RAF POLICE DOG HANDLER 1948-49

As Remembered By Charles Agar

It's A Dogs Life

In 20 months I was stationed at 6 different units but had 10 postings as I was at Spinney Wood and Kasfareet 3 times each - it appears that my name was always top of the list.

There was never any fresh dog meat, the sole supply was in 1lb tins and biscuits were the square hard-tack ones that used to be issued to the Messes and which few men are. The only place where dogs were housed in proper kennels and compounds was at the Dog School - everywhere else we had to fend for ourselves. Some were in large packing cases with mesh fronts - at El Firdan in caravans, at Spinney Wood in cement brick tunnels 4 ft wide and high and 8 ft long which were good for shade in summer.

Dogs needed to be inspected each day for ticks - the standard proceedure was to remove them by dipping tweezers into a jar of parafin and gently gripping them by the head. Dispensaries were unheard of luxuries and our dogs only saw a vet then they were sick, which was rare, and they had to be taken to the RAVC at Moascar from wherever we were in the Canal Zone - they wouldn't visit you. I can't recall any dog being inoculated against rabies, leptospirosis or other diseases.

Dog patrols were of 5 hours duration but if one was employed on a Mobile Section which catered for Station which did not have a Dog Section, the duty would entail 6 hours or more. Naturally all dog patrols were done at night. We were armed with .38 revolvers with 12 rounds of ammo. and it depended on which station you were patrolling as to whether you may need to use it. On some units there was gunfire most nights, and not always one-way, as those who served in Abu Sultan and Kasfareet will know. There were frequently break-ins as these units covered vast areas but such events never appeared in the newspapers and there was no inquiry; these things were expected as part of the life then. Of course, self-preservation is paramount regardless of any regulations. At one time we had 250 Royal Marine Commandos there and we had been having trouble with the natives cutting the underground transmitter cables which were heavy lead-covered. It is said that they got £1 per yard for it (My pay was £3.10.0d a fortnight). At El Firdan we had to stand-by each night at an outstation with a Section of Commandos and if the alarm was raised that a cable had been cut we had to locate the thieves with the dog but let the Commandos take over the arrest (if any). They were rough kiddies!

Back to Gallery of Charles Agar

Back to RAF Police

Back to RAF Units

Back to Canal Zoners Memories

Back to Main Page