Smirking squaddies point loaded guns at bully victim who was driven to brink of suicide in group snap
Iraq War veteran Mark Holder, 36, said it was worst incident of his life in a wider three-year campaign of harassment that drove him to the brink of suicide
A FORMER soldier has told how he was driven to the brink of suicide by bullying comrades who even pointed loaded guns at his head for a prank.
Ex-Private Mark Holder, 36, of Colchester, was beaming innocently for a group photo unaware seven squaddies had the barrels of their guns turned on him.
He only realised he was the victim of the humiliating joke when he later saw the picture.
Full time carer Mark, whose wife and two children live in Uganda, said it was the worst incident in a wider three year campaign of mercilessness mocking because he suffers with dyslexia.
Last year he was awarded £5,000 after Top Brass admitted he was the victim of bullying and harassment.
Iraq veteran Mark – who served with the Military Provost Guard Service – admitted the torment was so severe he is only able to talk about it now.
He told The Sun: “I had to endure a nightmare – my regiment pointed loaded guns at my head. I was being bullied on a daily basis.
“The people in charge encouraged it. They were bullies.
“People need to be aware how the British Army treats people with dyslexia, they discriminate against you, they call you thick, that you’re stupid, that you shouldn’t be in the Army. “I near enough took my own life.”
The incident took place on ranges in Colchester, Essex, he revealed.
Mark served in Iraq in 2005 as a chef with the Royal Logistic Corps – where he was never bullied - before transferring in 2010 to the Military Provost Guard Service which carries out armed guard services on UK bases.
But he quit in 2013 amid horrendous bullying and spent another four years fighting his legal claim against Top Brass, which they lost.
After lodging a Service Complaint it was found colleagues had crossed a line “between banter and bullying.”
Mark said the bullying campaign was almost entirely name calling, with some soldiers, including those senior to him, calling him a “thick c***”, “retard” and questioning whether he went to school. But it was only when distraught Mark saw the picture he realised the extent of ill-feeling directed towards him.
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Top Brass found the verbal attacks were “intended to humiliate him” and a pay-out was awarded.
But he says he still has never received a written apology from the Army over the abuse.
He said: “I would never recommend the Army as a career to anyone, especially if they have dyslexia, I passed everything, but I was still called names.”
A MoD Spokesman said: “Bullying and harassment have no place in the Armed Forces and will not be tolerated, all allegations are taken very seriously and will be thoroughly investigated.”
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