Page 97 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
independence and the UK was given sovereignty of the bases. The bases had never been part of the Republic of Cyprus, (this being achieved in 1974), nor were the SBAs on loan, nor have they been ceded to the UK in any other way. The SBAs have their own sovereign territorial waters and air space. The SBAs allow Britain to maintain a permanent military presence at a strategically situated point in the eastern Mediterranean. RAF Akrotiri being an important staging post for military aircraft.
The coup affected everything after, especially in matters of security. Due to the unsettled conditions on the Island only families who could be accom- modated in the SBAs could be on accompanied tours from then on. And some postings to Cyprus were reduced to just six-month tours. The Unit kept busy through training ERE (Extra Regimental Employment) handlers. It was reported that all the RAVC ADP were back with ‘Nedj’, Cpl Nedjmettin, in Dhekelia, and continuing to give sterling support.
However, in December 1975 an item in Chiron Calling outlined that 3 ADTU was preparing to move from Dhekelia to become established in Episkopi, where the newly married Captain Andrew Warde RAVC was to become ‘caretaker’ of the RAVC’s new home, which had been the old RAF police buildings. The article concluded with a major truth: “There is no uncertainty over the value of our work to the security of the Army in Cyprus.”
As referred to earlier, training Exercises under- standably took a back seat during the conflict but the arduous nature of the legendary Cyprus walkabout was possible to organise. The 60 mile walk over two days proved too much for many of the soldiers, but not Captain Andrew Warde who became the only person to complete the challenge. The names of those who signed-up but didn’t make it over the line were kept secret and spared any unnecessary embarrassment.
The dogs were cared for and kept fighting fit by Sgt Nedj and Dr Ali – the stalwarts of the ADP who continued to look after the Dhekelia dog presence which in 1977 was working on a much reduced scale. It appeared that there was an even keener eye on running things down and fixing-up property in readiness for a new stage. For instance, on 31st October 1978, the Unit was advised to clear the “bundu” just outside the Unit lines as it was a fire hazard. The job was given to a Pte VT whose method of clearing a fire hazard made of dried grass and gorse can only be described...unique. He set fire to it!
There was another move to ‘tidy up’ in 1977,
when the new, and less aggressively sounding 3 ADTU moved its HQ to its present location in Episkopi leaving only a small detachment at Dhekelia. Contractors moved in to make long overdue improvements to the Episkopi buildings while the Unit’s former home was being ration- alised as it was too large for any of the current needs. But a building is just a building and despite the announcement of several other title changes later in the chapter, the aim and purpose of the Unit remained largely the same – ‘to ensure the best possible veterinary care and treatment of all Service animals, and to advise and guide the user in the most advantageous employment and management of those Service animals’.
April 1979 saw another change for the better, for the Island dwellers – that being the completion of training for the Cyprus Police Force which comprised six dogs – two security and four specialist – and their handlers. One of the Drugs dogs had already had a ‘find’ before passing out and went on to have many more. Within a year, Sgt Alex Lonsdale had received the CBF’s Commen- dation for his sterling work involved with training the Cypriot Police Dog handlers and their dogs. It was the start of a programme offering frequent training days in the republic.
Within four years the Unit had become very busy with drugs detection and minefield clearance. These capabilities were rapidly becoming a speciality. It was 1983 and the Unit members were frequently seen strutting about and posing proudly for pictures in their regulation blue UN attire. The UN in Cyprus had grasped the value of the Corps’ work and were now very “into dogs” and that included the AES dogs. The UN having no in-house dog section relied entirely on CDASU HQ dog section and its Dhekelia detachment to provide AES, Tracker and Drug capabilities to assist in the routine clearances for VIPs and medal parades. There was an increasing number of drug deterrent searches of UN personnel arriving at Larnaca airport and in their barrack blocks. Many of these tasks were carried out in conjunction with the UN Special Investigation Section.
The Drugs dogs began to make their mark in Nicosia – searching at irregular intervals. The DOE/PSA built a spectator stand that would make Wembley Stadium look shabby. RAVC personnel felt that it should be known as Hobson Terrace in memory of the Chief Trainer, Phil Hobson, who drew up the original plans many years ago. The dogs also made appearances in many different locations including the Buffer Zone between
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