Page 94 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
A crown tooth for Sheba.
Sheba, a three year old war dog, was fitted with a silver tooth by the RADC. The only bitch in a kennel of dogs at 3 WDTU, RAVC in Cyprus, Sheba broke one of her fang teeth and for a war dog that is about as serious as a soldier losing a rifle.
So, she was marched off to the BMH at Dhekelia where under anaesthetic administered by Veterinary Officer Captain Mike Heald, dentist Major Lionel Kessel set to work on the most unusual patient. The “crown” for the broken tooth came from a series of impressions and Sheba finally left hospital with much tail wagging and a gleaming silver fang tooth. There will be no holding her in the kennels now – she will probably want false eyelashes next! Equally happy was the dentist: “I wish all my patients were as good”.16
It was farewell time for Colonel Spurry, a well-re- spected member of the Unit who was presented with an inscribed silver bowl at his departure party. It was at a time when there had been a great deal of change and uncertainty in other units too as they faced cuts in strength and faced doubts as to their future. Typical in the face of adversity the Corps pulled together and held tight to tradition and despite the atmosphere of apprehension went ahead with the annual Dog Trials. The ADP won the team and individual events despite the intro- duction of working trial standards, which were unfamiliar to many of the handlers competing. Nevertheless, standards were high and plans were put in place for a second more advanced trial to take place later that summer.
It was, in many respects a time when the emphasis was on keeping to routine and, as far as possible carrying on as normal in the shadow of the terrorist threat. For the VO, ‘normal’ was going to Muscat to de-voice a troop of pack donkeys. For the handlers, visiting other Sections was a piece of ‘normal’ to be encouraged. The Unit spent time with the Dog Section of the Swedish Battalion UN Forces which was stationed in Famagusta. The Swedes had six dogs which they used for guard and patrol work so there was plenty to talk about and notes to exchange which led to a reciprocal visit to Dhekelia a few weeks later. The handlers went about their business which for IP and Tracker dog teams who assisted the 2nd Bn The Royal Anglians it meant assisting on an Escape and Evasion exercise.17
By October 1967, changes came to the Cambrai Camp. The RMP decided that they had ‘roughed
16 Soldier Magazine dated October 1966.
17 The Journal of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps Volume 38 No 1 Summer 1967.
it’ long enough and moved to permanent accom- modation elsewhere. In turn, the RAVC HQ was moved from the old location within the compound to the block vacated by the RMP. Paint was splashed on the walls and new lino laid, creating the new-look offices ‘fit for a king’. The battle beyond those walls was intense and violent.
Once more the Greek and Turkish Cypriots faced up to each other, the Turks receiving heavy casualties. Turkish jet aircraft buzzed the Island instilling fear into everyone on the ground. During this tense period, Dhekelia was host to some fourteen hundred refugees with the Alma, Anzio and Cambrai camps being turned into refugee centres – Cambrai having around fifty tents capable of housing three hundred people. The tents were erected by the students of RMA Sandhurst who happened to be on Exercises on the Island and large Union Jacks flew on all prominent building in the Sovereign Base Area, including the water tower, which was said, looked like Fort Courage which was featured on TVs F Troop. For all thinking back, it was a great relief when the threat of war was no longer imminent, and no one needed British hospitality any more.
The Unit had its Administrative Inspection carried out by the Deputy Commander, a Brigadier, who was happy with all he found as he checked the equipment, accommodation and ration accounts before watching a demonstration by Cpl Nejmettin and the ADP demo team. But the Brigadier had a question for the team: he wanted to know how long the dogs would remain in the ‘stay’ position if their handlers were out of sight. Someone replied: “hours!” The Brigadier was quick to respond with: “prove it!” and marched off to the CO’s office for coffee! He watched the dogs through the window and, after half an hour, returned to find them still in the down position, and eyeing the actions of a very daring ‘chai wallah’ who decided to shake out his blankets nearby.
The strife-torn island saw further departures and further wars and rumours of wars, but despite it all, the Unit carried on even after losing another man due to the economy squeeze. The duties on the Island have involved personnel in no small measure due to the conflagrations in the Middle East and unit members were sent on numerous missions to the various trouble spots. During the “June War” (5th – 10th June 1967), also known as the Third Arab-Israeli War, there came a sudden demand for dogs to protect British lives and
86