Page 3 - Chiron Issue 2 2014

Chiron Calling
EDITOR: Abby DuBaree
Regimental Secretary RAVC
EDITORIAL TEAM: Major Iain Rose,
Captain Mark Gibbs RAVC, and WO1 (RSM) Adie Davies
RHQ RAVC
The Former Army Staff College Slim Road CAMBERLEY GU15 4NP
Tel (01276) 412749
Fax (01276) 412793 E-Mails: regtsecravc@hotmail.co.uk
or abby.dubaree623@mod.uk
On the cover
The front cover shot shows The Colonel Commandant, Lt General James Everard CBE welcoming HRH The Princess Royal, our Colonel in Chief at the unveiling of the RAVC Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Friday 2 May 14.
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The major event over the last
period has been the completion
of the RAVC Memorial at the
National Memorial Arboretum
(NMA) and its unveiling by
HRH Princess Anne, Colonel
in Chief of the RAVC. There
is an article in this edition on
a vision which finally became
a reality. The RAVC memorial
stands proud at the NMA and I
commend our readers who do
travel in the vicinity to pay a
visit to the NMA. It lies not far
from Lichfield and just off the A38 in the village of Alrewas in Staffordshire.
As we commemorate the beginning of WWI, there is an article about Lieutenant Vincent Fox who was one of the first Veterinary Officers to join the Army Veterinary Corps at the beginning of the war. We have another article that will be ready for the next edition in the Spring of 2015, which is from the war diary of Major Holmes OBE who also served as a Veterinary Officer in the Army Veterinary Corps during WW1. This story was forwarded to us by a relative of Major Holmes who has given us permission to reproduce it for Chiron Calling.
We have seen a major change over of staff at our Headquarters at the Army Medical Directorate in Sandhurst. First with Colonel Neil Smith leaving in July and Colonel Dougie Macdonald taking over the rein as DAVRS. Then Lt Col Chris Ham leaving on retirement. Whilst Major Iain Rose moved desk from SO2 Vet to assume
the role of Officer Commanding for the Veterinary Services Training and Advisory Team. We welcome Major Clare Budge as the new SO2 Vets, fresh from her 8 months at Staff College. We also said farewell to Captain Laura Riley who left the Service to embark on a new challenge as a civilian Veterinary Officer and finally with WO2 Andy Dodds was posted in May to assume his new appointment as Chief
Dog Trainer at the Defence Animal Centre in Melton Mowbray, as we finally welcome back WO2 Kev Gavin for his last few month in the Service.
We have introduced a new feature in this edition, with a Padre’s reflection which you will read from Revd Brian McAvoy. We look forward to a regular missive from Revd Brian in future editions of Chiron Calling. I would like to thank our contributors for their articles, but our special thanks go to CO 1 MWD Regt, CO DAC , their Adjutants and RSMs for generating the articles from their units. However, we can not forget our young writers who play a big part in keeping the Corps magazine alive. I often hear from our senior readers on the joy they have in reading the articles written by our young members of the Corps. Thank you to everyone for your continued support. The closing date for the Spring/ Summer 2015 edition is 1 February 2015.
EDITORIAL
Director’s View.......................................................4 Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland .........5
Farewell to Lieutenant Colonel Chris Ham MBE RAVC .................................................................... 5
Focus On – Army Medical Services Triathlon.........6
105 Millitary Working Dog Squadron Denmark – UK Exchange.........................................................6
Exercise Boston Revolution ...................................7
Major General J F Rowan OBE QHS L/RAMC
Director General Army Medical Services................7
PA(w)DRE’S Patter..............................................8
Equine Training Squadron Show Jumping Team ... 8
102 Millitary Working Dog Squadron Visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau Prisoner of War Camps...8
1 Military Working Dog (MWD) Regiment John Shipp Day Celebration ........................................... 9
The RAVC Association Centaur Pin......................9
OBE for Lt Col Richard Pope RAVC....................9
The Anzac Mounted Military Police (MMP) ......10
104 Millitary Working Dog Squadron at Armed Forces Day Stirling...............................................11
Defence Animal Centre Open Day – The Veterinary Training Squadron................................................12
Military Working Dog Trauma Treatment Op HERRICK 19.....................................................13
Equine Training Squadron Community
Engagement .......................................................... 13
The RAVC Memorial...........................................16 AES Handler – Op HERRICK 19.....................18
Blind Veterans UK offers support to vision impaired ex-Service men and women...................................21
Soldier Personnel Selection (SPSO) Officer Board....................................................................23
The Queensland Police Service Mounted Unit 150 years on.................................................................25
Exercise SKIES CALLING 2014.......................26
1 MWD Regt Army Reserve Offices - 60 Minute Makeover .............................................................. 27
A Day in the Life at Headley Court .....................27
102 Millitary Working Dog Squadron – Exercise PASHTUN LINKS 7.........................................28
102 Millitary Working Dog Squadron – Mission Specific Training and Op HERRRICK 20 .........29
105 Millitary Working Dog Squadron - Preparation For Contingency Operations .................................29
A Time for Reflection............................................30
1st Military Working Dog Regiment Triathlon
Team ..................................................................... 32
Obituaries .............................................................33
1st Military Working Dog Regiment Potential NCO Cadre 141 (09 - 27 Jun 14)..................................34
Notices .................................................................. 36 New CO DAC, Lt Col Mark Morrison RAVC ...38
CONTENTS
Chiron Calling 3