Page 29 - Chiron Calling Autum 2021/Spring 2022

headdress and the embroidered Red Paw flash on the upper sleeve of handlers continued until the closure of the Army Dog Unit on 31st July 2007.
25TH ANNIVERSARY AND MEMORIAL DEDICATION
ADU RAVC NI
The 25th anniversary of the formation of ADU RAVC NI was held on the 1st May 1998. The
unit commissioned a Memorial Garden for the five dog handlers killed during the Troubles. It
was dedicated by the Resident battalion’s padre Captain Steve Whiting, and personnel who had served previously in the unit were also invited to the anniversary. The special gathering was followed by a lunch and with a social event later
Memorial at 104 MWD Sp Unit North Luffenham circa 2008
in the Red Paw Club at Ballykelly.
A painting ‘Search and Secure’ depicting scenes of handlers working in various locations was also commissioned for the occasion and is now on display at 1st MWD Regt.
Further historical references the Army Dog Unit can be found in the future edition of the RAVC history which is due to be published later in 2022.
Gordon Taylor – RAVC Association
Gordon Taylor is one of
our strong Association member who is still active
at his grand age of 89. Gordon
had every intention to attend the RAVC Reunion this year that was sadly cancelled twice with the COVID-19 lockdown situation. When the Reunion was rescheduled for Sunday 12 September, Gordon once again rebooked his train fare from Newcastle and also his hotel accommodation in Melton Mowbray. Unfortunately, once again this event was cancelled, but on this occasion, Gordon decided that he would still travel South and spend the weekend in Melton Mowbray to enjoy a nostalgic couple of days in the place that he knew well.
Thankfully, Graham Eustace who is another member of the Association decided to host Gordon during his stay in Melton for which Gordon was most grateful for his pleasant couple of days. During his time in Melton, he had an evening at the British Legion Club that
was kindly arranged by Graham Eustace. They also visited the new build of the Canine Training Squadron and the Dog school. Although there was no Reunion,
Gordon’s weekend was not wasted, thanks to Graham and the British Legion.
Gordon was a National Serviceman who joined the Warwickshire Regiment in February 1951 then transferred to the RAVC in June 1951. He remembers being welcomed by RSM McCloud and Major Crawford on his arrival at
the Defence Animal Centre. He trained as a Dog Handler by a very able trainer, Sam Perrie who was also very well known in the Corps. Following his basic training he was posted to Sennelager in September 1951 and he recalls the time at the death of HM The King and when Elizabeth became our present Queen.
Gordon was then posted to Malaya and his voyage took him to Algiers, Columbo and Singapore and finally reaching Malaya where he stayed for 8 months before returning to Singapore to work with Capt Bishop who became Brigadier Bishop. In January 1954 he travelled with 12 dogs to Kenya via the Seychelles. He and the 12 dogs landed in Mombasa and then travelled by train to Nairobi, before the road journey to their final destination in
Nanyuki on the equator. After a few months he returned to Singapore to the end of his National Service in 1955.
Following demob, Gordon worked for the Coal Board which was followed by a spell as a Green Grocer and then in a supermarket. Finally, Gordon and his brother-in- law opened a hardware business in Newcastle which they ran until his retirement.
We were very sad not to have seen Gordon at the Reunion this year and we hope that we will see him again soon.
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