It Should Never Have Come To This

The inquest into the deaths of six Royal Military Policemen at Majar al-Kabir in June 2003 has failed to satisfy the families - just as the latest Deepcut Inquiry also failed to bring closure to the bereaved parents. It has been another sad day for the army with yet more evidence that the management of troops and operations fell significantly below the expected standards. Yet again the families are spitting blood at the way in which their children were treated, in this case demanding that the police investigate officers for alleged manslaughter. Regardless of the rights and wrongs of that case, most sensible people would agree that – as with Deepcut - it should never have come to this.

But what can we expect when the appalling examples of poor leadership come so thick and fast. I spent yesterday at No 1 Parachute Training School RAF Brize Norton watching Chandler Biddiss collect his Para wings. Not a lot of paratroopers have managed to do that in recent weeks, largely due to a shortage of C130 Hercules aircraft – most of them being deployed full-time ferrying troops and equipment out to Iraq and Afghanistan. Chandler didn’t need to jump out of an aircraft. He was making a sponsored descent from the 60-ft high Exit Decent trainer used to test the nerve of paratroopers before they actually jump out of an aircraft. There is of course a twist, as regular readers of this blog will know, in that Chandler is six years old, has cerebral palsy, cannot walk, is unable to talk properly and has difficulty seeing.

Yes of course to a certain extent it was a stunt, a sponsored descent to raise money for a charity that helps former paratroopers, and Chandler was caught by his father Corporal Paul Biddiss. He didn't have to land. But it was worth seeing the smile on Chandler’s face afterwards when the audience in the hanger which houses the training school erupted in applause. [See photos here] Hats off to the RAF and the Paras for allowing the sponsored jump to go ahead. This was a good example of decent man-management in action. The RAF freefall team, the Falcons, were also there to see Chandler awarded the coveted British Military Parachute Wings and Certificate, as were all the young para recruits on the current course, none of whom has so far managed to earn their own wings because of high winds and the lack of aircraft.

When I last wrote about Chandler I contrasted the way in which the Army has looked after Cpl Biddiss recently with the treatment that led to Chandler’s disabilities. Some asked how the army could be blamed for his sad situation so perhaps it is time to tell as much of the story as can yet be told. The Biddiss family’s problems began in November 1999 when Corporal Biddiss’s wife Debbie was six months pregnant. He had just returned from Kosovo and his battalion was preparing for a six-month tour in Northern Ireland.

The Army – under pressure to save costs – was at the time engaged in a full-scale effort to reduce the costs of its pension scheme, which provides soldiers leaving after 22 years with a pension. Under a now discredited system known as “manning control”, the Army Personnel Centre at Glasgow was sending out lists of soldiers who were either to be discharged, so they did not reach the 22-year point and a pension, or put on a different contract that would allow the army to get rid of them before they became entitled to their pension.

Since they were changing the soldier’s contract, and to his or her obvious disadvantage, they needed to persuade the soldier to sign a piece of paper agreeing to this change. They ought also to have explained all the implications. It was part of their duty of care. It was almost certainly illegal not to do so. But in a number of cases the implications were never explained and where they were, unsurprisingly, most soldiers were reluctant to make the change so had to be forced in some way to agree.

On 2 November 1999, Corporal Biddiss’s immediate commander told him he had to change his contract. Too savvy to be mugged into giving up his pension rights, he refused. He was also just a tad pee-ed off that he should be seen as someone expendable. He was an experienced junior NCO widely regarded as a good team leader who had just been recommended for the SAS selection course. He saw no reason why he should be under threat. He was precisely the sort of soldier the army didn’t want to lose.

He was repeatedly called into the commander’s office and told he had to sign. When he continued to refuse, the commander began what Debbie Biddiss described as “a campaign of harassment and victimisation against him”. Since his wife was pregnant and she had a history of difficulties in pregnancy – she had lost a baby a year earlier - Corporal Biddiss had been told that he could remain behind with the rear party to ensure he was there to support her. Now that offer was withdrawn. He would have to go to Northern Ireland.

The pressure told on his wife who went into premature labour. A week after Chandler was born, a cranial ultrasound scan showed bleeding on his brain. Despite the problems, and protests from his platoon commander that he should be allowed to stay with his wife, Corporal Biddiss was told he was still going to Northern Ireland. A month or so later, Chandler was rushed to hospital with pneumococcal meningitis and scepticaemia. Corporal Biddis was told he could not go home to help his wife unless he signed a new contract. She had four other small boys and was struggling to take them to school while trying to protect Chandler from the cold.

