Page 5 - Chiron Calling Spring 2017

British Forces Germany, Barrack Closure Programme By Cpl Downer, 102 Military Working Dog Squadron
As British Forces continue to withdraw from Germany and the resulting Barracks closures there is a need to hand over the sites to the German authorities in as best and safe a condition as possible. Following a request from HQ BFG, 102 MWD Sqn was tasked to add another layer of assurance to meet the desired handover state.
Seizing an opportunity to use licensed dog teams in live tasks, the Sqn embarked on a programme of sweeping the barracks ready for handover, in order to ensure that they were free from discarded and potentially dangerous items of ammunition and weapons. It also provided us with a platform from which we could conduct additional continuation training scenarios.
7th & 8th September 2016 – Alanbrooke Barracks (Paderborn)
Alanbrooke Barracks, named after Field Marshal Viscount Alanbrooke, was the home of 33rd Armoured Brigade through the 1980s until it merged with 20th Armoured Brigade in 1992. Having served as an infantry barracks throughout the 1990s, it was home to 5th Battalion The Ri es (formerly 1st Battalion, the Light Infantry) between 2001 and September 2016.
Myself and PEDD Brenda with Pte Walsh and her AES dog Oscar were tasked to carry out a search of this camp. This was to include all the junior ranks accommodation blocks as well as the Sgts’ and Of cers’ messes along with many other buildings. The search concluded with a complete sweep of the perimeter wire.
28th September & 29th September 2016 – Tower Barracks (Dulmen)
This camp was a mass storage area for ammunition for decades and even had its own train line running through the site to deliver the munitions.
Myself and PEDD Brenda with Pte Baxter and IE3D Tonic managed a lucky escape from the Sqn training exercise and were fortunate enough to conduct the assurance sweep through
Cpl Downer and MWD Brenda searching Princess Royal Barracks, Gutersloh
MWD Bob searching outside the control tower on Gutersloh Air eld
Tower Barracks instead. Many of the accommodation areas were out of bounds however there were many large hangers and administration buildings that needed to be searched, including the train lines and the main route through the camp. The task was completed by a nal sweep of the perimeter.
23rd October – 26th October 2016 Princess Royal Barracks (PRB) (Gutersloh)
PRB was handed over to the Royal Air Force in 1958. The camp became a British Army Barracks in 1993 where various cap badges served. This was a three day search involving 8 dog teams including AES, IE3D and PEDD. We also took the opportunity to deploy some protection teams to assist the German Guard Service and to conduct some additional training including night some patrols.
The search covered the whole camp and we soon came to realise how big it actually is. I broke the Camp down into four manageable sections that would be covered over the duration of the stay, including the whole perimeter. We managed to gain access to the last open building with heating and running water in which to base ourselves for the duration of the task. Each handler and dog had their own room and we even had our own kitchen; great for making those bacon and egg rolls around lunchtime as a very welcome respite from the miserable weather outside. It seemed so strange that at one time this camp was full of life and so many people; now the buildings are starting to deteriorate with the old NAAFI beginning to look overgrown.
Overall every dog and handler has bene ted from all of these tasks and we look forward to more similar tasks in the near future.
RAVC Centaur Pin
The RAVC Centaur Pin is available from the RAVC Association Melton Branch at the cost of £5, plus postage and packing.
The pin is a miniature Centaur made of silver, size 1.5cm x 1.5cm (approx). It can be worn as a Lapel pin or tie pin and can be worn by both male and female.
Anyone interested is to contact: Mr Norman Morgan either by email or telephone. Cheques are to be made out to ‘Melton Mowbray Branch RAVC Association’.
Contact: NR Morgan, 156 Redwood Ave, Melton Mowbray, Leics LE13 1UF.
Email: morgan.2006@btinternet.com Tel: 01664 563716
CHIRON CALLING 3