Page 49 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
sojourn in Aden passed without incident and the NCOs returned without a scratch save from vaccination scars.9
When the British finally left Aden on 29th November 1967 the newly formed People’s Democratic Republic of South Yemen gave active support to the serious insurrection unfolding in Dhofar, Oman.
Berlin
The German Service Organization (GSO) was created directly after World War Two. All Ger- man civilian employees of the British occupying power in Germany belonged to the GSO, which emerged out of the German Civil Labour Organi- sation (GCLO) on 21st October 1950.
GSO members were mainly employed as drivers and although classed as Civil Servants, they were obliged to wear a uniform, which was dark green with the letters ‘GSO’ on the left sleeve near the shoulder. Less than two months later, on 1st December 1950, the German Service Organisation Berlin (Watchman Service) was formed from parts of the GSO units of the British sector stationed in West Berlin. Much later, in 1982, the 248 German Security Unit emerged as the German company of the British Military Police.10
Paid by the German State, the GSO was the forerunner of the Mixed Service Organisation (MSO) formed in 1952.11
Greater Berlin covered 241 square miles – more than twice the size of the Isle of Wight. The territory was not entirely urban as lakes and forests spread through the land that was split into four sectors: the British, Americans, French and the Soviets who then split the territory into two zones – the British, Americans and the French took West Berlin, giving the Soviets East Berlin. The Soviet sector covered almost half of the area in front of the Iron Curtain, which was reported to have over 57 miles of dog runs, comprising two hundred and fifty separate runs each having one hundred dogs working over the 870 mile inner border. And other barriers were on site too, such as double barbed-wire fencing, mesh fencing, over eleven million anti-personnel mines, and two hundred and sixty-five observation towers all combining to create an impregnable Boundary.
The duties of the RAVC in Berlin centred on supervising the training of dogs and handlers in the GSU (German Service Unit) – Western Sector. This was a civilian organisation formed in 1950
9 Ibid.
10 Wikipedia.
11 Oral testimony Major (Retd) Tony Rossell RAVC May 2021.
which was employed by the Army departments; however, its members wore crisp, military-style uniforms and carried loaded automatic pistols while working within the strict control, and pay of, the Berlin Senate. The Unit was situated at Smuts Barracks in Spandau, next door to the famous prison where seven Nazi leaders indicted, and tried at the Nuremberg Trials, were imprisoned in July 1947.
By December 1950, and as its commitments grew as a Watchman organisation, it was clear that the GSU could relieve British Troops from guard duties in West Berlin. It had developed into a fully- fledged Security Guard Unit, complete with a Guard dog section with approximately thirty dogs. Only German nationals were allowed to serve in the GSU and only the most suitable candidates passed the initial four weeks training before being deemed capable of the Watchman title in one of the GSU sections. The GSU guarded a dozen key sites throughout West Berlin, ranging from the NAAFI shopping complex, HQ and barracks areas and the official residence of the British Commandant at the time. The GSU Unit had approximately sixty handlers – so, two per dog – completing three week courses. It was commanded by the CO Berlin Garrison Administrative Unit.
The GSU Dog Section comprised twenty handlers with ten dogs employed nightly to guard the Brigade Ammunition Depot and also the transmitter site both of which were situated in the famous Stadium. Other dogs were employed on the ranges and ammunition dumps located outside the Stadium and also the ammunition dump in Smuts Barracks. Owing to the ever-in- creasing number of recruits leaving the Service after a short period, there was a constant change of handlers. There was also a shortage of training space so permission was given to the CO of the RAF Station at Gatow, approximately six miles away in the south-western district of Berlin, to conduct the training on the airfield in fine weather. In bad weather a hangar was put at their disposal. This was an ideal, rural area for a training ground as it backed on to the Border and was situated in a wood packed with a variety of hide outs and trenches. The handlers working in this location left for the site by truck at 0830 hrs and returned at approximately 1600 hrs. Dinner was served in the woods and was greatly enjoyed by all.
The Rifle Section which also employed dogs and handlers for daytime guard duties in the Bde HQ, the ammunition depots and at the camp gates. All
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