PERSONNEL. 11 



Batteries E.F.A. and E.G. A., Auxiliary Horse Transport Com- 

 panies, Reserve Parks, Machine Gun Battalions, Sections of 

 Divisional Ammunition Columns, and the Headquarters of 

 Armies and Corps. These " Sergeants, A,V.C." were carefully 

 selected and trained in the use of Vety. equipment and in first 

 aid treatment. The appointments were much sought after, and 

 were filled by men with a good practical experience of horses. 

 They were much appreciated by Commanding Of&cers of Units, 

 and Veterinary 0£&cers, between whom they constituted an 

 efficient liaison. Their good service rendered was not forgotten 

 by Commanding Of&cers, as was evidenced by the considerable 

 number of rewards which fell to their lot. 



Before leaving the " Sergeants, A.V.C." I must tell of one, a. 

 retired Officer of the Indian Civil Service, who for over two. 

 years, through danger and foul weather, served most gallantly 

 with a Brigade of Guards in this capacity, and whose proud 

 thought to-day is that he served his country as a private soldier. 



The majority of A.V.C. personnel employed during the War, 

 with the exception of those with Mobile Veterinary Sections, 

 were either over 41 years of age, or were of a category unfitted 

 for service in the front line. Eecruits or transfers, as a rule, 

 had a working knowledge of horses. Their usefulness, however, 

 was not confined to actual attendance on animals. Eecords of 

 their Civil occupations were kept, and it was quite easy from 

 their number to find skilled and semi-skilled men for any kind 

 of work required, even to that of stable construction, boot 

 repairing, carpentering, tailoring and other duties appertaining 

 to the interior economy of units. Under the Man Power 

 Scheme (" Combing out ") 4500 men of A.V.C. in France were 

 transferred to fighting units, and were replaced by men of 

 lower Qategory. 



No regularly constituted A.V.C. Eeinforcement Depot was 

 established in France. Men were sent out in drafts from the 

 A.V.C. Depot, Woolwich, and they were held on charge of the 

 Veterinary Hospital at the base pending posting. This was. 

 more suitable than establishing a separate Depot, as the 

 personnel could be used for hospital purposes pending their 

 allotment to various Veterinary Units. If held by a General 

 Base Depot they would be used for any purpose. 



