Page 53 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
The Corps’ Journal of spring 1965 included a round-up of the RAVC’s presence in Malta post-in- dependence:
The quality of mercy may drop like gentle rain from heaven but the way rain drops here in Malta is, in fashion, quite merciless. During the past three weeks we have had half the annual average rainfall and we look like having a lot more. It is not twice blessed, nor even once. High winds make things worse. It is hoped that your correspondent who arrived with this weather is not cast like his namesake, Jonah, into the sea to ameliorate the storm.
The climatic winds of change however are blowing quietly now in Malta now that Independence has been achieved. We look now across the water to the Libyan shore where fresh breezes are beginning to muster before the turning over there. The first change experienced in that land, which happily does not affect any RAVC person, is a most complicated reform of motor insurance. Coupled with an extraordinary third-party clause, all returns have to be in Arabic. We left the DAPM (thought to mean Deputy Assistant Provost Marshal), who had just returned from leave, in a very confused state. Major Scott Moffat was helped on his way to Malaya and Captain Keith Morgan Jones replaced him.
Scott Moffat had laid the foundations of a firm estab- lishment here in Malta, and even in the short time that he spent on the island he had become a prominent figure both professionally and socially. His spare time work for the RSPCA was appreciated and on his departure he was presented with a small token of the local committee’s regards in the shape of a silver model of a Gozitan fishing boat. Another imminent change was connected with Sgt Burke in Tripoli. It is reported that Sgt Burke will be greatly missed from his sphere. His sound common sense had proved valuable both in his work and in advice to Service families on the subject of pets. It was reported from Malta, that work was very brisk and we are training-up large numbers of Royal Malta Artillery dog handlers prior to the acceptance of dogs.20
Having survived St Paul’s weather, and the winter chill, the RAVC on Malta were treated to the famous Mediterranean sun tempered with cooling breezes from the Ionian Sea... and the occasional gale. By this time, Captain Morgan Jones had visited Libya several times and the stations in Aden and the Persian Gulf as well as spending short spells in Cyprus, courtesy of RAF Movements. The build-up of Royal Maltese Artillery Dog Handlers was complete to the point of also having a percentage of the required reserve – Cpl Johnny Malvern had all his work cut out trying to keep some 26 dogs and handlers up to scratch.
20 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 36 No 1 Spring 1965. 21 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 36 No 2 Autumn 1965. 22 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 38 No 1 Summer 1967.
The Unit also received the Naval Guard Dogs from Hal Far back into the Army and this swelled the ranks even further. There was much praise given regarding the standard of health and training amongst the Naval dogs who had been looked after very well indeed by the erstwhile Naval Air mechanics, fitters and aircraftsman. They were duly congratulated on their unlikely role as dog handlers.
Providing the community with support remains high on the RAVC’s agenda wherever it finds itself in the world and in Malta it was important to the Corps that professional aid continued to be given to the local RSPCA at race meets and at various horse shows. The Staff Captain Veterinary and Remount also provided advice on the appearance and potentialities of dairy cows and various breeds of horse. He was about to make his first expedition to Gozo on that kind of errand when a new scare hit the Island. The Journal in autumn 1965 reported: “...there was a strange germ doing the rounds at that time causing a mild strangles cum bronchitis cum hepatitis in horses. This rather unlikely combination attacked most of the horses in Malta.”21
The success of the dogs in other locations did little to make members of the RAVC in Malta less apprehensive about next steps. Lord Beswick visited for talks with the Maltese Government about the future of the Services on the Island and the air was filled with rumour about the decision to withdraw. The prospect of an official pronouncement hung like the sword of Damocles over the RAVC.
Captain Keith Morgan Jones departed Malta April 1967 and it was reported his departure proved to be a loss to the island as he did so much work in so many spheres. His work for the RSPCA and his expertise running the dog handlers’ courses for civilian owners accounted for just two of his outside activities that benefitted the community. SSgt Ron Padley and Cpl Pete Thorpe were located at the Mosta Dog Section of the Malta Provost Company and it was reported Sgt Jones was looking after the dog detachments in North Africa from Benghazi to El Adem. Sgt John Worne was in Gibraltar.22
Mentioning Gibraltar...a visit had already been made there but, as always with Mediterranean postings, the weather had an impact on the work. Malta and Libya being no exception to the sway of the climate. No matter what happened in between,
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