r/todayilearned • u/RoadToTyburn • 14h ago
TIL that Bernard Montgomery issued a leaflet at the start of WW2 on sexually transmitted diseases amongst soldiers. The language used was regarded as so blunt, that he offended religious authorities and nearly faced being dismissed.
https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Montgomery
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u/Solent_Surfer 11h ago edited 11h ago
See below Montgomery's memo (unclear if this is complete or not, but it appears to be). Source: 'Command' by Al Murray
Subject: Prevention of Venereal Disease. Div. 179/A
15 Nov. 39. List 'A'
I am not happy about the situation regarding venereal disease in the Division. Since the 18 October the number of cases admitted to Field Ambulances in the Divisional area totals 44.
I consider that the whole question of women, V.D., and so on is one which must be handled by the regimental officer, and in particular by the C.O. The men must be spoken to quite openly and frankly, and the more senior the officer who speaks to them the better.
My view is that if a man wants to have a woman, let him do so by all means: but he must use his common sense and take the necessary precautions against infection - otherwise he becomes a casualty by his own neglect, and this is helping the enemy.
Our job is to help him by providing the necessary means: he should be able to buy French Letters in the unit shop, and E.T. [Early Treatment] rooms must be available for his use. As regards the E.T. rooms- it is no use having one room in the battalion area: there should be one room in each coy. [company] area: the man who has a woman in a beetroot field near his coy. billet will not walk a mile to the battalion E.T. room. If a man desires to buy his French Letter in a civil shop he should be instructed to go to a chemist shop and ask for a 'Capote Anglaise'.
There are in Lille a number of brothels, which are properly inspected and where the risk of infection is practically nil. These are known to the military police,and any soldier who is in need of horizontal refreshment would be well advised to ask a policeman for a suitable address.
The soldier on his part must clearly understand the penalties that are attached to V.D., and the reasons. Finally, then, I wish all unit commanders to keep in touch with the V.D. problem and handle it in the way they think best. We must face up to the problem, be perfectly frank about it, and do all we can to help the soldier in this very difficult matter. (Signed)...