Scandalous Conduct : Canadian Officer Courts Martial, 1914-45 Hardback

by Matthew Barrett

Part of the Studies in Canadian Military History series

Hardback

Available to Order - This title is available to order, with delivery expected within 2 weeks

Description

Drunken disorderliness. Cowardice in battle. Writing bad cheques. Vulgarity. Sexual indecency. Adultery. Following courts martial for such disgraceful deeds, hundreds of Canadian officers lost their commissions during the First and Second World Wars.

Scandalous Conduct investigates the forgotten experiences of these dismissed ex-officers to offer a new critical perspective on constructed notions of honour and dishonour.

Matthew Barrett explores how changing definitions of scandalous behaviour shaped the quintessential honour crime known as â€œconduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.â€ As symbolized by the loss of commissioned rank, dishonour represented a direct challenge to the discredited officerâ€™s prestige, livelihood, and sense of manhood.

Drawing on fascinating court cases that have never before been studied, Scandalous Conduct convincingly demonstrates a surprising conclusion.

The scope of officer misconduct revealed that the ideal of military honour was not nearly as stable as leaders preferred to believe; instead it depended on changing social circumstances and disciplinary requirements.