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History Canada

Scandalous Conduct

Canadian Officer Courts Martial, 1914–45

by (author) Matthew Barrett

Publisher
UBC Press
Initial publish date
Apr 2022
Category
Canada, Social History, Military
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780774865456
    Publish Date
    Apr 2022
    List Price
    $89.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780774867610
    Publish Date
    Apr 2022
    List Price
    $32.95
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780774867597
    Publish Date
    Nov 2022
    List Price
    $32.95

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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 “conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.” As symbolized by the loss of commissioned rank, dishonour represented a direct challenge to the discredited officer’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.

About the author

Matthew Barrett is an historian, illustrator, and postdoctoral fellow at the Canadian War Museum.

Matthew Barrett's profile page

Editorial Reviews

"Scandalous Conduct is a welcome addition to the literature on Canadian military culture and is an excellent introduction to its concept of honor."

History: Review of New Books

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