Tri-Service

Parliament Petitioned For Army To Be Allowed Beards

A Physical Training Instructor for the Armed Forces has started a parliamentary petition asking for all soldiers to be allowed to grow beards and not "to have to parade clean shaven."

Ben Houghton-Clarke's submission asks: "To allow soldiers who serve in the British Army to wear neat/trimmed facial hair."

If the petition gains 10,000 signatures the government must issue an official response. Should the number reach 100,000 signatures then the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Mr Houghton-Clarke, who has competed for the British Army team in Triathlon events, argues that the growing of facial hair "hugely increases morale and contributes to operational effectiveness through psychological means."

"The Royal Navy are allowed to grow beards through their tradition. The British Army used to grow beards however that was lost and now they have to parade clean shaven."

In January this year Forces.tv featured the one British Army rank that is allowed to parade not only with a full beard but also wielding an axe and sporting a leather apron.

Assault Pioneer is one of the few trades within the British Army that are permitted to have beards

Pioneer Sergeants have existed since the 1700s when every British Infantry company had one 'pioneer' who would march in front of the regiment.

Full Feature: The Only British Army Rank Allowed To Have A Beard On Parade.

It was also the Pioneer Sergeant's duty to kill horses that had been wounded in battle.

Ben Houghton-Clarke's petition however suggests beards have a practical use citing that "the British Army has been seen sporting a full range of stubble, moustaches and beards on Ops to blend in."