Page 24 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 62

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

I was no longer that shy and sheepish wreath from RBL HQ, I was informed
recruit, I was now a commando that the secretary, a former colonel,
soldier having integrity! What I hadn’t wanted to see me. “Here goes I thought
anticipated was that my honesty was to – More Grief!” He sought an assurance
set off a new investigation. Who had we were going to behave. His fears were
I done things with? Who in my unit? very quickly allayed. We would be there
Which officers? Who in other units? I to honour our fallen LGB comrades,
told them nothing – there was nothing nothing more, nothing less. I met him
to tell! Who did what to, or with whom? on several occasions; he was always a
What role did I take? Did I like dressing perfect gent, asking about my service,
in women’s clothes? On and on it went. about my research at GOSH; but more
The entire farrago dragged out over importantly about me. Eventually, on
months. Always nasty, always offensive, 12th January 2000 the UK government
always bigoted. During all this I returned was obliged to repeal the illegal ban on
to my duties in the officers’ mess. No LGB personnel serving in HM Forces,
by the ECHR. To have been a part in
concern that I would corrupt others, no
PRIDE concern that I would undermine unit Tremaine A O Cornish M.Phil.; M.Sc.; B.A.(Hons); bringing that about, is something that
gives me a sense of great pride.
cohesion. Under interrogation, finally I
Fighting with Pride
cracked; and told them of an encounter
By Tremaine A O Cornish with another soldier, a Corporal in the Cert(Nat.Sci.) Fast forward 20 years and I heard about
I’d signed up to 9 years with 3 years
RMPs, I informed them that we’d met
in the reserves, with the option to a newly formed group: Fighting with
only once, I didn’t know his real name. Pride, who were seeking redress for
Receiving the Queen’s shilling at the Whilst at my first and albeit brief I was to practice one dish, in particular Was I going mad? extend to 22 years’ service, which I’d all former service personnel who were
tender age of 15¾ back in 1971 was a posting to RAOC Bicester, I received a ‘Queens Pudding’. So back to St Omer fully intended to do. I had completed
I was sent for a psych evaluation. Was I a total of 5 years 359 days (man and either dismissed or encouraged to leave
moment of some pride. I longed to letter from our Catering Science tutor, and once finished and we were left to
spinning a yarn? Was I crazy? Was because they were or were believed to
escape home, but what was I letting informing me of my grade and mark, our own devices, we walked around the boy), “Conduct Exemplary, Services No
I mad? Well, I can tell you, I wasn’t, I Longer Required”. I was persona non be LGBT. In July 2022, I was invited
myself in for? Was I going from the telling me I’d gained the top marks in barracks, I pulled my work to pieces,
was furious! The Surgeon Commander grata, an anathema to decency. Their to attend a reception at Wellington
frying pan into the fire? I’d wanted to the country by 10 points with 89% – bit every tiny flaw I was aware of them,
wasn’t too impressed either, he stated in words, not mine. Barracks for serving and veteran LGBT
be a chef, so I was posted to the RAOC more pride, but as far as I was aware, no I trashed my work, but my boss wasn’t my records that there was no medical service personnel, prior to the 50th
– go figure. I was assured that this was one else knew of this. concerned, and he was right. We won! reason for him to do such an evaluation. I I’d left the Army, what next? anniversary of the first Gay Pride march
because the allocation for the ACC was My new green beret – Winners in Class One of the Army was also sent for a very intimate physical Fast forward to the mid 90’s and I in London. With trepidation I entered
full and that I would be able to transfer Cookery Competition 1975. On the examination, seeking supporting got to hear about a group called Rank the barracks. I chatted with members
Attended the All Arms Commando Outsiders and a meeting in Earls Court,
into the corps of my choice in time. main stage again, gold medals all round. evidence of my, self-confessed sexuality. of each of the services, from the most
Course in January ’75, so off to the London, of former service personnel
After several medical examinations, Good reason to feel pride! This was done by a different Surgeon junior, up to very senior officers,
Citadel in Plymouth, then on to the who’d been thrown out of the Forces
due to concerns on account of several A brief stint with 45 Commando, Lt Commander. It was thoroughly including a Brigadier, an Air Marshall,
CTCRM Lympstone in the February for being gay. I was immediately made
operations I had had since I was a baby, RM, including a 3-months in northern offensive, incredibly humiliating, and a Major General of the Royal Marines,
and completed on 26 March. Quickly welcome. At last, I was with friends,
I was declared fit to join. I journeyed Norway landing on 4 January ’76 and ultimately degrading in the extreme. and a Lieutenant General (the latter two
back to Bicester to pack, wearing my friends who got it, who understood. A
from Somerset to Surrey on the 14th -25°C dropping to -40°C. Each week As the Queen passed the Royal were there as allies). Many had no idea
green beret with pride and an immediate while later I was voted in as the vice-
of September to join the junior leaders we had a film night, with one being The Citadel, my home and place of work about the ban. I was asked about my
posting to 29 Cdo Lt Regt. R.A. chair of the group and in 1996 we story and my experiences in the army.
RAOC Deepcut. Herded on a bus with Rocky Horror Picture Show. Oh, the for her Jubilee visit in ’77, I watched
First in the main kitchen, then to the from the ramparts. Around this time a attended the Defence Select Committee We discussed how laws, cultures, and
30+ others, to take us to our new home, name of exercise: Snow Queen! at the House of Commons. By then I
Officers’ Mess, to one day be called to corporal, a clerk visited to inform me attitudes have changed in the armed
our new family. was working at Great Ormond Street
the main kitchen. I was to join the team Everything changed that my promotion to lance jack had forces and society.
At last to St Omer in the Army Cookery Competition. Back to Plymouth and in mid ’76, come through on Part One orders, but Hospital (GOSH), as a research fellow. I was introduced to Baroness Annabel

