Sapper Anthony Walls, of the 21 Engineer Regiment, went to the Co-op in Croydon to buy beer after a gruelling 34-hour journey home from Kandahar.
The 27-year-old, said it was his 'first hour back in the real world' after four-and-a-half months helping build "the most dangerous road in Afghanistan".
But when he arrived at the till to pay he was met with a blank stare from the cashier, who refused to serve him and called for her manager.
The manager then refused to serve Sapper Walls and told him he "couldn't do anything about it."
The soldier, who was on his way to his three-year-old nephew Jack's birthday party, left his beer at the check-out and walked out.
"All I was thinking about was getting home to Jack in time to wish him a happy birthday," he said.
"It was great to be home after a difficult journey and I just thought I'd grab a couple of beers - a luxury I hadn't had in a while.
"But when I came to pay the cashier refused to serve me and rang her bell. A male supervisor came along and the cashier explained she was refusing to serve me because I was in uniform.
"He looked at me and said 'I can't do anything about it'. I put the beer down and walked out. I was shocked and deeply hurt."
UPDATE: Co-op has apologized to Sapper Wells. Apparently the actions of the two employees were not due to any company policy. Thanks to Lee Brimmicombe-Wood for bringing this to my attention.
By: Shelldrake
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3 comments:
Boo! Boo!
This is sort of a non-story really, given that the store has declared it has no anti-uniform policy and has apologized. So what we have is a rare incident of two staff taking a stance against company policy. (Note the emphasis.)
That said, I've no doubt there will be those who make this out to be something more than it actually is. There are folks more than willing to build a whole dolschosslegende from the one-off actions of a stroppy check-out girl and her dim-wit supervisor.
However, it's good to see that the contempt for soldiers that Kipling wrote about in 'Tommy' more than a hundred years ago remains alive and well in Britain. That little has changed. I think it is a sign of a healthy democracy in which the public can openly distrust the military. Better that than the fawning treatment I have seen the institution given in recent years.
I don't worry for the squaddie. He's a big lad and can take the slight. He'll dine out on that story for years to come.
I do worry for those servicemen and veterans who will flood the zone on internet fora, getting their panties in a twist about this. Especially the ones who blub moist-eyed demands for special treatment, pats on the head and consideration that they are unlikely to extend to anyone else. They are such sensitive souls, you see...
- Lee Brimmicombe-Wood
Re: The update. I don't think I can really take credit for this, since all I did was read the article you linked to, where this information was clearly presented.
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