Page 65 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
candidates on a Vietnamese Officers’ course.
At the same time, the Tracker Dog Holding Section had its hands full keeping the trained dogs up to the required standard which was imperative as demonstrations were made a regular feature of the Corps’ work out there. One of the more interesting visitors at that time was Top Sgt9 Pate, a United States Air Force Dog Trainer, who went on to be employed in Vietnam. His visit to the Unit permitted a refreshing exchange of ideas. He eagerly accepted the opportunity to personally lay a track in order to answer his own query surrounding the perhaps ‘rehearsed’ nature of the demonstration. “Sooty”, handled by LCpl Mick Joslyn, showed definitively that scent, rather than memory, provided the answer to the Top Sgt’s
suspicions!
An opportunity to prove the dogs’ abilities
in this environment came in May with Exercise PICK UP. The Exercise set both the men and the dogs the task of protecting a jungle village against intrusion. The ‘enemy’ – Ibans of the Sarawak Rangers and SSgt John Carter – were detected and failed to penetrate the dog protected perimeter. It was good practice for what came next.
In 1963, the confrontation between Malaysia and Indonesia was developing. The situation soon necessitated the expansion of the Corps to provide specialist dogs in their well-tried jungle warfare settings, and that expansion was in terms of Officers and men. And, since the need was urgent, there were under postings at home and heavy modifications to the training methods of both personnel and animals.10
2 War Dog Training Unit maintained its close links with the Sarawak Rangers and in the spring of that year, the OC and LCpls Lim Khor Hin and Razali travelled to North Borneo to collect ponies purchased for the Rangers. However, this was very much at a time when the main focus for RAVC personnel remained on the dogs. The main task of the detachment in Borneo was the training of handlers and meeting the need for specialist dogs on operations. To show the importance of the work being achieved, General Walker – General Officer Commanding – attended the full scale passing out parade held after the completion of the first course.
It was reported in August 1963 that the Unit’s “country seat” in Borneo was considered an attractive posting but that was unlikely to have been a sentiment shared by all. Those who had
been blooded in their jungle training were well aware that surviving the unique challenges required a consistently high level of professional skill and personal resilience. The dogs were challenged too. The pharmacy staff recorded a range of ‘interesting’ cases, some of which were the product of a change in climate that favoured an old enemy – the tick. Skin conditions predomi- nated the sick parades and dogs in various stages of ‘undress’ – their coats partly or entirely gone. This was bad timing as commitments in the Borneo territories had increased owing to the rebels increasing their activity. At that time there were 18 dogs under Sgt Tony Rossell, Cpl ‘Topper ’ Brown and LCpl ‘Jock’ Thompson, all of whom were attached to 3 Commando Brigade, RM. The handlers were from 42 Commando. SSgt Gerry Quigley, Sgt Fred Young and Cpl George Yeandle had just returned from setting up the Operational Dog Section in Borneo.
Tracker teams had been used in other theatres with great success. The employment of a full team was introduced in Sarawak during the latter end of 1963. Due essentially to the experience gained by WO2 John Carter RAVC, and Lieutenant Montgomery (42 Cdo RM) in Cyprus, a course programme was laid-on for training Combat Tracker Teams (CTT) for each relieving Infantry battalion in Sarawak during 1964.11
The course was held in Kuching, the base for 42 Cdo RM, and lasted for two weeks. The hope was that in that time, each team would gain enough knowledge in various subjects relating to operational tracking. During 1963 Tracking dogs had been worked with success, but certain requirements were lacking. For one thing, they had not been worked as teams, and a team would overcome all setbacks and ensure a smooth running ‘follow-up’ of enemy troops. During the two weeks, both tracking and infantry subjects were covered and the handlers and team members learnt the essentials of each other ’s work; ensuring an understanding existed between both and also promoted confidence in each other. The bonding gained from PT being part of the daily routine, followed by instruction in unarmed combat was vital.
As the course began, the CO 42 Cdo RM, gave an introductory address briefly covering how tracking had already benefited operations and what was hoped for the future. After explaining
9 First sergeants are generally the senior non-commissioned officers of company,(battery, troop) sized units, and are unofficially but commonly referred to as “top”, “top sergeant”, due to their seniority and their position at the top of the company’s enlisted ranks. Wikipedia.
10 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 38 No 1 Summer 1967.
11 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 35 No 2 Autumn 1964 COMBAT TRACKER TEAMS, SARAWAK 1963 – 1964.
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