One of the British Army’s first Rastafarian guardsmen has won a claim of race discrimination and harassment against the Ministry of Defence.
Dwight Pile-Gray says his 16-year Army career was brought to an end following a row at a guardroom, in which a white guard didn’t believe he was a soldier.
When he challenged the soldier, he was accused of “playing the race card”. He won his case at an employment tribunal.
The MoD said it did not tolerate abuse, bullying or discrimination of any kind.
Speaking publicly about the incident for the first time, he told BBC News he believes his case shows it is worse to accuse someone of being racist in the Army, than it is to actually be racist.
The employment hearing was held in June, and Mr Pile-Gray found out he had won the case in October. Dwight Pile-Gray says he always knew he’d stand out in the Army.
He was the first Rastafarian soldier to be allowed to wear his hair in locks. He also joined later in life than most, at the age of 37.
Mr Pile-Gray took part in dozens of state occasions, tying up his hair to fit into his bearskin. “I was under no illusion as to what I might encounter,” he says of joining the Army. “But I was full of optimism.”
Credit: bbc.com
