Page 3 - Chiron Winter 2020

From the editor
by Lt Col Abby DuBaree
Regimental Secretary RAVC RHQ AMS
In my Spring editorial I mentioned that we were just about to go into a most eccentric
period with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, thinking it would be just like another form of flu and we would be back to our normal life in a matter of weeks. Little did we realise that it would be more serious that expected and here we are 8 months later and still in the midst of a pandemic. We now only pray for the arrival of a vaccine that would give some hope of normality in the not too distant future.
Although, the majority of the country went into ‘Lockdown’ our RAVC units had to continue on their routine duties to look after the 400 or so military working dogs and the 250 horses that had all been sent to rest in Melton Mowbray following the cancellation of all ceremonials in the capital. Life went on albeit with some adaptations for those
who were on training. You will
read in the Initial Trade Training Course (ITT) that the course had
to be rearranged to maintain a safe distance between students and trainers. Meeting by Zoom and Teams came into their own and have now become the ‘new norm’ for the future. At least little or no time and money is wasted in travelling to meetings and needless to say, those taking part tend to adhere to the agenda to the detriment of the social gathering pre and post meetings which we also used to enjoy.
Private Field writes a most interesting article about Pack Horses which have return into vogue based on their versatility to travers though most types of terrain. Some years ago when I had just arrived in Kosovo, I kept hearing about ‘Mule Trains’ in the evening briefing and with much courage I asked a Polish colleague about his earlier briefing when he explained about the weapons, ammunitions and explosives that were being
transported over
mountains across
the Kosovo/Serb
borders that had been successfully intercepted by Polish troops.
I would like to thank our close friends from Australia and New Zealand for their continued support to this magazine. Driven by Nigel Allsopp who was once trained by the RAVC and other ex-fellow members of the RAVC now living down under.
We recently said farewell to our last Chief Vet, Colonel Neil Smith who has now retired and we wish him and his wife Molly the very best for the future. We now welcome
in this edition our new Chief Veterinary and Remount Officer, Colonel Mark Morrison QHVS who most of you will remember from his time as the Commanding Officer
of the Defence Animal Training Regiment at Melton Mowbray. We take this opportunity to wish him, his wife Flo and their children the very best.
We also welcome Major Sean Jones as the Chairman of the RAVC Association from January 2021. Sean will take over from Lt Col Chris Ham MBE who has been the Chairman for the last five years. We also take this opportunity to thank Chris for his ever motivated attitude and for being a great inspiration on others in the Corps.
We congratulate Lt Col Clare Budge on her recent promotion
and I look forward to working with Clare again at our Headquarters in Sandhurst when life returns to near normal.
Finally, our congratulations goes to our Colonel Commandant, Major General Roly Walker who is to be promoted to Lieutenant General in early 2021. We wish him, his wife Kate and their family the very best.
Inside...
Kuno the RAVC MWD ................ 4
Commemorating the RAVC ...... 6
Ex Gaulish Dragon ..................... 6
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) 8
DATR Pack Transportation Handler Course ........................... 9
Mali – The PDSA Centenary Dickin Medal winner................ 11
New Chairman of the RAVC Association ................................. 12
Training Specialist MWDs during COVID–19...................... 14
Hong Kong Ex Servicemen’s Event .......................................... 14
One Dog’s Tale .......................... 15 An instructor at the DATR ...... 16
Life within ITT during the global pandemic ........................ 17
Canine Enrichment .................. 18
Blue Cross Australia
and New Zealand ...................... 20
Gunner – the hero dog ............. 21
MWD Smoky decorated posthumously in the USA ....... 21
A History of the RAVC ............. 22
Unveiling of New Zealand War Dog Memorial ............................ 22
Royal New Zealand Air Force .. 23
Letters to the Editor ................. 27
New Veterans Railcard............. 28
Obituaries................................... 30
All the Queens Horses ............. 31
Events 2021 ................................ 32
The Museum of Military Medicine Shop........................... 32
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