Military Misdemeanours Corruption, incompetence, lust and downright stupidity

by CROWDY, TERRY

• ISBN13: 9781846031489
• ISBN10: 1846031486
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-09-18
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

Bungled cover-ups, acts of blinding incompetence, miscarriages of justice, sexual escapades and downright stupidity - the scandals which have helped to make the world's armed forces the much loved (and sometimes ridiculed) institutions they are today. Take an irreverent look at the public outcries that both governments and soldiers would rather we forget, from Julius Caesar's sex life and the frolics of Charles d'Eon, the fearless dragoon and noted transvestite to the sinking of theKurskas Terry Crowdy delves into the darkest reaches of military sin and slip-up. Packed with more than 60 military mishaps from ancient times to the present day,Military Misdemeanorsshows that no military organization is safe from exposure. Learn the truth about Nelson and Lady Hamilton, the drafting of Heavyweight Champ Muhammad Ali, the sinking ofRainbow Warriorand satanism in the Royal Navy as we step back through the pages of history and see how corruption, bigotry, lust, vanity, incompetence and the occasional bout of insanity have colored conduct throughout time. Contents include: THE PROLOGUE "INIQUITY IN ANTIQUITY" He came. He saw. He was conquered! The sexual escapades of Julius Caesar ACT I "OUR INGLORIOUS PAST" The Infamous Lieutenant Bird A murderer in King George army - The Transvestite Knight The dragoon war hero, who preferred ladies' clothes to his uniform - The One about the Cat The man who ate a live cat to get out of the army ACT II "MANIFEST INFAMY" The Fairfax Raid The abduction of a drunk general by Mosby and his Rangers - The New York Draft Riots Caused by an unfair Civil War draft law - Surviving Custer The scandalous behaviour of Major Reno ACT III ''NOT SUCH A GREAT WAR" The Mexican Connection Germany's attempt to keep the US out of WWI by getting Mexico to invade - With 'Snow' on their Boots Cocaine abuse introduced to Britain by Canadian soldiers during WWI - The Midway Leak The US newspaper's revelation that the US Navy was intercepting Japanese signals ACT IV ''COLD WAR FALLOUT" Un-American Activities McCarthyism in the US Air Force - The U2 Scandal Gary Powers shot down by the Soviets - Drafting Ali Muhammad Ali and the Vietnam draft ACT V "EVEN IN OUR ENLIGHTENED TIMES?" Iran Air Flight 655 The passenger jet shot down by US missile during the Iran-Iraq War - The Flying Cow The untrue story of the cow that sank a Japanese boat - The Sultan of Spin The infamous Iraqi (mis)Information Minister

Author Biography

Terry Crowdy has an unconventional background for a historian. Former bassist in a rock group, and a history enthusiast since childhood, he has long been fascinated by different aspects of military history and takes great pleasure in delving into obscure sources to pluck out the most astonishing and revealing stories throughout history. The author of a number of articles and books, including The Enemy Within: A History of Espionage, he lives in Kent, UK. The author lives in Kent, UK.

Table of Contents

The Prologue: 'Iniquity in Antiquity'
The One That Got Away	p. 12
He Came, He Saw, He Was Conquered!	p. 17
'Our Inglorious Past'
The Infamous Lieutenant Bird	p. 22
A Victim of the Press	p. 27
Boldless Byng	p. 32
The Transvestite Knight	p. 38
In the Dock, Then Off the Took	p. 41
The One about the Cat	p. 45
The Boney Man	p. 46
'Abdallah' Menou	p. 55
Mutiny and Murder Afloat	p. 61
Baron Crocodile	p. 66
Cintra Shame	p. 73
The Grand Old Duke of York	p. 79
The Peterloo Massacre	p. 84
'Manifest Infamy'
Misrule, Britannia	p. 88
Mutiny!	p. 92
Crimean Shame	p. 97
The Fairfax Raid	p. 102
The New York Draft Riots	p. 105
The Belknap Scandal	p. 108
Surviving Custer	p. 113
The Shambles in Africa	p. 118
Scandal at Tranby Croft	p. 122
Dreyfus	p. 125
J'Accuse!	p. 129
Misery in the Camps	p. 132
Compromised Positions	p. 135
The Passion of Colonel Red!	p. 142
The Zabern Affair	p. 144
'Not Such a Great War'
The Wrong Trousers	p. 148
The Shell Scandal	p. 151
The Lusitania Medal	p. 153
A Martyred Nurse	p. 156
The Mexican Connection	p. 159
With 'Snow' on Their Boots	p. 162
How To Win Important Friends and Influence People	p. 164
Red Letter Day	p. 166
M'Lady's a Tramp	p. 169
The Midway Leak	p. 172
The Slapping Incident	p. 175
The Death Match	p. 180
The D-Day Witch Trial	p. 183
'Cold War Fallout'
The Atomic Spies	p. 188
Un-American Activities	p. 191
The Poisoned Apple	p. 195
Fools' Gold	p. 197
The U-2 Scandal	p. 200
The Profumo Affair	p. 204
Operation Ranch Hand	p. 213
Drafting Ali	p. 218
'Even in Our Enlightened Times?'
Murder at Lillehammer	p. 226
'Gotcha!'	p. 229
The Baby Snatchers	p. 232
Kal 007	p. 237
Satanic Operation	p. 241
Irangate	p. 250
Iran Air Flight 655	p. 259
A Princess in Love	p. 264
Draft Dodger-in-Chief	p. 267
The Myth of the Flying Cow	p. 271
The Massacre of Cermis	p. 273
Smart Bombs are Still as Dumb as Their Users	p. 275
Coffingate	p. 278
Sinking of the Kursk	p. 283
A Career on the Rocks	p. 286
The Brothel Bills Scandal	p. 290
The Sultan of Spin	p. 294
Saving Private Jessica	p. 298
Equatorial Guinea Coup	p. 301
The Devil's Own	p. 306
Swiss Pleas	p. 308
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.