British soldiers being incapacitated in World War One though contracting sexually transmitted illnesses was an ever-present problem. Such an affliction could see a soldier out of action for two months. In 1918 there were 60,000 cases of such diseases in the British army. How was this usually described on a soldier’s army record?

Answer: Perhaps embracing the British penchant for understatement and euphemism, this was designated as ‘sick through negligence’.

Source: Warrior Race – A History of the British at War by Lawrence James

More at: History

Comments are closed.

Back Home