The Silver Bugle Blog

The British Army is amid another "bullying" controversy after five training instructors were suspended.

Allegations of physical abuse and harassment of young recruits at a training base in Catterick, North Yorkshire, have been made public after an undercover reporting investigation.

Following the undercover investigation, the MoD said: "Bullying is absolutely unacceptable and fundamentally at odds with the Army’s core values. We take all allegations of inappropriate behaviour extremely seriously and investigate thoroughly.

On a different tack. I read that the "undercover reporter" served six months (source BBC News) at the training depot at Catterick. If this true is the ‘Hack’ still in; if not then why? The cut off for changing your mind about joining up used to be 12 weeks after that you had to serve your period of enlistment. If the MOD has let this ‘Hack’ go then it surely has set a precedence for those who change their minds after the 12 week stage?

ITN - Army instructors suspended amid bullying claims

James Elroy Flecker      

But who are ye in rags and rotten shoes,
You dirty-bearded, blocking up the way?

We are the Pilgrims, master; we shall go
Always a little further: it may be
Beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow,
Across that angry or that glimmering sea,

White on a throne or guarded in a cave
There lives a prophet who can understand
Why men were born: but surely we are brave,
Who take the Golden Road to Samarkand.

Sweet to ride forth at evening from the wells
When shadows pass gigantic on the sand,
And softly through the silence beat the bells
Along the Golden Road to Samarkand.

We travel not for trafficking alone;
By hotter winds our fiery hearts are fanned:
For lust of knowing what should not be known
We make the Golden Journey to Samarkand.

The British Army has updated it’s website. It now has a single column blog style website - looks good! The address is still the same: http://www.army.mod.uk/

Just updated the About page with some LI history for the time being. I will add more about the SB later.

Meeting Steve ‘Mac’ Macguire in town tomorrow night for a catch up and a few beers. I have not seen Mac for some years now and I am looking forward to our little reunion.

On 10^th September in St Paul’s Cathedral there is to be a service to mark the end of Operation BANNER in Northern Ireland.

The Purpose of the Event: To honour members of the UK Armed Forces, the MOD and Civil Service, who lost their lives or were injured in Northern Ireland and more than 300,000 service personnel who served in The Province since 1969.

Attendance is primarily for:

        Armed Forces veterans of service in NI from 1969-2007 who earned the

        GSM 1962 bar NORTHERN IRELAND.

        Families of members of the Armed Forces killed in NI.

Families of members of the Armed Forces killed outside of the Province as a result of NI related terrorist action.

Families of members of the Civil Service killed in NI who worked alongside the UK Armed Forces in NI.

Families of the Armed Service Veterans who served in NI.

Members of the Civil Service who worked closely alongside UK Armed Forces in NI.

The Event.  The Op BANNER commemoration will comprise of 3 elements:

A Service of Remembrance in St Paul’s Cathedral at 1100hrs to which 2000

people will be invited.

A march through the City from St Paul’s to the Guildhall (subject to sufficient eligible attendees desire to march).

Receptions in the Guildhall, St Paul’s Crypt, The Vintners and Skinners Halls

between 1300hrs and 1500hrs.

Invitations.  The event will be publicised on Thursday 5^th June 2008 by MoD and will appear on the SPVA Website.  www.veterans-uk.info which will include information about the event and application forms for invitations.  There will also be helpline numbers and addresses to which people may apply for invitations.