Former soldier, Gunner Jaysley Beck, tragically passed away in her barracks at Larkhill Camp, Wiltshire, on 15 December 2021, following a block party on site. At an inquest into her death, a friend of Gunner Beck, Tamzin Hort, who has since left the Army, shed light on the toxic and misogynistic environment that female soldiers are subjected to within the Army. Ms. Hort shared how women often face “humiliating” comments and “vicious gossip” from their male colleagues, highlighting the prevalence of unwanted attention and sexist slurs when advances are declined.
Ms. Hort recounted her own experiences in the Army, where she faced unwarranted advances and derogatory remarks from fellow male soldiers. She described instances where she received unwanted attention and derogatory comments on a regular basis, which took a toll on her mental health. The constant barrage of degrading names and inappropriate behavior led her to feel humiliated and diminished in her role as a female soldier.
The inquest heard how Gunner Beck was also a victim of relentless harassment and inappropriate advances from her male colleagues, including Bombardier Ryan Mason, who bombarded her with over 4,600 messages expressing his feelings for her. Gunner Beck’s ex-boyfriend, George Higgins, revealed that Mr. Mason had even shown Gunner Beck a 15-page “love story” detailing his fantasies about her. Gunner Beck, feeling trapped and uncomfortable by Mr. Mason’s behavior, eventually reached a breaking point, emphasizing the toll it took on her mental well-being.
Despite facing such distressing situations, Gunner Beck hesitated to report the inappropriate behavior out of fear of backlash and damage to her reputation. A previous complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber following an attempted sexual advance had already caused her concern about being labeled as a “serial accuser.” The continued fear of reputation damage and lack of support within the Army perpetuated an environment where Gunner Beck felt isolated and unable to seek help
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