Page 99 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
on the Golan Heights. Whilst dedicated to the task of caring for military animals, the inspection of fresh meat obtained overseas was another area where the Corps provided a service for military personnel. This task has been carried out by the RAVC in many overseas theatres in the past but is only carried out in Cyprus now. The OC was responsible for both ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections and checking the pigs before slaughter for any signs of illness or injury. Afterwards the dressed carcasses were carefully examined, and those not up to standard were rejected. The VO also ensured that animals were treated humanely throughout the process and also conducted an inspection of the farm where the pigs originated.24
A new slaughterhouse was opened in 1989 at Kophinou costing nearly £6m. A number of meat inspectors were employed there, the majority of them being veterinary surgeons – the OC CDASU still acting as the OVS for the RAOC pig slaugh- tering which provided pork for the British Forces and their dependants, UNFICYP, UNFIL and UNDOF.
That same year, the Corps Commandant, General Sir Brian Kenny KCB CBE, paid a formal visit to CDASU at Episkopi and was given a demonstration of the abilities of Protection dogs, and the formation of a Packhorse troop with an RAVC NCO and RCT drivers. General Kenny complimented all members of the Unit on their high standard of efficiency and their professional approach in the many tasks the Unit carried out. One of those tasks was linked to the Corps’ close working relationship with the Cyprus Civil Police Dog Section at Nicosia and when the Section reformed, the RAVC supplied the specialist and security dogs plus two instructors, LCpls Jock Kenny and Pete Davies. These 3 ADTU staff laid the foundation for the joint training that continued into the 1990s.
The relationship with the Cyprus Civil Police Dog Section began in 1978 but it was during early 1990 that a Guard dog from CDASU was live cast to the Section to work alongside a Cypriot Police dog handler who were regularly seen on duty at major football matches on the Island. CYPOL were delighted with their new British recruit and continued to regard the RAVC as experts on dog related matters. The use of Pack horses and their training continued to be a feature of the Unit – a topic that is covered in the Pack Transport chapter.25
24 Soldier Magazine dated February 1989.
25 Chiron Calling December 1990.
26 Chiron Calling June 1991.
27 Chiron Calling October 1992.
Other Tasks and Appreciation
Readers will know Cyprus DASU has had a long history of support to UNFICYP, and although it does not have full UN status, the Dhekelia section detachment handlers regularly put on the Blue Beret for AES and Drugs dog tasks. The Unit’s significant contribution was acknowledge by the presentation of UN Certificates of Appreciation for Sgt Rick Holmes and Cpl Mick Roache.26
For RAVC personnel, praise for their expertise often led to unusual requests for assistance. One such unusual request was received by CDASU for their assistance in caring for ‘Kinnell’ a giant tortoise belonging to the British Embassy in Khartoum. Captain Lucinda Cane RAVC was tasked to produce and a send a health care manual for use by Embassy staff. The Unit also continued to help out several feathered friends including a sick and injured vulture.27
Training farriers for Cyprus evolved out of the Island’s close relationship with the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH). When the charity was founded, much of its work was centred on the ill-treatment of horses being transported to the continent for slaughter, but in time the role of the ILPH became much more diverse. The DAC’s involvement in the training of farriers for Cyprus began in 1995 when the DAC was asked if they could supply a farrier to join forces with the ILPH and the department of Veterinary Services Cyprus to try and improve the standard of farriery and the basic management of equines on the Island. Sgt John Hayes honourably volunteered for the task.
Such was the success of the training a further request was made 12 months later in 1996. Success was noted in that instead of horses being hidden from the farriers, they were being brought forward for treatment. The RAVC’s sense of achievement was recognized even more when the Cypriots began identifying problems themselves. Instead of leaving the horses to suffer in their stables, owners realised that the farriers were there to help. Students coming forward for the training varied from farmers using their horses for work to Cypriot horse racing trainers and exercise jockeys. Changing the way people were suddenly viewing and appreciating the needs of their equines was the first huge bridge that had to be crossed before progress could be made. Students on the course were easier to convince than the owners and trainers due to the fact that most of the horses on
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