Page 479 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
majority just stood around and watched amazed at how the dogs were worked.” The general view was that the local population thought it was good to see ISAF and British Forces in Afghanistan as they brought stability to a very fragile situation and country.19
Once deployed, the tempo of operations for MWDs was high and it steadily increased. The reason for this was twofold: The MWD capability had been recognised following the suicide attack on 28th January 2004, which killed one UK soldier and seriously injured four others. And the significant find by Sgt Strange and his AES dog, Jakey, 11th February 2004 of a device consisting of a TM62 AT mine, power unit, antenna, twin flex wiring and receiver concealed in a culvert, did much to further enhance the professional credit- ability of the RAVC section.
A visit report20 produced by Major Chris Ham concluded that:
‘With good planning the MWD capability for Op FINGAL was delivered in a timely and effective manner, thus providing HQ BRITFOR additional FP capability. All personnel involved in the successful deployment are thanked for their contribution – in particular Sgt Strange and Cpl Jones who, without doubt, have made the Op FINGAL MWD capability a resounding success’.
Sgt Strange and Cpl Jones were replaced by LCpl Mick McEwan and LCpl Chris Green on 22nd March 2004. The presence and recognition of RAVC Search dogs continued and the citation below clearly indicated the value of Search dog teams in such an environment. The citation relates to the award of the PDSA Dickin Medal to MWD “Sadie”, which took place in February 2007:
For outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty while assigned to the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry during conflict in Afghanistan in 2005.
On 14th November 2005 military personnel serving with NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Kabul were involved in two separate attacks. Sadie and Lance Corporal Karen Yardley were deployed to search for secondary explosive devices. Sadie gave a positive indication near a concrete blast wall and multinational personnel were moved to a safe distance. Despite the obvious danger, Sadie and Lance Corporal Yardley completed their search. At the site of Sadie’s indication, bomb disposal operators later made safe an explosive device.
The bomb was designed to inflict maximum injury.
Sadie’s actions undoubtedly saved the lives of many civilians and soldiers.21
Three more MWDs were to be awarded the coveted PDSA Dickin Medal for their life-saving bravery during the conflict in Afghanistan: AES dogs “Treo”, “Sasha” and “Theo”. Treo a black Labrador, serving with the RAVC, located numerous IEDs in Helmand Province, during August and September 2008. Treo received his PDSA Dickin Medal, accompanied by his handler Sgt Dave Heyhoe, at a special ceremony at the Imperial War Museum, London on 24th February 2010.
MWDs Sasha and Theo – as covered later in this chapter – did not survive the conflict:
Sasha’s PDSA Dickin Medal was presented posthumously on 29th April 2014. A British Army dog assisting her handler, Lance Corporal Kenneth Rowe, Sasha was based at British HQ in Helmand Province. The yellow Labrador Retriever was credited with finding 15 IEDs and potentially saving the lives of many of her Army colleagues. Sadly, Sasha and her handler were ambushed by insurgents, and both were KIA on 24th July 2008. Sasha and LCpl Rowe were part of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, attached to the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment.
On 1st March 2011 whilst serving with 104 Military Working Dog Squadron, Lance Corporal Liam Tasker and his AES dog, Theo, were engaged in small arms fire, alongside the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. LCpl Tasker was KIA; later, Theo suffered a seizure and died. Theo was awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty and his Medal was presented posthumously on 25th October 2012.
In January 2006, the UK Defence Secretary, John Reid, announced that the UK was to deploy with several thousand personnel to Helmand for at least three years.
The Defence Secretary’s announcement prompted the following comment from Brigadier Andrew S Warde, in The Director’s View (Chiron Calling: spring 2006):
“you can be sure that the force being sent to Afghanistan following the recent announcement will include members of the RAVC.”22
19 Chiron Calling Summer 2004. ‘Specialist Dog Section, Camp Souter Kabul, Afghanistan.’
20 DAC/G3/4/5 Dated 18th March 2004 Op FINGAL MWD Deployment and Visit Report Major Chris Ham RAVC. 21 PDSA Dickin Medal Citation Sadie and AES dog deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan.
22 Chiron Calling Winter 2005/Spring 2006 ‘The Directors View’ Brigadier Andrew S Warde.
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