Sergeant Major 'harassed' Army wives at drink-fuelled Mess dinner: Regimental officer is suspended over claims of drunken approaches to colleagues' wives that ended in a fight

 A Regimental Sergeant Major has been suspended over claims of drunken approaches to colleagues’ wives that caused a punch-up at a formal military dinner.

Warrant Officer Mike Ransley, RSM of the elite Infantry Battle School, has been relieved of responsibilities while the claims are investigated.

The news came as Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, reprimanded top brass yesterday following a series of scandals including claims of sexual harassment of female military personnel, one of whom took her own life.

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Warrant Officer Mike Ransley (pictured), RSM of the elite Infantry Battle School, has been relieved of responsibilities while the claims are investigated

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The news came as Ben Wallace (pictured), the Defence Secretary, reprimanded top brass yesterday following a series of scandals including claims of sexual harassment of female military personnel, one of whom took her own life

Minister orders generals to end ‘culture of sexism’

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace yesterday ordered Army chiefs to stamp out sexism with a major overhaul of regimental culture.

He summoned generals for an unprecedented dressing-down after scandals including claims that soldiers killed a prostitute in Kenya and allegations that a female officer cadet who killed herself had been sexually harassed.

Only last week a teenage trooper from the Royal Artillery was jailed for seven years for raping one female colleague and sex assaults on two others.

Mr Wallace, an ex-Army officer, is said to be ‘exasperated’ by the failure to improve discipline and he has ordered an immediate ‘cultural review’.

In July a report revealed that two-thirds of women in the Armed Forces had experienced bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination.The latest allegations of misconduct surround a social function at the battle school at Brecon in Powys, mid-Wales.

The Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess dinner was attended by instructors who teach battlefield skills to thousands of soldiers every year.

They were dressed formally, accompanied by their wives, and a ‘considerable amount’ of alcohol was consumed, according to sources.

Senior officers are investigating claims that towards the end of the evening WO1 Ransley approached a group of wives and spoke and acted inappropriately.

Some reports suggested he was unnecessarily tactile towards the women, who objected to his advances. 

A fight then ensued, with punches exchanged as other Warrant Officers reacted furiously to his alleged actions.

The RSM, who is said to have been ‘very drunk’, was then escorted from the Mess by colleagues. Last night official MOD sources denied claims he had ‘touched up’ the wives.

WO1 Ransley, of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of the Infantry Battle School in June.

A temporary RSM has been appointed pending the outcome of the investigation into his conduct. 

His removal from post was confirmed in a letter to staff by the school’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Damian Flanagan. 

He wrote: ‘I spoke with the Warrant Officers yesterday evening but I owe you all an update for the sake of clarity.

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Defence Secretary Ben Wallace yesterday ordered Army chiefs to stamp out sexism with a major overhaul of regimental culture. Pictured: Chief of the General Staff, General Mark Carleton-Smith at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst

‘Most will be aware by now, I’m sure, but last Friday I suspended the RSM from his post pending an investigation into allegations of social misconduct during the social function in the Mess last month.

‘Obviously it is a sensitive issue and I ask you to be thoughtful and considerate in how you go about discussing this. Rumour and speculation are unhelpful and will do more harm than good – we all have a role in moderating the excesses when we hear of it.

‘It is of course a reminder of the behaviours, values and standards that we are expected to maintain.

‘But this should not restrain our ambitions and aspirations to return to social ‘normality’ –social functions are an important part of the military fabric and must (and will) continue.’

Last night the Ministry of Defence said: ‘We are aware of an incident involving a soldier at the Infantry Battle School on October 16.

‘The matter is currently the subject of an ongoing investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further.’