Modern technology has given soldiers a voice By Peter Caddick-Adams Military historian
Modern technology has given soldiers a voice By Peter Caddick-Adams Military historian
New technology has given the average soldier what they have never had before - a voice. But how have their gripes and grumbles been aired before and what do the changes mean?
New technology has given the average soldier what they have never had before - a voice. But how have their gripes and grumbles been aired before and what do the changes mean?
We may groan, complain, gripe or grumble about everything from school dinners and traffic cones to fashion and foreign policy.
We may groan, complain, gripe or grumble about everything from school dinners and traffic cones to fashion and foreign policy.
Then we contact the BBC, e-mail our MP or write to a newspaper in an attempt to air our grievance and change things. It is part of the process of a democratic society. But there's one group who have a long and respectable history of gripes and grumbles, but have no voice - and it's the military.
Then we contact the BBC, e-mail our MP or write to a newspaper in an attempt to air our grievance and change things. It is part of the process of a democratic society. But there's one group who have a long and respectable history of gripes and grumbles, but have no voice - and it's the military.
Web blogs tell of life in IraqSoldierly complaining is down to such a fine art that they have a special word for it; to "grouse".
Web blogs tell of life in IraqSoldierly complaining is down to such a fine art that they have a special word for it; to "grouse".
Somewhere up on Hadrian's Wall, perhaps modern archaeologists will uncover evidence in scrawled Latin of a Roman Legionary's grousing.
Somewhere up on Hadrian's Wall, perhaps modern archaeologists will uncover evidence in scrawled Latin of a Roman Legionary's grousing.
Records show us that in the 1640s, Civil War troopers groused about their pay, their food, and their commanders. It had not changed in Wellington's day, when the punishment for supplementing your rations with looted livestock was death.
Records show us that in the 1640s, Civil War troopers groused about their pay, their food, and their commanders. It had not changed in Wellington's day, when the punishment for supplementing your rations with looted livestock was death.
In his army, footwear was a popular subject for grousing - which is understandable when you realise that soldiers were n0t issued with a right and a left boot, but a pair of lasts that you wore into a right and left (unless you could afford to buy a pair of smart boots named after your commander - Wellingtons).
In his army, footwear was a popular subject for grousing - which is understandable when you realise that soldiers were not issued with a right and a left boot, but a pair of lasts that you wore into a right and left (unless you could afford to buy a pair of smart boots named after your commander - Wellingtons).
Ignored
Ignored
In the Crimean War - which ended 150 years ago this year - all these, plus clothing and sanitation were causes for grievance. The need for warm winter clothing was partly solved by cardigans and balaclavas (named respectively after a commander and a battlefield).
In the Crimean War - which ended 150 years ago this year - all these, plus clothing and sanitation were causes for grievance. The need for warm winter clothing was partly solved by cardigans and balaclavas (named respectively after a commander and a battlefield).
But generals and politicians were reluctant to spend more money on the welfare of their soldiers and it took civilians like William Howard Russell - who wrote a series of very critical dispatches in The Times - and Florence Nightingale to first publicise, then shame, the government into improving the lot of "Tommy Atkins" - as the British soldier had become known.
But generals and politicians were reluctant to spend more money on the welfare of their soldiers and it took civilians like William Howard Russell - who wrote a series of very critical dispatches in The Times - and Florence Nightingale to first publicise, then shame, the government into improving the lot of "Tommy Atkins" - as the British soldier had become known.
Nightingale campaigned for soldiersSo when Rudyard Kipling wrote his poem "Tommy" in 1892 about a soldiers' grumbles falling on deaf ears, until he was needed to defend his country, his readers would have understood exactly why Tommy grumbled, and how he was usually ignored.
Nightingale campaigned for soldiersSo when Rudyard Kipling wrote his poem "Tommy" in 1892 about a soldiers' grumbles falling on deaf ears, until he was needed to defend his country, his readers would have understood exactly why Tommy grumbled, and how he was usually ignored.
Kipling wrote:"... You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all: We'll wait for extra rations if you treat us rational.Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
Kipling wrote:"... You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all: We'll wait for extra rations if you treat us rational.Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!" But it's Saviour of 'is country, when the guns begin to shoot;An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!..."