I had a pride in holding both these
My transfer came through the following I was told to report to a prefab office. not been transferred to Part Two orders. Goldie, a Minister of State at the MoD,
positions.
year, so off to ACC at St Omer. At last, No hint as to what it was about, only to I gave up then. I had no support, no she was delightful, kind, and gracious.
Truth is often stranger than fiction;
I had what I wanted, trade training. be confronted by 2 RMP Sergeants in guidance, no one with whom to confide We met again later at the reception; she
whilst drinking in a well-known gay
Whilst there I took part in various the SIB. I was told that items of clothing – totally alone! I wasn’t getting the remembered my name, but it was her
bar in Earls Court, who should accost
sports and did ten tours in 1973 and ’74 had been stolen from the room of the one promotion I’d worked so hard for and comments to the assembled crowd of
me from across a crowded bar but that
and an Outward Bound course, fitting female in the unit. Did I know anything clearly deserved, but more importantly; very same Surgeon Lt Commander, who LGBT service personnel, veterans and
trade training in between. about it? NO. I had no access the main the family that I’d been told I was part had performed that very humiliating, allies, where she made special reference
At the end of trade training in the part of the mess. It turned out some of, for the rest of my life had cast me very degrading, and very intimate to those of us who fought for the ban
out – disowned me! It didn’t happen to be lifted, and for the legacy that we
August of ’74, my end of course reports of her underwear was missing. Several examination! We spoke only briefly; the
immediately, but my discharge date had paved the way for – that filled me
read ‘good but away doing…’ various interrogations, none of them polite, all irony of the situation was not lost on me.
came through 2nd September 1977. with Pride! I don’t mind admitting that
sports. The pass-out parade was taken by offensive, all of them aggressive. More Allowed to honour the fallen
What to do next? Thankfully I’d met 2 it brought a tear to my eye: It takes a lot
FM (later Lord) Sir Michael Carver and interrogations, more grief, more hassle.
ex-guardsmen who introduced me to a Around then we in Rank Outsiders got to make a grown man cry.
at the awards ceremony he awarded me On one occasion, the least aggressive,
GP who had a room to rent above his permission from the RBL to discretely What rank might I have achieved,
a cup for ‘Outdoor Activities’, a moment asked if I was a homo? But not quite take part in the annual festival of during a career of 20 plus years; had I
Receiving the ‘Outdoor Activities’cup from FM Sir practice. By sheer luck I’d been spared
of pride (see picture). Michael Carver so polite. I thought for 3 nanoseconds. being on the streets, I’d found shelter. remembrance. When collecting our been allowed to complete my contract?
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