The head of the British Army, General Sir Roly Walker, has expressed his disgust at widespread reports of sexual abuse and harassment within the ranks, following harrowing testimonies from over 1,000 women in the military. His condemnation comes amid an ongoing inquest into the tragic death of 19-year-old Gunner Jaysley Beck, who was found hanged in her barracks at Larkhill Camp, Wiltshire, in December 2021.
In a letter seen by The Times UK, Walker wrote to senior officers urging them to take action against the “appalling and shameful behaviour” still prevalent in the army, warning that some senior ranks may even be “actively complicit” in the abuse. He called on leaders to take responsibility, stating, “Step up and play your part as a leader, visibly and confidently, to stop this.”
The inquest has revealed distressing details about Beck’s experience, including thousands of messages sent by her supervisor and an incident in which a senior soldier allegedly pinned her down and attempted to kiss her. Her case has prompted an outpouring of testimonies from other female service members who have endured sexual violence, harassment, and bullying in the military.
Reports surfaced through Fill Your Boots, a social media platform where serving and former female soldiers anonymously shared their traumatic experiences. Many recounted incidents of being raped, groped, and harassed, only to be ignored or dismissed by military authorities. One woman described being pinned against a wall by a male colleague who exposed himself and told her he “knew exactly what [she] needed,” leaving her so terrified that she began using a bucket in her room instead of the communal bathroom.
Another woman revealed she had attempted suicide after suffering two years of abuse by a senior officer. In another case, a female soldier was raped by a member of her unit, but her case never went to trial. When she reported the assault, she was told by a lieutenant colonel, “I can’t have been that drunk otherwise I wouldn’t have remembered it.”
Many women shared fears of being attacked in their own barracks, with some recalling how drunken male soldiers would try to force open their doors at night. One survivor described holding her breath as men laughed outside her room, hoping they would move on. On one occasion, a man entered her unlocked room, stared at her, and smiled. When she reported the incident, military police brushed it off, advising female soldiers to keep their doors locked.
Jaysley Beck’s mother, Leighann McCready, expressed her gratitude to the women speaking out, saying, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the support you have given and to say how proud I am of others for speaking up.”
Vice-Admiral Phil Hally, head of Defence People at the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), responded to the revelations by urging victims to report their cases to the ministry’s Serious Crime Command. “There is no place for unacceptable sexual behaviour in our armed forces,” he stated on social media.
The MoD also issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to eliminating sexual misconduct, declaring, “This unacceptable sexual behaviour has absolutely no place in the armed forces and will not be tolerated. Our people deserve to feel safe and supported.” Officials highlighted existing zero-tolerance policies and new measures aimed at addressing sexual exploitation and abuse, promising severe consequences, including criminal charges and dismissal, for perpetrators.
Despite these assurances, Johnny Mercer, former veterans minister and ex-army officer, acknowledged the depth of the crisis, saying, “Whatever policies have been put in place, whatever sternly worded letters have been sent out, that women feel like this and have experiences like this in today’s military makes me deeply sad and betrays profound failures in leadership.”