Eventually, Corporal Biddiss stormed into the battalion operations room in Northern Ireland and told his commander that: "If anything happens to my son, I will f*** you and this regiment." Only then did his commanders talk to the hospital, who lambasted them for not sending Corporal Biddiss home. He was on his way back to England within 15 minutes. “For the first seven days, we waited for Chandler to die,” Debbie later said. “He was saved by a blood transfusion and his fighting spirit.” Although he didn’t die, Chandler had suffered irreparable damage to his brain.

There are more details to this story, which cannot yet be told because Debbie Biddiss is writing a book on the affair. It is set to reveal an astonishing level of bullying, cover-up and incompetent behaviour by officers involved in the case. In the end, Corporal Biddiss was not forced to change his contract and yesterday was a happy day for him and his young son. It would of course be easy to write this off as an accident, to say that the whole manning control issue was a mistake, it was never meant to be run that way.

There were plenty of commanding officers who fought against the orders to “manning control” some of their best men and knew it was wrong. But there were plenty of others who just followed orders and forced good young soldiers to change their contracts or leave to save the MoD the cost of their pension. I wrote the first story on “manning control” on 29 April 2002. It was swiftly followed up by other newspapers and the MoD protested repeatedly that there was nothing wrong with the system. But when the Government was asked last October when the last incident of “manning control” took place, it said in April 2002. They knew they were acting immorally, and arguably illegally, and the minute they were found out they stopped it.

It was just another example of the poor management I was talking about yesterday, as of course was the situation that led to the deaths of the six military policemen. The idea that their deaths were “unavoidable” is so ludicrous that one scarcely needs to comment on it, other than to ask why it took so long for the coroner to deal with the case. One would like to believe that it wasn’t to ensure that the controversy wasn’t aired in the run-up to last year’s election when Tony Blair was being challenged in his Sedgefield constituency by Reg Keys, whose son Tom was one of those killed.

It was John Hyde, whose son Benjamin was also among those killed, who put his finger on the real cause of their deaths. Mr Hyde, who has not been so vocal as the other parents but says he is just as committed to getting to the truth, said: "With proper command and control that day and effective communication, our lads would still be here today." Mike Aston, who lost his son Russell, said that the officers involved should be held to account. "They got my son killed along with five other brave men and they deserve to answer for it,” he said. I’m bound to say that I’m not entirely sure that calling in the Metropolitan Police is the answer at this stage. But what certainly needs to be done, as I said in my Deepcut blog, is to ensure that across the board the people who lead our troops into battle are capable of doing the job properly. There are far too many now who are clearly not.

Comments

[Chuck Unsworth]

It's probably fair to note that the military may have partially redeemed itself with regard to the Biddis affair. Even so, Debbie Biddis should be commended and given every support in getting her account published and, ideally, serialised. Stones need to be lifted, and urgently.

The Coroner's verdict and actions in the case of the RMP soldiers is at least a step along the way towards some clarity. It's interesting that he has chosen to write to the MOD about his concerns. It's equally interesting to note that MOD is already fighting a rearguard action on this, saying that things have changed since those dreadful events and that communication equipment, which has been on the stocks for God knows how long, is 'being brought into service' - whatever that may really mean.

Well all of this is far too little and far far too late. Those who contravened direct orders to issue equipment and ammunition should be suspended immediately, returned to their regiments and Court Martialed. Those who have failed to ensure that equipment is produced on time, to budget and to specification should be sacked. It is not acceptable that in a theatre of war such casual disregard for the safety of so many others is allowed to continue.

[Pete Morris]

As a past member of the Corps, I am truly angered by the fact that these brave men were sent into a situation without the necessary firepower to protect them as well as having useless(?) radios for comms. For other Army units not to be informed that they would be in the area is another blatant example of mis-management. The officer(s) concerned should be held to account and punished for their incompetence. This was truly a tragedy that this was allowed to occur.

Name may be published, I have no problem with that.

[JL]

I do not feel the military could ever redeem itself with regard to the Biddis affair and the horror that this family was put through. Words cannot describe my astonishment and contempt at the shear lack or moral courage of the Army and its Generals over this matter, they need to have a word with the little boy Chandler biddis for some tips on what courage is about. Yet again another example of Officers hiding behind their rank. I for one look forward to this book and wish the biddis family every success for the future

[Katie]

As a former member of the Corps, I was furious to read in the Guardian today, that the CO of the unit involved couldn't personally oversee that every order was carried out...Sory but Command is where the book stops...If he couldn't trust his orders to be carried out, he shouldn't have been commanding. As for that Lt from the Corps, if it transpires he hadn't kept himself up to date with SOPs and other changes to the tactical situation, then he deserves a criminal case against him. I served as a soldier and then as an officer...Your troops come first and our Corps motto is By Example We Lead.

[Peter Sutton]

Well done the Parachute Regiment for supporting little Chandler,and also those ex-members (rank and file)who have rallied around to help.

