Two senior soldiers from one of the Army’s most prestigious regiments face investigation after wearing Nazi uniforms to a party days before Remembrance Sunday.
The sergeants from the Queen’s Royal Hussars were frogmarched from the fancy dress event at their barracks after shocked guests complained about their attire.
Remarkably, their Regimental Sergeant Major had approved the SS outfits – and he has been suspended pending an inquiry.
The pair – respected members of the Army’s most senior armoured regiment, which can trace its lineage back to the 18th century – posed for pictures at the Halloween event, even raising their arms to give Nazi salutes.
These images appeared later on social media, prompting a backlash from senior officers.
Military police, who removed the two from the party in the sergeants’ mess at Tidworth, Wiltshire, continue to investigate.
They may escape severe punishment for breaching Army values and standards as, according to defence sources, they sought the approval of their RSM and he granted their request.
He is fighting to save his career as, according to military sources, there are allegations he may have misled the regiment’s commanding officer. A source said the RSM had ‘pleaded ignorance’ about the Nazi costumes in an apparent bid to escape censure.
But the first excuse given by the sergeants when quizzed was that he had suggested the costumes were acceptable.
There is no allegation either sergeant was making a political gesture but their lack of sensitivity, in particular so close to Remembrance Sunday, has left top brass aghast.
One senior source said: ‘They may not have had any intention to offend anyone but, for heaven’s sake, what were they thinking?
‘The CO went ballistic when he saw the pictures of them making Nazi salutes. It is 2024.
‘Everyone in the Army knows this is completely unacceptable. The RSM is also responsible.
‘He should have considered the fall-out and forbidden their outfit choices. Misleading the CO about what he knew, if that is proven, was also a grave error.
‘Hundreds of the regiment’s officers and troopers lost their lives to the Nazis. It isn’t funny to dress up as an SS officer and wear a swastika.’
An Army spokesman said: ‘We apologise unreservedly for the unacceptable behaviour of these two individuals and the offence that it will cause. Their actions demonstrated serious and significant shortfalls in judgment and conduct and were totally incompatible with the values and standards the Army demands.’
A young Prince Harry, then a cavalry officer, wore a desert uniform of the Afrika Korps complete with a swastika armband and Wehrmacht badge to a private party in 2005.
Pictures of his outfit led to widespread condemnation.
