Veterans of the Women’s Royal Army Corps gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire last weekend (Sunday 10 August) to welcome back 20 more women into the Armed Forces family. The ceremony, hosted by WRACA: The Servicewomen’s Charity was attended by over 100 veterans as well as representatives from the Office for Veteran’s Affairs, Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, Fighting with Pride and the Army, including Brigadier Clare Phillips CBE who formally apologised to those affected.
This remarkable open-air ceremony brought women who have been isolated from the Armed Forces community for decades together to meet with their peers once again and place their trust in a welcoming Association. It brings the total of presentations carried out by the WRACA: The Servicewomen’s Charity to 40 – more than double that of every other regiment in the British Army combined. The WRAC Association is proud to lead the way in restoring berets and cap badges, alongside the restoration of trust in the Armed Forces community.
Brig Clare Phillips’ moving speech moved many of those present to tears, as she told those present:
“When I joined the Army in 1995, the ban on LGBT service personnel was still in place. I remember the anxiety, lies and fear that came with living a double life—hiding my true self, feeling vulnerable and at risk. For years, the reality for all our LGBT veterans was the need to edit our lives to protect our careers due to the blanket ban on LGBT personnel serving in the UK Armed Forces… Today, I am fortunate to have served for 30 years in an Army that embraces diversity and inclusivity. This progress is due to the relentless bravery and determination of those who fought for change—those who stood up for my rights and for a better, more inclusive British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.
“But for hundreds of LGBT veterans, the lifting of the ban was too late, their experiences had been catastrophic — raids, investigations, blackmail, discharges; their lives shattered through profound trauma, brutality and betrayal. The ban contradicted the very peace, respect, and freedom our Armed Forces uphold, with LGBT service personnel treated as criminals; despite serving with the same courage, commitment, and sacrifice as everyone else…. After decades of waiting, affected veterans are finally receiving recognition for their suffering. However, no acknowledgment can undo the years lost, the lives devastated, and the careers destroyed. I deeply admire the courage and dignity it has taken for our LGBT veterans to consider reconnecting with the Army and the WRAC. The opportunity to represent these berets today is about remembering that I stand on the shoulders of giants — those who suffered under the ban and those who fought discrimination and persecution so I can now serve openly and proudly. It is about being able to say to those veterans whose voices have been unheard for so long, “Thank you for my service.” Most importantly, it is about recognising the service of our veterans and seeking to reconnect with these incredible women.
“On behalf of the Women’s Royal Army Corps, the British Army, and our nation, I extend my heartfelt apologies for the distress and trauma your treatment and discharge caused. Thank you for your honourable service, your bravery and your dedication… As we reflect on the devastation caused by your discharge from the Army, we would like to recognise the resilience, determination and courage that you have shown every day and that you are showing by reconnecting with the WRAC Association today.
“I hope you each find strength in knowing that we recognise your terrible experiences and that we are proud to welcome you back into our veteran community, where you belong and where your service will be recognised in the way that it always should have been… Today, we’re here to say: You belong. You always did.
“From the ashes of your Army career, perhaps together we can forge a future of renewed friendship, resilience and hope. It is my privilege to present each of you with your beret and cap badge as a symbol of your rightful place in our history and our hearts. We see you, we hear you and we love you. Thank you for your service.”
On 19th July 2023, the Independent Review into the service and experience of LGBT veterans who served prior to 2000 was published. The Review had been announced as part of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan, commissioned by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and conducted by the late Lord Etherton PC KC. At the heart of the Review were the testimonies of veterans who has suffered under the Ban and for whom, the process of dismissal had been intolerable. 69% of the testimonies were from women which was notably high given the much lower percentage of women serving in the Armed Forces during those years.
Lord Etherton wrote in his preface to the Review:
“Those statements give shocking evidence of a culture of homophobia, and of bullying, blackmail and sexual assaults, abusive investigations into sexual orientation and sexual preference, disgraceful medical examinations including conversion therapy, peremptory discharges, and appalling consequences in terms of mental health, and wellbeing, homelessness, employment, personal relationships and financial hardship.”
Affected veterans should visit: gov.uk/government/collections/lgbt-veterans-support-and-next-steps
More information on WRACA: The Servicewomen’s Charity can be found at wraca.org.uk
