This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gwegv2z54o
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Army gay ban led to Shropshire woman's mental breakdown | Army gay ban led to Shropshire woman's mental breakdown |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Claire Ashton became a police officer after leaving the army | Claire Ashton became a police officer after leaving the army |
| Claire Ashton felt different to other soldiers in the Royal Artillery. | Claire Ashton felt different to other soldiers in the Royal Artillery. |
| She had joined the army in 1969 and was deployed to Germany during the Cold War and later to Northern Ireland at the start of The Troubles. | She had joined the army in 1969 and was deployed to Germany during the Cold War and later to Northern Ireland at the start of The Troubles. |
| At the time it was illegal to be gay in the armed forces, something Ms Ashton was not, she was in fact transgender. | At the time it was illegal to be gay in the armed forces, something Ms Ashton was not, she was in fact transgender. |
| "They thought I was gay but trans hadn't crossed their radar all those years ago," said Ms Ashton, who lives in Uffington, Shropshire. | "They thought I was gay but trans hadn't crossed their radar all those years ago," said Ms Ashton, who lives in Uffington, Shropshire. |
| She was a good soldier and a talented surveyor but her skills could not stop the bullying and harassment. | She was a good soldier and a talented surveyor but her skills could not stop the bullying and harassment. |
| She faced constant speculation and inappropriate questioning, and the pressure of hiding her identity became so overbearing that she had a mental breakdown while on deployment in Germany in 1972 and was medically discharged by the army. | She faced constant speculation and inappropriate questioning, and the pressure of hiding her identity became so overbearing that she had a mental breakdown while on deployment in Germany in 1972 and was medically discharged by the army. |
| "One of the main pressures was being so close to other people in the unit all the time. | "One of the main pressures was being so close to other people in the unit all the time. |
| "When I went to Northern Ireland, we were on a ship in Belfast harbour called HMS Maidstone and the bunks were about four high. I found that a tremendous pressure. | |
| "People who were discharged were discovered by private letters which had been sent between friends. | "People who were discharged were discovered by private letters which had been sent between friends. |
| "People had put down their hopes and dreams in letter and this is what brought them down. | "People had put down their hopes and dreams in letter and this is what brought them down. |
| "Rooms would be stripped bare looking for evidence", she added. | "Rooms would be stripped bare looking for evidence", she added. |
| Claire Ashton was a West Mercia Police officer for almost two decades | Claire Ashton was a West Mercia Police officer for almost two decades |
| The so-called gay ban, which made it illegal to be homosexual in the armed forces, was lifted by the UK government in January 2000 following a hearing in the European Court of Human Rights. | The so-called gay ban, which made it illegal to be homosexual in the armed forces, was lifted by the UK government in January 2000 following a hearing in the European Court of Human Rights. |
| Some of those caught faced prison sentences of up to two years. | Some of those caught faced prison sentences of up to two years. |
| The LGBT+ military charity Fighting With Pride estimated that between 2,000 and 5,000 people were impacted by the ban. | The LGBT+ military charity Fighting With Pride estimated that between 2,000 and 5,000 people were impacted by the ban. |
| In 2022, the Ministry of Defence commissioned Britain's first openly gay judge, Lord Etherton, to carry out an independent review into the treatment of LGBT personnel between 1967 and 2000. | In 2022, the Ministry of Defence commissioned Britain's first openly gay judge, Lord Etherton, to carry out an independent review into the treatment of LGBT personnel between 1967 and 2000. |
| It made 49 recommendations, including an official apology by the prime minister and individual apologies from the heads of the armed forces. | It made 49 recommendations, including an official apology by the prime minister and individual apologies from the heads of the armed forces. |
| The government has subsequently implemented 38 of the 49 recommendations. | The government has subsequently implemented 38 of the 49 recommendations. |
| On publication of the review in July 2023, the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologised on behalf of the country to veterans who were affected by the policy. | On publication of the review in July 2023, the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologised on behalf of the country to veterans who were affected by the policy. |
| The review also recommended that those dismissed from the armed forces because of the ban should be eligible for up to £70,000 in compensation. | The review also recommended that those dismissed from the armed forces because of the ban should be eligible for up to £70,000 in compensation. |
| Applications opened in December. | Applications opened in December. |
| Ms Ashton carried the Fighting With Price flag at Festival of Remembrance 2023 | Ms Ashton carried the Fighting With Price flag at Festival of Remembrance 2023 |
| "Whether I'm due recognition payments, I don't know, but I have applied," said Ms Ashton. | "Whether I'm due recognition payments, I don't know, but I have applied," said Ms Ashton. |
| "We've been told there's an 18 week wait. | "We've been told there's an 18 week wait. |
| "What will never be compensated for is the hurt and distress caused to people, some who were interrogated for hours on end without food and water. | "What will never be compensated for is the hurt and distress caused to people, some who were interrogated for hours on end without food and water. |
| "I know of people who'd gone to chaplains to speak with them confidentially and the chaplains passed on the information, which is appalling, but they were instructed to do so." | "I know of people who'd gone to chaplains to speak with them confidentially and the chaplains passed on the information, which is appalling, but they were instructed to do so." |
| In 2023, Ms Ashton was chosen by Fighting With Pride to carry the charity's flag during the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in front of the King and Queen. | In 2023, Ms Ashton was chosen by Fighting With Pride to carry the charity's flag during the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in front of the King and Queen. |
| "There wasn't a prouder veteran that day," said Ms Ashton. | "There wasn't a prouder veteran that day," said Ms Ashton. |
| Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley told Claire Ashton's story to the House of Commons | Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley told Claire Ashton's story to the House of Commons |
| In December, Ms Ashton was invited to Westminster by Labour's Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley to watch a parliamentary debate on the Etherton Review. | In December, Ms Ashton was invited to Westminster by Labour's Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley to watch a parliamentary debate on the Etherton Review. |
| Buckley told Ms Ashton's story to the House of Commons, describing her as a "brave and committed soldier" who, after being medically discharged, "disappeared back up north into obscurity... never having been thanked" for her service. | Buckley told Ms Ashton's story to the House of Commons, describing her as a "brave and committed soldier" who, after being medically discharged, "disappeared back up north into obscurity... never having been thanked" for her service. |
| Ms Ashton, who was sat in the Commons' public gallery, said the debate was the recognition that affected veterans had been fighting for. | Ms Ashton, who was sat in the Commons' public gallery, said the debate was the recognition that affected veterans had been fighting for. |
| The Ministry of Defence said it now actively encourages LGBT+ people to join the armed forces and had policies to prevent discrimination and bullying. | The Ministry of Defence said it now actively encourages LGBT+ people to join the armed forces and had policies to prevent discrimination and bullying. |
| Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |