Pride and a tale of two servicewomen

Last updated at 01:04 09 March 2008

In the middle of a murderous firefight in Basra, Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman flew through shot and shell to rescue a desperately wounded soldier.

For that outstanding bravery, she becomes the first woman to win the DFC, one of 20 members of the RAF honoured for heroism yesterday.

Back in Britain meanwhile, the commander of RAF Wittering, Group Captain Rowena Atherton, issues an order that has largely eclipsed such stories of courage: service personnel such as Michelle mustn't wear their uniforms in public, in case they are insulted.

In nearby Peterborough, it seems, they have been subjected to such abuse that they must wear civvies whenever they venture into the street.

Thus the very people who risk their lives in defence of the realm are treated as though their uniform is a badge of shame.

An insult to our Services indeed. The thugs and misfits who behave in this way deserve our contempt, as does the anti-military prejudice that seems to be creeping into some sections of society.

But hasn't the RAF itself been more than a little misguided?

If uniforms are a magnet for trouble in Peterborough why on earth don't the top military brass do something to stop the troublemakers?

After all, Gordon Brown proclaims that members of our Armed Forces should wear their uniforms with pride.

David Cameron says police should come down "extremely hard" on anyone who targets them.

This paper believes the great majority of the British people are proud of their Armed Forces. And rightly so.

Yet instead of demanding robust action, Group Captain Atherton seems ready to allow a thuggish, raucous, anti-military minority to call the shots.

But then, don't all our brass hats need to reassess their priorities?

Only months ago, this paper had to shame the Ministry of Defence into offering proper compensation to Paratrooper Ben Parkinson, who was terribly wounded in Afghanistan.

For years we have highlighted the way our forces are fobbed off with poor pay, slum accommodation, inadequate kit and insufficient dedicated medical services in this country.

Again and again, our soldiers have been let down, not just by politicians but by their commanders who - with the honourable exception of the present Army chief, General Sir Richard Dannatt - have failed to take a stand.

They deserve better. As of today, shouldn't every commander make it clear that it is a matter of huge pride to wear the Queen's uniform in public?

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Equal before the law?

"This is a story as old as time itself. Boy meets girl. Then the kissing starts. There are two irreconcilable accounts and that is all you have to decide. Be cautious... People's fantasies can be boundless..."

Indeed. But we hardly need the judge's summing up to wonder why the case of Cambridge graduate Jack Gillett, accused of sexual assault on a female student, ever came to court.

The alleged victim, who had drunk several shots of Malibu, admitted passionately kissing Mr Gillett and couldn't be bothered to stop him. She twice left the room, but - astonishingly - returned.

She complained to a friend of an assault by another man, but failed to tell police.

She waited five months before making a formal complaint about Mr Gillett.

The question remains: why on earth did the CPS bring such a flimsy case?

And there are wider concerns. While the reputation of the innocent Mr Gillett has inevitably suffered, his accuser, who has caused so much pain, retains her anonymity.

It hardly adds up to equality before the law.