Is The Head Of Britain’s Army On Top Of The Job?

I have just received a copy of a letter from an anonymous informant via social media. In it Britain’s Chief of the General Staff (CGS), General Sir Roly Walker, the head of the British army and our top serving soldier, lambasts his underlings in the chain of command below him for failing to root out the culture of misogyny and sexual harassment that plagues his organisation’s ranks.

The catalyst for this missive, dated 14^th February this year, is the appalling evidence being revealed by the inquest into the death of Gunner Jaysley Beck. She was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in December 2021 (before Walker took up post).

It has been reported that Ms Beck had been on the receiving end of a torrent of unwelcome and unwanted messages from one of her superiors – 3,600 text messages in one month alone apparently – which it is claimed badly affected her wellbeing and mental health. These, plus other unfortunate incidents in her private life, ultimately led to her early demise.

Walker’s letter, easily found on the internet if you care to search, has a hint of desperation about it. He excoriates his subordinates’ attitude towards “numerous allegations of appalling and shameful behaviour still going on in our ranks” as “just not good enough” (underlines by hand) and says that the “Chain of Command is not doing enough or is actively complicit (my italics) in this”.

He signs off in his own handwriting, saying “I’m counting on you. I don’t want to write to you again about this”.  You may regard, as I do, that this is a school-marmish and petulant manner for the head of the British army to sign of with, but there you have it.

This is hardly the first recent controversy that the army, or indeed Walker, has been visited with, nor is it likely to be the last. But it does make me wonder whether the institution has got a proper grip on such matters or, indeed, whether Walker is the right man to sort it out.

He is the army’s leader and it’s ultimately his responsibility to change a culture which has been allowed to flourish for too long.

Can he do it? Is his letter to the chain of command the right instrument to bring change about? Will it have any effect?

Time will tell, but the portents are not encouraging. In the meantime I understand that both Gunner Beck’s commanding officer and sergeant major have been subsequently promoted.

Lt Col Stuart Crawford is a defence analyst and former army officer. Sign up for his podcasts and newsletters at www.DefenceReview.uk

Lt Col Stuart Crawford’s latest book Tank Commander (Hardback) is available now

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