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| 'Beasting' - part of army life? | 'Beasting' - part of army life? |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| By Tom Warren BBC News | By Tom Warren BBC News |
| Pte Williams died in July 2006 after suffering a heart attack | Pte Williams died in July 2006 after suffering a heart attack |
| Informal Army punishments known as beastings have come under the spotlight following the death of Pte Gavin Williams. | |
| The slang term can have a number of meanings. | The slang term can have a number of meanings. |
| But it is often used to describe an exhausting physical exercise meted out as punishment for a misdemeanour or bad behaviour. | But it is often used to describe an exhausting physical exercise meted out as punishment for a misdemeanour or bad behaviour. |
| Pte Williams, 22, of Hengoed, Caerphilly, died at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth, Wiltshire, on 3 July, 2006. | Pte Williams, 22, of Hengoed, Caerphilly, died at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth, Wiltshire, on 3 July, 2006. |
| He collapsed and died of cardiac arrest caused by heatstroke. | He collapsed and died of cardiac arrest caused by heatstroke. |
| Prosecutors at the trial into his death argued it was brought on by beasting. | Prosecutors at the trial into his death argued it was brought on by beasting. |
| Some argue that beasting is a necessary part of training, designed to toughen-up soldiers and push them to their limit. | Some argue that beasting is a necessary part of training, designed to toughen-up soldiers and push them to their limit. |
| They say gruelling challenges are vital to improve a soldier's physique and test their mental resolve. | They say gruelling challenges are vital to improve a soldier's physique and test their mental resolve. |
| A lot want to carry on with their careers but they can't stand any more of what we call bullying, they don't know how to get out Norma Langford, anti-bullying campaigner | A lot want to carry on with their careers but they can't stand any more of what we call bullying, they don't know how to get out Norma Langford, anti-bullying campaigner |
| But others claim it can quickly turn into bullying, with many damaging physical and psychological effects. | But others claim it can quickly turn into bullying, with many damaging physical and psychological effects. |
| Amyas Godfrey, a former infantry officer from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, spent two years as an instructor at a boot camp in Harrogate. | Amyas Godfrey, a former infantry officer from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, spent two years as an instructor at a boot camp in Harrogate. |
| He said beasting was simply a term for being pushed, or pushing oneself, very hard. | He said beasting was simply a term for being pushed, or pushing oneself, very hard. |
| "It's often misused, it really has to be separated from the criminal act which is bullying," he said. | "It's often misused, it really has to be separated from the criminal act which is bullying," he said. |
| "The Army, if anything, is extraordinarily strict in what rules it follows and you are not allowed to give any physical punishment. | "The Army, if anything, is extraordinarily strict in what rules it follows and you are not allowed to give any physical punishment. |
| "The old classic like, 'get down and give me 10 press ups' can be used in training, but the officer giving that out as a sentence has to record a reason and pass it to the next up commander. | "The old classic like, 'get down and give me 10 press ups' can be used in training, but the officer giving that out as a sentence has to record a reason and pass it to the next up commander. |
| 'No negative meaning' | 'No negative meaning' |
| "You might feel like you are being punished when you are told, 'that wasn't good enough, do it again', it's part of the training package. | "You might feel like you are being punished when you are told, 'that wasn't good enough, do it again', it's part of the training package. |
| "It (beasting) has no negative connotations except to give yourself a hard time." | "It (beasting) has no negative connotations except to give yourself a hard time." |
| Malcolm Thorn said he suffered abuse in the Army | Malcolm Thorn said he suffered abuse in the Army |
| But anti-bullying campaigner Lynn Farr, whose son Daniel died 11 years ago at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire after a non-combat incident, said beasting had a "terrible emotional impact" on recruits. | But anti-bullying campaigner Lynn Farr, whose son Daniel died 11 years ago at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire after a non-combat incident, said beasting had a "terrible emotional impact" on recruits. |
| "I've have seen young lads coming out (of the Army) who've been physically and mentally abused, they are different people. | "I've have seen young lads coming out (of the Army) who've been physically and mentally abused, they are different people. |
| "The training has to be robust because their lives will depend on it at some point. | "The training has to be robust because their lives will depend on it at some point. |
| "There's such a fine line between that and abuse - beastings are not part of training." | "There's such a fine line between that and abuse - beastings are not part of training." |
| Norma Langford's son Cpl Ian Holt died in a non-combat incident in Belize in 1991. | Norma Langford's son Cpl Ian Holt died in a non-combat incident in Belize in 1991. |
| 'Years of abuse' | 'Years of abuse' |
| Along with Ms Farr, Mrs Langford is now part of the Deepcut and Beyond campaign group, made up of more than 50 families of soldiers who have died in non-combat situations. | Along with Ms Farr, Mrs Langford is now part of the Deepcut and Beyond campaign group, made up of more than 50 families of soldiers who have died in non-combat situations. |
| They regularly speak to current Army recruits. | They regularly speak to current Army recruits. |
| "A lot want to carry on with their careers but they can't stand any more of what we call bullying, they don't know how to get out," she said. | "A lot want to carry on with their careers but they can't stand any more of what we call bullying, they don't know how to get out," she said. |
| Malcolm Thorn set up Forces Helpline with Ged Walton after they left the Army. | Malcolm Thorn set up Forces Helpline with Ged Walton after they left the Army. |
| It is an online support service for soldiers who want to talk about their experiences. | It is an online support service for soldiers who want to talk about their experiences. |
| Mr Thorn said he had suffered several years of abuse including being kicked, dragged by his hair and repeatedly punched before quitting in 2000. | Mr Thorn said he had suffered several years of abuse including being kicked, dragged by his hair and repeatedly punched before quitting in 2000. |
| Through the support service, he speaks to recruits every week who have experienced similar bullying. | Through the support service, he speaks to recruits every week who have experienced similar bullying. |
| Lucknow barracks is the base for 600 Royal Welsh soldiers | Lucknow barracks is the base for 600 Royal Welsh soldiers |
| "Things have improved a little bit than when I was in," he said. | "Things have improved a little bit than when I was in," he said. |
| "But it's still happening today. I didn't start Forces Helpline to discredit the Army, but if I can save a life it's worth it." | "But it's still happening today. I didn't start Forces Helpline to discredit the Army, but if I can save a life it's worth it." |
| Law firm Petersons, based in Newport, south Wales, has represented soldiers who have claimed to have suffered abuse at the hands of fellow service personnel. | Law firm Petersons, based in Newport, south Wales, has represented soldiers who have claimed to have suffered abuse at the hands of fellow service personnel. |
| Partner Robert Peterson said bullying had always been a part of army life. | Partner Robert Peterson said bullying had always been a part of army life. |
| "Where we become involved is when the people who mete out that punishment do it for self-gratification," he said. | "Where we become involved is when the people who mete out that punishment do it for self-gratification," he said. |
| "The term bullying suggests a schoolboy practice in the playground. What we have always advocated is (that it is) simply abuse." | "The term bullying suggests a schoolboy practice in the playground. What we have always advocated is (that it is) simply abuse." |
| He said the situation had improved over the last five years following high-profile investigations, including the reviews into deaths at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey. | He said the situation had improved over the last five years following high-profile investigations, including the reviews into deaths at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey. |
| But Mr Peterson said many soldiers could now not afford to take court action, as the government stopped providing legal aid about 10 years ago. | But Mr Peterson said many soldiers could now not afford to take court action, as the government stopped providing legal aid about 10 years ago. |