Page 443 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Crufts – 2008
The role of the Military Working Dog entered public consciousness thanks to the media’s interest in the dogs’ courage in the line of fire in Iraq and Afghanistan. The stories captured the hearts of the British public and so when the dogs and handlers from 104 MWD Sp Unit made a guest appearance at Crufts Dog Show in 2009, it was a major Public Relations coup for the RAVC.
LCpl Debbie Caffull RAVC – 104 MWD Sp Unit, captured her experience in an article for Chiron Calling in the summer 2008:
Crufts is the largest dog show in the world with over one hundred and sixty thousand people visiting the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham this year. Some twenty-three thousand dogs were showing or competing over the four days with the prize for Best in Show up for grabs. Crufts is not just for dog owners as there are many trade stands and demonstrations. This year, in association with the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme, there was a demonstration of Army Dogs.
We set up an RAVC recruiting stand with Major Ann O’Flynn RAVC next to SSAFA, who were absolutely great, and we had a prime position to talk to people about what we do and where we go. Having a cute Spaniel strategically placed also helped.
Many members of the public did not know what our job entails, although they are so very proud of what HM Forces are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is heart- warming to know that we have their support. They ask if the dogs ever come home and find it amazing that we go out to look for weapons, explosives and provide security at bases.
We had a slot each day to give a short demonstration and the very good commentary by Sgt Andy Dodds and Cpl Dave Heyhoe had the crowd enthralled. Leana, an AES dog, worked really well considering the distrac- tions. She searched a small arena that had pre-positioned cones that the remainder of 104 MWD Sp Unit (LCpls Rob and Tammy King (him and her), LCpl ‘Mooner’ Marshall, and Pte ‘Greenie’ Greenhalgh) had laid out. One of the children had hidden a small magazine under a cone, and Leana found it in no time at all.
It is quite a daunting experience working in front of so many people and I would have enjoyed being part of the demonstration team that DAC used to run years ago, but for now I will stick to looking for weapons and explosives in Helmand Province.
Resume of the Past year – 2009
– Land Combat Power Demonstration
Looking over a very eventful 12-months for 104 MWD Sp Unit, Private Craig Stitson RAVC shared some of the highlights in an article for Chiron Calling:
During the last week in March, I took part, with LCpl Dan Baron and Pte Dan Watkins, in the Land Combat Power Demonstration working alongside 96 Sqn RLC as part of their demonstration, which was held on Salisbury Plain.
I took Patrol Dog ‘Sunny’, LCpl Dan Baron had ‘Snipe’ and Pte Dan Watkins, who was playing the role of the ‘terrorist’, had a black suitcase, which was to be his ‘bomb’. The actual demo only lasted four minutes, and the role of the dog lasted about 45 seconds! The rehearsals lasted a lot longer, with Sgt Craig Ide briefing the OC 96 Sqn how to use the dogs for the best impact.
Once into the demos we were doing six a day and it wasn’t long before the dogs soon knew exactly what they had to do. Pte Dan Watkins walked out, dressed in a balaclava and shouted: “I am a terrorist and I will kill you all.” He was carrying his black suitcase ‘bomb’, which he then placed next to a Demountable Rack Offload and Pickup System (DROPS) truck full of ammunition crates in full view of the crowd. And then he disappeared.
LCpl Baron and ‘Snipe’, right on cue, came out from hiding and started to search the area. This was narrated by OC 96 Sqn. ‘Snipe’ ran straight up to the bomb but, as there were still 20 seconds to fill, Dan Baron, staying calm, worked through this. As the demo went on ‘Snipe’ decided she wanted to search for a longer period of time and therefore searched around the crates before indicating on the ‘bomb’. ‘Snipe’ and LCpl Dan Baron withdrew, and Pte Dan Watkins then came out of hiding and ran towards the 2 DAF trucks, and also OC 96 Sqn who was standing perfectly still. I released ‘Sunny’, who ran the short distance, grabbed the terrorist’s arm, and brought him to his knees. The crowd were excited watching a GSD trying to rip the arm of the ‘terrorist’! And, as they were only 10 metres away, they could easily see and hear all the aggression.
After the demonstration, the crowd rose to their feet and cheered and clapped loudly. We were just a small part of the demonstration, but, I believe, the cheers were really for our dogs. You could certainly see from all the demos during that week that the response was the same. Military personnel just love to watch our working dogs, and it’s no surprise that 104 MWD Sp Unit are very keen to show off the capability.3
EXERCISE CHIRON ARCTIC II
– Dog sledding in Canada
In the month before 104 MWD Sp Unit was absorbed into the newly formed 1st Military Working Dog Regiment (RAVC), several members of the Unit were given the opportunity to take part in a canine related exercise overseas – but this time, not in the heat and sand but the freezing snow and ice.
3 Chiron Calling dated Summer/Autumn 2009.
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