Page 492 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Handlers of all classifications were deployed on protracted and all manner of operations including the highly publicised taking of Musa Qal’eh. There are far too many stories and occurrences on the tour to mention in a short article, but special mention has to be paid to some of the following ‘dits’:
Pte Craig ‘Ninja’ Connell who, while on sangar duty at FOB Inkerman, on receiving incoming small arms fire responded by firing a 66mm rocket launcher at the enemy position. When questioned on his actions in using this munition instead of the GPMG at his sanger; Craig responded: “I wasn’t one hundred per cent confident operating the GPMG but the ‘66’ had instructions on it!”
WO2 Sean Jones, while dusting the cobwebs off his search harness and spending four weeks as an AES handler in Kabul, said that he was: “... enjoying getting amongst it again,” and “I feel like a young Corporal again.” However, his knees and back disagreed!
LCpl Adam ‘Spike’ Milliken insisted on smoking his pipe in as many hostile areas as he could find in Helmand Province.
Then there was the endless debate over whether LCpl Rob Ardis would audition for the new ‘Magnum P.I.’ film due to his ridiculous moustache and striking resemblance to the lead actor, Tom Selleck. And LCpl ‘Simo’ Simpson’s now infamous patrol from Sangin DC (the details of which are covered later in a ‘bluey’).
Nearing the end of the tour, MWD capability had been provided to over 10 FOB locations at different times as the battle space changed according to the threat and commanders’ intent, as well as the more permanent locations mentioned before.
By March 2007, it was fair to say that all handlers were looking forward to the handover to 104 MWDSU. It had probably been the most arduous and certainly the most kinetic tour in recent memory. The six-months spent on Op HERRICK 7 proved a challenge to both experienced and inexperienced handlers alike. The most significant change had been how MWDs came to be used at even Forward locations and how their extraor- dinary work had placed them in the highest regard by the units who served beside them.
No longer were Protection Dogs confined to Camp Bastion and base locations. Protection dogs were as far forward as any troops in theatre on foot patrols with the Infantry call signs on a daily basis. No longer were the AES dogs tasked for specific operations. Instead, they accompanied nearly every patrol in FOB locations, on foot, in some cases for days at a time over challenging terrain. The reasons for this being that all MWD
assets were required at a minute’s notice for a task and, due to the nature of the theatre, the logistics of deploying the asset to the location immediately, were impossible. A quote used by some to explain this was that: “the Mortar Fire Controller (MFC) goes on every patrol even when there is a good chance they will not be used, but if they are needed, they are there instantly.” And so, the same could then be said of MWDs of all classifications.
It had to be said that this tour of Afghanistan, once again, displayed to all Service organisations the flexibility, adaptability and quality of both Military Working Dog and handler.
The following ‘bluey’ from LCpl ‘Simo’ Simpson RAVC provides a window into the dangerous world of the MWD team:
A ‘bluey’ from the front – Operation: OP HERRICK 7.
To: Operations Warrant Officer: TMWDU, BFPO 792.
On 10th December 2007, I was on a standing patrol with A Coy 1RGR, with the intent of dominating the ground approximately 3.5km south of Sangin DC and searching the ground back into our location. We deployed out of the Sangin DC at 0300hrs down to our position where we were to go firm until first light to begin patrolling up through the suspected Taliban stronghold.
At approximately 0640hrs we were engaged with RPGs, mortars, HMG and Small Arms Fire while still firm in all round defence. After positively identifying the firing points and laying down suppressing fire, we moved into the cover whilst still being engaged from firing points at 360 degrees. My Section’s cover was an irrigation ditch filled with water. We were in this initial contact for three-and-a-half hours due to being pinned down by a sniper who was believed to be armed with a large calibre rifle judging on the size of the holes it was making in the walls behind us. While covering my arcs, I noticed muzzle flashes coming from the roof of one of the compounds and informed PC 3 Platoon who told us to put tracer onto the compound, which we did, whilst he called in air support. The Air rapidly identified the target and proceeded to engage with cannons and Hellfire missile just to be safe! (Awesome viewing).
We then began to carry out a fighting withdrawal back to the Helmand River so we could use the riverbanks as cover whilst we extracted back to the DC for tea and medals. However, the enemy forces had different ideas and continued to engage us a further 10 times during a withdrawal. One of the engagements, involving myself, my MWD and three members of 1 section, 3 Platoon, A Coy 1 RGR being blown to the floor, while hard targeting across dead ground when an RPG airburst above our heads and subsequently had us trapped in dead ground
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