Page 77 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
2 War Dog Training Unit RAVC disbanded on 31st March 1971.
Many RAVC personnel, both serving and retired at that time, shed a silent tear at the demise of this busy unit. It was once said: “It is sad to think that in the fairly near future, RAVC dogs and handlers will be a thing of the past in the Malaysian Jungle and we commiserate with those who have never served there. However, all good things come to an end, and we must hope that it is politically and militarily possible to employ Tracker and IP dogs somewhere else where they can be of real value.”
When Soldier Magazine covered the work of the jungle dogs from the early days of the conflict, it was the Unit’s special investment in the dogs that fell under the spotlight:
Major Scott Moffatt RAVC of 2 War Dog Training Unit, spends far more time on successful clinical operations to get the dogs fit and back on the job. A trained dog represents an investment of well above two-hundred-pounds, so the Unit’s investment in excellent pharmacy, operating theatre and X-ray machine made good cash sense.25 Any casualties quickly recover in one of the Unit’s ninety-six spacious kennels, on a strength-building diet which included a daily gorge on one-and-a-half pounds of prime Australian beef.26
The dogs spent their first six-weeks in Malaya, in quarantine enduring a state of restless captivity while they also acclimatised to the heat and humidity. Doberman Pinschers, Labradors and Alsatians – some of them imported from Australia – were on the team and under the care of the Unit’s experts who were always eager to start work on a new batch of canine recruits. Dogs, like many animals, respond keenly to firm discipline and regular routine. The dogs’ life was strenuous, as plenty was asked of them; in the jungle, before peak fitness, came breasting through dense undergrowth an exercise that surely tested their resilience to the limit. Respect and care for the dogs was, as for any soldier...second to none.
Soldier Magazine reported in 1963 that: “The pace last year, when the Unit trained sixty three dogs, was a full blooded gallop. You can standardise a training routine but dogs, like people, defy and resent stand- ardisation. Observation, instinct, experience and above all patience help the staff handlers to discover a dog’s individual foibles and get the best out of it. Training reaches a spectacular climax when the dogs go airborne for abseiling practice from helicopters.
On training tracks, the handler and the dog gradually came to know each other and understand what each was trying to do. The
tracker animal was, and still is, trained to follow human scent, and do it fast. When rumbled, the Indonesian insurgents were hell bent on reaching the safe haven of the border, so time was precious to the interceptors. When the dogs drew close to their heels the infiltrators went back into ambush, so prompting the deployment of another versatile Tracker dog’s skills into play.
Corporal Mick Joslyn’s drive and experience made him invaluable in every aspect of the RAVC Operational Dog Section – a pool of dogs and handlers used by infantry battalions. On one occasion Cpl Mick Joslyn was on track when his dog gave a classic set of “peril ahead” gestures but was nevertheless ordered by the infantry to push on. Moments later he was hiding from two machine guns and no doubt desperate to utter the words: “the dog told you so!”
There are so many tales to tell of how the dogs were always, at least, one step ahead in the jungle. The following extract shows, once again, Cpl Joslyn in the thick of the action on a typical Combat Tracker Team Operation. This ‘Report on Dog Callout’ was produced by Joslyn who handled “Desmond”, and LCpl ‘Jock’ Thompson, who handled “Chicko”:
On 21st March 1964 I was called out with No. 2 Tracker Team to follow up a party of rebels estimated at 20. An informer reported them passing his house. We proceeded to a farmer’s house by Whirlwind.27 On arrival, the Iban Visual Tracker found the track and followed it for 300 yards along a jungle path. The rebels’ track then left the main path and entered the jungle. A camp was found 20 yards into the primary for twenty men. After scouting the immediate camp area, Desmond was put on and proceeded to track. Approximately 150 yards further on we came across another camp. Here we found bivouacs for 10 men, also a fire area, covered in hot ashes indicating a ‘hot’ track. Desmond resumed tracking.
After 600 yards of primary jungle, we entered a swamp area. For the next 250 yards we went through water that was thigh-high in places. Going was impaired by obstacles such as fallen trees etc. On leaving the swamp we entered thick Parang areas. For 300 yards we tracked on well, then my dog pointed to the right. I passed back the information and the Visual Tracker made a quick investigation proving negative. I then resumed tracking, my dog being very keen. After 150 yards, I had another point. I indicated to get down and called the platoon’s Sergeant Howe.
As the platoon approached the front, the Visual Tracker fired a shot at a sentry, who returned fire, wounding the Visual Tracker. I heard movement in the bushes approx-
25 Soldier Magazine article, ’It’s a dog’s life.’ date unknown.
26 Ibid.
27 Westland Whirlwind helicopter, a troop and cargo transport with a capacity for eight to ten soldiers plus crew.
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