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!" But it's Saviour of 'is country, when the guns begin to shoot;An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!..."
Today, although operational security usually means that Tommy - and his female counterpart- cannot write to a newspaper like the rest of us, they have more voice than ever before.
Today, although operational security usually means that Tommy - and his female counterpart- cannot write to a newspaper like the rest of us, they have more voice than ever before.
This is because technology has come to their aid; e-mails and web blogs tell us almost immediately of duff ammunition, poor footwear, shortages of drinking water, outbreaks of sickness.
This is because technology has come to their aid; e-mails and blogs tell us almost immediately of duff ammunition, poor footwear, shortages of drinking water, outbreaks of sickness.
Immediacy
Immediacy
Journalists can beam back pictures of combat in Afghanistan and car bombs in Basra to our homes within hours of the event.
Journalists can beam back pictures of combat in Afghanistan and car bombs in Basra to our homes within hours of the event.
Sunday newspapers told recently of British troops filming combat with mini camcorders attached to their helmets. This immediacy means for the first time, we have started to share and understand a soldier's grouses, as never before.
Sunday newspapers told recently of British troops filming combat with mini camcorders attached to their helmets. This immediacy means for the first time, we have started to share and understand a soldier's grouses, as never before.
Soldiers use camcorders in IraqRelatives can soon parcel up more shampoo, chocolates, books and magazines, but the important thing is the grumbles are in the public domain and senior commanders are under pressure straightaway to address the grievance.
Soldiers use camcorders in IraqRelatives can soon parcel up more shampoo, chocolates, books and magazines, but the important thing is the grumbles are in the public domain and senior commanders are under pressure straightaway to address the grievance.
Although a balance needs to be struck with operational secrecy, this must be good news for soldiers - never before has the military had such instant access to publicity and speedy solutions to complaints.
Although a balance needs to be struck with operational secrecy, this must be good news for soldiers - never before has the military had such instant access to publicity and speedy solutions to complaints.
However, this will shortly take a new twist. On 15 December, Prince Harry will graduate from Sandhurst and join his brother in the British Army. Inevitably one or both will be deployed on military operations - accompanied by the world's media.
However, this will shortly take a new twist. On 15 December, Prince William will graduate from Sandhurst and join his brother in the British Army. Inevitably one or both will be deployed on military operations - accompanied by the world's media.
Should Tommy and a Royal Prince start to grouse under the public gaze, perhaps the solutions will be swift and effective?
Should Tommy and a royal heir start to grouse under the public gaze, perhaps the solutions will be swift and effective?
Send in your comments using the form below.
Send in your comments using the form below.
I've always been amazed by the way that military personnel have been treated. They literally lay down their lives to defend their country, risk their health and sanity to fight on our behalf, and get treated like dirt in return.
They are expected to fight without complaining, given poor pay and low standards of living conditions, and told that they signed up for this so they have no reason to complain. They don't complain about the fighting, they complain when the people they are fighting for try to take as much as possible from them.It didn't make sense in Wellington's time, and it doesn't make sense now. Heather, Wolverhampton
In the regiment I was in, the lads didn't 'grouse', they had a 'tick'. Generally, continuous 'ticking' showed the lads were still in decent spirits, despite the shortcomings of their equipment, the weather, lack of beer, workload. It's when the 'ticking' stops that there is real trouble! Tom, London
Prince Andrew served during the Falklands war when, arguably, British troops were worse equipped than today. Royals in the forces are nothing new and will make no difference at all. Peter, Nottingham
Whatever happened to the back pay we were supposed to be receiving for active service from April, as reported in national papers a couple of months ago? Still no sign of it! No surprise there! Anon
Joe Public likes to think he's concerned for the troops and to be fair, Armistice Day s very well observed. On any other day, the armed forces are very low on his list of priorities, behind Big Brother or the latest football results.
I certainly hope 'e-grousing', to coin a phrase, will help to keep these issues in the public eye, but I'll believe there's any real concern when I hear of MPs deluged with letters.Tommy may not be a fool, but he's too thin on the ground to make an electoral difference without the support of the general public. Brian, Glasgow
