The sister of a young female soldier who tragically took her own life after a sexual assault complaint against a senior officer has spoken out, condemning the army as “not safe for women.” Emily Beck, the older sister of Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, opened up about her pain and her sister’s experience, urging women to reconsider joining the military. She shared her grief, remembering Jaysley as her “best friend” and “rock.”
A Life Cut Short Amid Allegations of Abuse
In December 2021, 19-year-old Jaysley Beck was found dead in her barracks at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire.
This followed an incident where she alleged that Battery Sergeant Major (BSM) Michael Webber had pinned her down and attempted to kiss her.
An inquest revealed that the army’s mishandling of the sexual assault complaint played a significant role in her tragic death.
The assistant coroner, Nicholas Rheinberg, determined that the army’s actions, or lack thereof, contributed more than minimally to her suicide.
In addition to the sexual assault, the inquest found that Jaysley suffered continuous harassment from her superior, Bombardier Ryan Mason, who subjected her to unwanted advances.
Despite the abuse, the response from the army was minimal, with BSM Webber only receiving a minor punishment and a letter of apology for the assault.
Emily Beck’s Powerful Testimony
Speaking after the inquest, Emily Beck didn’t hold back in her criticism of how the army handled her sister’s case.
“The army is not a safe place for women,” she said, emphasizing that the institution seemed more concerned with protecting its own reputation than addressing the serious issues faced by female soldiers.
“What happened to Jaysley was just swept under the carpet,” Emily added, lamenting the lack of action to protect her sister.
Attending every day of the inquest with her family, Emily found the army’s treatment of her sister’s case appalling, especially after they initially suggested family problems might have contributed to Jaysley’s suicide.
“That was just an attempt to deflect blame,” she said, horrified by the way the army minimized her sister’s complaints.
A Family’s Unbreakable Bond
Emily reflected on the close relationship she had with her sister, describing them as inseparable.
“We were best friends, we have always been inseparable,” she said, describing the pain of losing Jaysley.
She recalled their daily conversations and shared experiences, emphasizing how much Jaysley had meant to her.
“She was everything I aspired to be, even though I was the older sister,” Emily shared, still struggling to come to terms with her loss.
In honor of her sister’s love for travel, Emily moved to Australia in 2022, a decision inspired by Jaysley’s adventurous spirit.
“I wanted to live by her qualities,” Emily explained, saying that the decision to travel was something her sister would have encouraged.
A Continued Fight for Change
Although Emily now lives in Australia, the loss of her sister continues to drive her mission to tackle sexual violence and harassment within the army.
She, along with her family, is dedicated to ensuring that Jaysley’s struggles are not forgotten and that other victims within the military find the support they need.
“We will continue our work to encourage change within the army,” Emily affirmed.
She called for the creation of an independent body to investigate complaints of sexual violence and harassment, advocating for better support for victims.
“Shining a light on what happened to Jaysley and our family will hopefully encourage victims to speak up,” she added.