[billS]

I was interested to read the article by Mike Smith, journalist, who linked three incidents highlighting the lack of duty of care of the British Army to its personnel. Following his visit to watch, and report on, Chandler Biddiss gain his wings.

Mike Smiths article detailed the way in which Cpl Biddiss was treated prior to the birth of his son Chandler because he refused to sign a new contract. The army knew of Cpl Biddiss's wife Debbie's poor medical history when pregnant; yet decided to use this as a weapon against them. In my view, the response by the army was nothing short of bullying, harassment and emotional blackmail. They behaved like a spoilt child stamping its foot because it was not getting its own way!

Like Mike Smith I was priviliged to see Chandler get his wings and found it a wonderfully emotional experience. I was also touched that the family used this as an opportunity to raise sponsorship for a former paratrooper who is now disabled. I hold Cpl Biddiss and his family in very high esteem. The committment shown to Chandler, and their other sons, yet still thinking of others, despite the barriers they have come up against, is of great credit to them.

The Armies intial behaviour, prior to Chandler's birth, in refusing to allow Cpl Biddiss to be with him wife, is a disgrace and as also pointed out by Mike Smith, neither does the Deepcut Inquiry bode well for the army.

Reading accounts such as this must be very worrying for parents whose children show an interest in joining the Armed Services. Should a youngster wish to 'join up' do they risk being exposed to humiliation and bullying? as reported by journalist writng about the Deepcut Barracks incident. Will service personell when sent to a combat zone be properly equipted and managed? The terrible incident at Majah al Kabir excacerbating this concern.

Mike Smith's article linked three incidents where the British Army has failed to give sufficient support to its personnel. Is it not time that the Army acknowledge their own failings in these situations? Something should be learnt and acted upon from 'the decision makers' for the prevention of any repetition of these and similar incidents.

[Jukebox]

A big cut through the red tape. IF a senior officer would have had his way, they may have cited some health and safety rule to prevent this young lad from achieving this day of immense pride for both him and his family. Well done to the Reg and RAF for giving a special lad a special day!

[Fooboy]

Mr Smith some posters on the Army Rumour service feel that If there was an Armed Forces Federation around at the time of the Biddiss case, this sorry tale would never have happened, personally I don't and as the Manning Control abuse was government run it would not have made much of a difference, however what is the Defence journalist point of view on this subject
http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/t=35316.html

[Greg Varley]

Some interesting points made on the need for a federation and If there were a bench mark case that could be put forward to the CDS and or the Defence select committee as a perfect example for the reasons we need a Federation in the forces, then the Cpl biddiss case would stand on its merits alone. A point that was highlighted by yourself some weeks ago. Full makes to Cpl Biddiss for sticking it out and proving the System wrong.

[dave]

No redemption at all for the ARMY on this one. A publicity stunt.
Anyway the CO in question got PROMOTED.
So much for accountability.

[Baz Barraclough]

Its about time someone at the MOD done something about the way they treat their troops.

It seems nothing has changed since when i was in the army six years ago.

The old same lies getting swept under the carpet and people ARE suffering.

But the people who suffer are not the officers, MPs or civil servants, its the soldiers and families.

i was one of them

This is my story below and i want the people at Ministry Of Defence to read it and realised it nearly destroyed me and my family.

So ,why is it happening again????

Baz,s Story
1st Battalion,The Parachute Regiment 1988-2000

During a routine exercise with my battalion ,I had a horrific parachuting accident which ended my military career there and then on the DZ on Salisbury Plain in 1994. I was medically downgraded for six years before I was given a discharge due to The Manning Control Point. I sat two medical discharge (MD) boards and failed to get a MD.

Both times the board said I still had a role in the forces, but my Unit had a different opinion, and said I would leave at my twelve-Year point due to the MCP.I got recommended by six different doctors over a five year period ,they said that my career was over in the army. Every time this was overruled. (NOTE) All of this is documented and now in the hands of my solicitor.

The injuries I received from the parachuting accident are there for life. I fractured my shoulder and caused damage to the scapular and collar bone and back, also there were was other internal injuries. I had emergency surgery and my shoulder was totally reconstructed. From that point I have had various ongoing operations and rehalibitation.To this present day I have only 30% Movement of my right shoulder and am classed as disabled, my condition will get worse over time. I now suffer from serious osteoarthritis ,lower back and neck pain, I am also on a waiting list for a replacement shoulder.

All I receive from the forces is a paltry war pension of 150 pound a Month, if I was given a medical discharge I would have received over 500 pound a month, which would help immensely. The way I look at the Manning Control System is that it was designed to save money whether it was fair or Unfair; I was one of its victims.

Its no wonder after ten years of the shit ,I am still fighting my demons with the MOD,after the accident. At the moment I am being access for PTSD,I hope ,now I get the right treatment and help from people who care. It’s a shame I never got it in the army......

