There were no V and R units included in the Order of Battle of 21 Army Group at this stage except a HQ staff consisting of a lieutenant colonel, major and three clerks.
As there were no veterinary officers on the staff of Civil Affairs the V and R staff was sometimes called upon for technical advice concerning civilian owned stock.
In July V and R 21 Army Group assumed veterinary responsibility for all dogs on the strength of units in the Order of Battle. As far as possible all dogs had been inoculated against rabies before despatch to BLA.
In order to cope with the large number of horses which it was expected would be captured, mobilisation of a Veterinary and Remount Conducting Section was requested, to serve as a war dogs hospital in addition to its normal functions.
No animals were held by any units except war dogs which were employed by certain CMP(VP) companies and by special RE dog platoons for mine detection. Approximately 400 RUSSIAN and POLISH ponies were captured but not being suitable for employment with the BRITISH Army were handed over to FRENCH farmers. Release of a supply of drugs and instruments to the FRENCH was arranged from army veterinary stores in UK.
26 July-26 September
Authority was received for the mobilization of one Veterinary and Remount Conducting Section for the BLA and the unit arrived in the early part of September. It was located at LE BECHELLOUIN, SOUTH of the SEINE, and its primary role was to collect and treat battle casualties.
The FALAISE gap yielded a large number of GS wagons but very few horses. It was evident that the expected capture of a great many horses would present difficulties, however, so a request was made for one veterinary hospital and one remount depot to be despatched to BLA as soon as possible.
In FRANCE five thousand captured horses were distributed to local farmers while in BELGIUM a number of abandoned horses were registered and collected. In September the movement of all horses was stopped in order to prevent them from going to butchers in the black market.
27 September 1944—14 January 1945
To ease the strain on MT it was decided to form Horsed Transport units for draught work in the L of C areas. This was facilitated by the arrival in October of 5 Veterinary Hospital and 2 field Remount Depot, which were located at LE BECHELLOUIN and ROUEN respectively.
The task of collecting sick and wounded and selecting fit horses had already been begun by 6 Veterinary and Remount Conducting Section which was then transferred to BRUGES where a large number of captured horses had been reported.
After the fall of KNOCKE they collected a further four hundred horses suitable for work in HT units. To form these horsed transport units it was necessary also to collect suitable horses from those previously dispersed to farmers in the SEINE INFERIEURE area.
This was effected by an agreement with GOC Third French Region whereby veterinary officers attended horse registration parades held by the’ FRENCH remount authorities to select suitable animals. HT units were initially formed by V and R 21 Army Group with FRENCH and BELGIAN labour supervised by RAVC personnel. By the end of December all such units, employing a total of nine-hundred horses, were handed over to S and T.
Units were established in ANTWERP, MALINES, BRUSSELS, LILLE, AMIENS, DIEPPE and the RMA but priority was given to those in ANTWERP and the RMA, to each of which a detachment of 5 Veterinary Hospital and 2 field Remount Depot was attached. Horsed transport did invaluable work during the winter months by pulling loads through mud conditions which Would have proved impassable for MT, but their most useful employment was in the docks on short haulage from the quays to the BSDS etc.
As rail lift to ANTWERP was not available for their transportation two hundred horses had to be marched there by road from ROUEN which distance of 224 miles was covered in 12 days.
With the exception of harness and a few items of farriery equipment brought in by Ordnance from the UK these units were equipped entirely from captured enemy material. One GERMAN horsed transport vehicle park uncovered at VERSAILLES was placed at the disposal of 21 Army Group by Communications Zone.
Even so these units could not have been formed if GERMAN forage dumps had not also been discovered as the forage situation was otherwise so critical that it was impossible to retain old and worn out horses as a reserve of meat for HOLLAND.
As is only to be expected when horses are collected under war conditions, outbreaks of contagious diseases appeared but the working efficiency of the HT units was never affected by them. Captured horses which were old and worn out were either disposed of locally through the food control organisation to prevent black market activities or despatched to Government laboratories for serum production purposes. fit horses when not required by 21 Army Group continued to be registered and allotted to farmers.
V and R Branch of HQ 21 Army Group performed all administrative work concerning horses employed in the L of C and in addition received, stored and issued veterinary supplies obtained, often from USA, on behalf of Civil Affairs.
The formation of a V and R dog training unit was also proposed as the use of war dogs guarding dumps and installations would result in a considerable saving of manpower. In addition arrangements were made for sick and wounded War dogs of the AMERICAN army to be evacuated through V and R channels as the US had no organisation to deal with them.
15 January 1945 - 8 May 1945
On the closing down of the RMA No. 5 Veterinary Hospital was transferred from LE BECHELLOUIN to LILLE and No. 2 Field Remount Depot from ROUEN to BRUGES. These units were required to perform the dual functions of a veterinary hospital and remount depot for the horsed transport units in their respective areas. No. 6 Veterinary and Remount Conducting Section on handing over to 5 Veterinary Hospital came under command of Second Army and moved to VENLO where it was in a position to deal with animals captured during operations between the rivers MAAS and RHINE.
The formation of HT units in OSTEND and CALAIS in January and the loss of forty horses killed by a V2 at ANTWERP created demands for horses which were met by transfer from the RMA and also by collecting others from farmers in the WEST FLANDERS area. Lack of forage and the shortage of supervisory personnel made it necessary however, to effect a reduction in HT during March and the surplus horses were returned to the FRENCH remount authorities.
Arrangements were made with Ordnance for certain essential equipment to be consigned from the UK to 6 Veterinary and Remount Conducting Section which was responsible for issue to HT units under instructions of V and RS at HQ 21 Army Group.
The procurement of drugs, serum and vaccine from local resources through the Office of Mutual Aid (BELGIUM) made it possible to cut down the quantities of veterinary supplies demanded from Army Veterinary Stores, ALDERSHOT.
The establishment for the Veterinary and Remount War Dogs Training Unit was passed by WEC but was not implemented as it had been decided to bring the War Dogs Training School from UK. This unit had detecting and VP dogs under training and thus could supply them both for dog platoons RE and for CMP (VP) companies.
V and RS were responsible for supplying this school with the required number of suitable dogs to be trained for police work and mine detecting. These dogs were obtained by requisitioning in FRANCE and GERMANY and borrowing from BELGIUM through the Office of Mutual Aid.
An increase in the number of veterinary officers and units was essential in order to enable V and RS to meet its commitments for the handling of WEHRMACHT forces and GERMAN veterinary units. Representation on the HQ staffs of Second Army, First Canadian Army and all corps plus a zone pool of six officers under the control of V and RS HQ 21 Army Group was sanctioned.
Authority was also obtained for the mobilisation in UK of three veterinary and remount conducting sections and the personnel element of two Base Depot Veterinary Stores.
It was considered improbable that these units would be available before VE day so arrangements were made to ensure that adequate Veterinary units would be available to go into GERMANY when required. No. 2 Field Remount Depot was moved from BRUGES to ANTWERP where it formed two detachments each consisting of one officer and forty ORs. These detachments were loaned to Second British and First Canadian Armies to be called forward by respective ADV and RSs when required.