Page 52 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Command. Captain Scott Moffat was based in Nanyuki with 67 Animal Troop, The Kenya Army. SSgt Jim Rogers and Sgt Frank Robinson were in Kahawa with the EAAW and Sgt Paddy O’Shea was very much on his own in Aden. When the VO announced that he would be moving on, it was accompanied by the sad news that the ‘67’ was to disband on 31st March 1964. This was a great blow to the RAVC and RASC and the local population of Nanyuki as the Troop was always a staunch supporter of all the local equine events.
Despite the looming disbandment, the Troop remained active in supporting military safaris and training exercises in Kenya – as normal and expected. There was also the RAVC’s valuable contribution to Kenya’s Independence celebra- tions. Participation in the events took several forms including Corps personnel spending three weeks on Mount Kenya transporting all the equipment for the mountaineering party responsible for raising the Kenya national flag at midnight on 11th – 12th December 1963.
As the ceremony took place in the middle of the ‘short rains’ the weather conditions were appalling but the mules and ponies stood up extremely well to the challenge and the very hard work. Everyone who took part thoroughly deserved the high praise from the authorities, both civil and military. An administrative inspection, carried out by Brigadier Dickson, Commander 1 Inf Bde Kenya Army, went off very well with all Officers mounted on parade and an escort of ‘Lancers’, under CSM Connor, took up the rear of an impressive turn-out of Pack ponies.
Down South, towards Nairobi (known as the ‘very big city’), SSgt Rogers and Sgt Robinson maintained an extremely high standard of training and efficiency of Guard dogs and Askari handlers. The quality of the service was visible to all and the subject of much respect.
Across the seas in Aden, Sgt O’Shea was something of a one-man-band and happy to be so although his remit was incredibly wide and varied. As previously said in the section on Aden, his advice on camel purchasing was in great demand and each month he undertook a 2,500 mile round trip to attend to the horses of the Trucial Oman Scouts. His well-honed expertise was highly valued by the local people who were also able to absorb the animal care advice he offered on every visit. The VO was also kept very busy especially by the camel drivers who demanded a full ‘MoT’ on any prospective new purchase.18
18 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 35 No 1 Spring 1964.
19 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 35 No 2 Autumn 1964.
Sadly, written accounts of the RAVC’s activities in Kenya drip to nothing after the summer of 1964 as a result of the complete withdrawal of all British Army personnel. Under the terms of the British agreement all her Forces were to be removed from Kenya by 12th December 1964 – the first anniversary of Kenyan independence.
At the time of writing during May 2021, BATUK is a permanent training support unit based mainly in Nanyuki, 200 km north of Nairobi where there remains a small presence. BATUK provides demanding training to exercising units preparing to deploy on Operations or assume high-readiness tasks. BATUK consists of around one hundred permanent staff and a reinforcing short tour cohort of another two hundred and eighty personnel. Under an agreement with the Kenyan Government, up to six infantry battalions per year carry out eight-week exercises in Kenya. The RAVC regularly trains there on Ex ASKARI STORM and similar Exercises.
Lt Col Richard Pope OBE RAVC had an assignment as Commander DIO Kenya; his busy role in this appointment is outlined within chapter 22, The RAVC – a Wider Integration in Defence.
Malta, Libya and the Persian Gulf
A new appointment for the RAVC was estab- lished on 1st May 1964. Staff Captain V&R HQ Malta and Libya was taken-up by Captain Scott Moffat on his return from East Africa and, de- spite the title, the area covered extended beyond Malta to Tripoli and El Adem (an RAF base in Libya) and at the time there was the possibility of adding further interests in North Africa.
In addition to being responsible for the Army’s dogs the RAVC was also responsible for RN dogs and RAF dogs in Malta and Tripoli. To undertake these duties, Sgt Tom Burke was attached to the Tripolitania Provost Company and Cpl Johnny Malvern was attached to the Malta Provost Company, both NCOs taking their families with them to make the best of their postings. Ironically, for Captain Scott Moffat who had recently left Kenya in the wake of the country’s independence, this posting was also to be one affected by the winds of change given that the entire community was awaiting Malta’s independence on 21st September 1964. Everyone was interested to learn what, if any, changes may be brought about on the island, and great interest was being shown in the possibility of duty free goods!19
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