OTC criticised for staging mock execution on exercise
The York detachment of the British Army’s University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) has faced fierce criticism in recent days for behaviour that has been described as “disgusting and ignorant”. The UOTC came under fire after it emerged that members had held a German-themed social at which one member dressed as a concentration camp prisoner. Members of the detachment have also faced censure over a video they posted on YouTube which shows the mock execution of a hooded victim.
Jewish students and representatives at the University have reacted with anger to news of the ‘German’ social - which took place at York barracks in week 10 of last term - at which one student Officer Cadet dressed in the black and white pyjamas worn by Nazi concentration camp prisoners during the Second World War. Several members also came dressed as German soldiers.
Rabbi Michael Treblow, the Jewish Students’ Chaplain for Yorkshire and Humberside, condemned the social: “It’s tasteless and very painful that they don’t remember the cruelty and barbarism that civilised humanity can produce. Nazi Germany was the epitome of civilisation reaching its barbaric max”.
Rabbi Treblow went on to urge that the individuals involved should be “sent to old age homes to care for survivors of German cruelty” as punishment.
A member of the detachment defended the social, saying that “nobody took it as a Nazi social and the chap himself is actually Jewish, so before you say it was offensive to York’s burgeoning Jewish population, remember he was Jewish”.
He added that the choice of military uniform was made because “the Germans have always been a militaristic people”, claiming that the actions of the Officer Cadet in question had been dealt with internally by other members, who gave him “a punishment drink”.
Marthe Tholen, the chair of the Jewish Society on campus, said the actions were “childish, very disgusting and ignorant” and that “if you do such a thing it is offensive to many people, whether you are a Jew or not”.
The UOTC has also faced criticism for a video posted on YouTube which shows a number of mock-killings set to music, including a mock execution carried out on a hooded victim.
The video, which was removed from the internet within an hour of Nouse’s initial enquiry, was filmed during an official UOTC exercise. Lieutenant Colonel Melotte, the Commanding Officer responsible for the York detachment, said that “individuals playing the part of the enemy took it upon themselves to perform a mock execution without the knowledge of the military staff”. Melotte stressed that the video was “unauthorised”, and that the event was not part of British military training.
The video has been condemned by YUSU President Rich Croker, who said “We cannot condone such behaviour if it infringes on students of other religions, races etc. I would hope all York students would be considerate in what they upload or produce for public viewing.”
However Lieutenant Colonel Melotte, has defended the students as “a force for good” and a “credit to the University”. He went on to say that “those concerned are now quite clear that their actions were inappropriate and ill-judged and at variance with the values of the UOTC and the British Army.”
However, a member of the UOTC who was asked to comment on the video said “It just sounds like a bunch of guys messing around in the woods. Why is that inappropriate?”
A Facebook group set up by members of the UOTC describes the organisation as “the mighty OTC’, claiming to “sweep away the dross and stand proud for being the hardest training, hardest fighting and hardest drinking people in York” as well as stating, “The rugby club only exists so that gays can get together without joining LGBT and having to tell their dads”. The group has since been removed.
The story goes national:
Story also featured in the Daily Star and Daily Sport (9/3/07)
Adam
Daily Sport eh? I always knew Nouse was tabloid filth really…
Heidi Blake
Yes, we’re all very proud.