Battle Fatigue

I have met many ex servicemen from WWII in the course of 25 year career in the NHS. I have noticed a distinct and stark difference between men who served in the the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force and those that served in the Army, but specifically the infantry. I have tales to tell of exploits in the war by the airmen and seamen. Stories that are warm, human, daring. Tales that also tell of the stark reality of fighting a war. But I have no tales from the front lines. 

In 25 years I have never met an infantryman who will share the story of what it was like. I get their postings, the place names, units and such. However a very heavy veil is drawn over everything else. I don't hear it so much these days, probably due to the passage of time, there are less of them about but the only thing they all said was "I did my share" and that was it.

I mention this because of a court case that ended yesterday. There are a number of articles on this BBC website related to the hearing. There is one appealing for a bit of clemency but also one that puts a bit of perspective on it.

Justice has been served. The Marine in question obviously knew what he was doing and knew he had done wrong as his commentary shows if you can allow yourself to hear or read the transcript.


My only qualm is that, although you and I sitting in the comfort of our living rooms will find it all abhorrent, We have no conception of what being in combat is all about. I have read and heard testimony of WWII and it becomes apparent that the during combat itself normal rules do not apply. OK that is a no brainer! It is what the army trains for. But what is less understood is how this extends from sitiuation to situation. 

I will try another tack. I have heard it said that cancer survivors can often find themselves with what was described to me as a Morality Reboot. I have struggled to find any scientific back up for that on Google but it does fit with some empirical evidence I have.

After the all clear a few people of my acquaintance have lived a lifestyle that I would describe as immoral. I believe in these cases the "urge" was there already but the mental barriers that prevented the behaviour were removed so they just went off and pleased themselves.

My point is that, sitting as we do in our "normal" and comfortable life here in the UK we non combatants should be careful in our condemnation. I, we, have no concept of how work of the nature of what the Royal Marines do can have on a man's ability to behave in a "moral" fashion. 

One of my personal understandings is that, whilst I have no religious belief as such, such beliefs set an arbitrary level of behaviour. Such codes of conduct are actually what make human society possible. In nature there are only 2 prerogatives, food and reproduction and not necessarily in that order. All mass groupings need to observe rules in order for the group to survive. Take a peek at any animal that groups together as a herd. 

So the rules of human behaviour are arbitrary. We try to ensure a certain standard of behaviour in our soldiers but, we at home have no concept of how a life spent in warfare can alter the "moral" attitude of a man.

Justice has been done. Sergeant A has had his day in court. He was found guilty. 

As a society though we should ask our selves this question, more especially as it is Remembrance day soon, and it is this :-

Do we truly understand what it is we ask of our armed forces every time we send them into action?

If we are unclear or harbour romantic notions, like that expressed in the articles, of GK Chesterton "a soldier fights not for what he hates in front of him but what he loves behind him" then we need to think again.

Human conflict is visceral, bloody and unforgiving and some never truly recover their humanity after exposure to it.