Anti-authority?
Australian unit histories are littered with stories of soldiers who tried to buck the system in training or away from the front line, but who became adept, courageous and displayed initiative in combat. In fact, it would seem the soldier who had the perfect conduct record often lacked the ability to "Think outside the square", as it would be termed today (or was very crafty in covering their sins!). Charges of being AWL were often matched by an equal number of occaisions where planning, daring, a little help from your mates and sheer luck meant your night on the tiles was never discovered by the Higher-Ups. This sharpening of wits and cunning often could save a situation on the battlefield. Besides AWL charges, many decorated soldiers have histories of promotions followed by reductions in rank and/or stoppages of pay for misdemeanours. This would be a result of their leadership skills being offset by other skills that were not so highly valued by the military establishment. Did it make them less worthy soldiers? I think it proved they were human.
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19-02-05, 13:33
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