barracks became a useful location – at 18 miles south of Melton Mowbray, and to the south east of picturesque Rutland Water – for 104 MWD, which was to be the third MWD Unit and have an expeditionary role. The Unit was also required to deploy pan theatre to the “dynamic” areas of Iraq and Afghanistan for concurrent six-month tours, commencing seven months after formation – during March 2008.
Re-role, Relocate and Deadline to Deployment
“I was told of the deployment posting to Northern
Ireland while I was still serving in Afghanistan,” recalled Major Chris Ham. “I was at Camp BASTION when the call came in from the MoD and I remember thinking...this is going to be another far from straight forward posting. And I was right.”
From the sand of Afghan to ADU NI RAVC during early July 2007 – the last OC of ADU NI RAVC and the first OC of the new 104. Memories of that time, with its challenges of the re-role, relocation and the deadline to deployment were shared by Major Ham in the summer 2008 issue of Chiron Calling:
Preparation and planning for the tasks ahead, started early in 2007, and ‘fortunately’ we had to leave the home of the HQ of ADU NI, Shackleton Barracks in Ballykelly by late August, which gave everything focus. With the closure ceremony completed, the advance party moved to North Luffenham, and as I took over building 17, one Friday afternoon during early August, I knew things were going to be an uphill struggle. The block was filthy and in poor décor. However, the Unit Sergeant Major, WO2 Frank Holmes, got his ‘little helpers’ in and the HQ block was already beginning to spring to life before Monday morning.
Soon after that, the main body of personnel arrived from the Province, along with about twenty Search and Protection dogs weary from their journey. We could only offer them makeshift kennels for accommodation as the build had not been started, no surprise, and no planning permission had been agreed. It was hoped Planning Consent would be granted on 17th August 2007, however, due to some local objections, based mainly on noise pollution, ‘Consent’ was withheld. A meeting was arranged to bring together all the interested parties on 13th September 2007 with a Parish Council Meeting held later that evening. It was hoped that dialogue between interested parties could resolve the difficulty. It was likely that, should this not be the case, the Planning Consent would go to the ‘Planning Committee’ and be granted despite local objections. The completion date for the kennels slipped.
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