'Beasting' - part of army life?

By Tom Warren
BBC News

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.

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.

He collapsed and died of cardiac arrest caused by heatstroke.

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.

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

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.

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.

"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.

'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.

"It (beasting) has no negative connotations except to give yourself a hard time."

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.

"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.

"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.

'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.

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.

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.

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.

Lucknow barracks is the base for 600 Royal Welsh soldiers

"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."

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.

"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."

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.