I never esteemed to be a future RSM of my battalion,and blokes who know me would agree with that. So im not trying to give the impression that im someone ,im not ,just me, Joe Bloggs or Baz..

So why am I on this site, to start I was let down by the army I served under and it is my right to complain about the way I was treated by the MOD.If this happened to you, how would you react after finding the MOD screwed you out of a pension you contributed over twelve years service.

Some people might say to me and they will “get over it and stop winging” But I won’t, because that’s what the MOD want me and the rest of the thousands of soldiers who were duped into signing the Manning Control Points (MCP) to do.

The system saved nearly £250,000 ,by not giving me an immediate pension and a disability pension. These numbers are not made up by anybody but anybody. Proper research has been done by our legal team and representing professionals including leading MPs.

So by kicking out a thousand soldiers like me due to the corrupt MCP,how much has the MOD saved????I will let you add that one up…

The thing that really pisses me off is that there are people out there who this was done to and haven’t got a clue.

So you think we have a point or not?

And what are we going to do about it……………

To get maximum publicity and hopefully get the message across to the people who were ripped off in this deceitful manner.

The Manning Control Group is a pressure group against the MOD manning control ruling.

Our goal is “To get back what we were entitled to”

[frankd]

Top blog mr smith, well done to Paul biddiss for the putting the mod in their place

[Anthony Cormack]

As somebody who knows various people in the forces, I've been repeatedly astonished and dismayed at the convoluted tricks the MoD has got up to in recent years, not only to deny soldiers their due pensions (in the process managing to substantially alienate the army's vital cadre of senior NCOs) but also to wiggle out of various payments relating to extended overseas service and the like. It seems to me something that the public at large should be more aware of and that the powers that be deserve a substantial verbal beasting over.

On the subject of officers and command, I can only second something I've noted already elsewhere, namely that a unifying thread running through the various incidents dealt with recently, from the Biddiss case to Deepcut to prisoner abuse allegations in Iraq, has been the woeful abdication of responsibility, not only by the higher-ups but by officers at company and platoon command level. The first issue is a seeming unwillingness to take responsibility. The second - equally serious - issue is that too many officers seem not to know what goes on in their own units and not to care. Bill Slim, probably our best general of WW2 and a real soldier's soldier, argued that a platoon commander should know his men better than their mothers do and love them just as much. There's been precious little evidence of that advice being followed in too many cases recently.

It's dangerous to generalise, of course. There are any number of fine, conscientious officers out there. But it does seem to me that there's a problem and that it comes from both the top and the bottom of the command chain.

An the matter of Federation action, I remain a sceptical agnostic. As with so many things with regard to our society today, one would hope that common sense, shared responsibility, goodwill and gentlemanly behaviour would prove sufficient to carry the day. Apparently not, though. Certainly it seems a lot of our men in uniform deserve better and if the powers that be can't get their act together, maybe there will ultimately be no alternative (short of losing all our best people).

[Chuck Unsworth]

Anthony Cormack makes several particularly trenchant observations in his comment. I agree wholeheartedly with his position - and his reference to Slim's virtues. What was notable about Slim was the fact that he spent a large amount of his time actually on the ground and visiting his troops, rather than sitting in the rear echelons with various cronies.

Apart from the profligate waste of valuable knowledge and experience, one of the more disastrous results of the imposition of the Manning Control regime has been the fragmentation and dispersal of esprit de corps. If soldiers are spending their time worrying about the terms of their service they are not going to be so concerned about supporting their comrades. If officers feel that they are obliged to reduce 'overheads' then they may spend far too much time in their messes or offices rather than being with - and learning about - those entrusted to their care.

Frankly I'm not surprised that some officers are so God-awful. We seem to be in the business of promoting those who are good accountants and politicians, rather than those who can lead troops effectively. Soldiers are being turned into civilians in uniform - 'managers' - bean counters. Manning Control and other similar MOD lunacy is not what proper soldiering is about.

Still, if one observes a sewerage outfall it can be noted that it is always the largest portions of manure that seem to float and rise to the surface.... There seem to be far too many 'portions' within Whitehall just now.

[m.p. dearden]

i dont pretend to know all about manning control but from what i understand it seems to have come into being to deprive service personell of their right to fair compensation after being injured in service of their country

[Justin Youngson]

I was in the 1st batallion parachute regiment from 1996-2000 and the way they treated me and other soldiers was horrible. I was repeatedly bullied and dicriminated against and recieved no help whatsoever from the officers in charge. As far as I am concerned looking back on it now the entire british army is full of trash and corrupt from the top to bottom and I understand how the iraqis feel in wanting to kill them for the way they treat people.