Thread by @WillJMeddings

The @BritishArmy recently selected its next batch of RSMs.

Here’s a thread about the most inspirational RSM that ever lived.

He fought in N Africa, dropped at Arnhem, saved countless lives in a POW camp, and became the first Academy Sgt Maj at @RMASandhurst.

RSM JC Lord, a🧵

Fighting with @3PARA in Tunisia he showed just how rigid he was in setting his standards. And in keeping a cool head:

He also showed a leader needs a sense of humour and compassion.

Ray Sheriff, of 3 PARA, was wounded in the chest in North Africa. He was staggering back to find the medics when he came across RSM Lord:

Yet the most remarkable period of Lord’s career was after being injured and captured at Arnhem.

Arriving at Stalagluft XIB, he found a camp of soldiers who had given up on themselves.

He installed himself as Senior Warrant Officer.

When prisoners died they were transported out of the camp in an old cart normally used to transport swill.

None of the POWs cared enough to do anything about this sad reflection of the helpless situation they were in.

RSM Lord turned the camp around. The prisoners’ morning roll call turned into smart morning muster parades.

He insisted in the smartest turn out possible under the conditions (reprimanding officers for not shaving) and instated a routine of daily exercise.

And he changed the burial routine into a formal ceremony of such discipline and precision that the German officers became embarrassed at the turnout of their guards who oversaw the burial party.

He also ensured the POWs correctly saluted German officers. This caused some anger amongst the captives. But for Lord is was part of being a disciplined soldier.

And he used it to instill pride back in the POWs. In his book he related the story:

“‘Tomorrow I’m going up to the German Commandant when he comes into the compound and I’m going to pull my tab in and I’m going to salute him’

‘and do you know, I’m going to give him the best salute I’ve ever given an officer in my life’

and the doubt increased in their eyes.”

“I said, “But mind you, when I salute him I’m going to be saying something to myself: I shall look him in the eye and when I salute I shall say to myself ‘Bollocks’.”

Next morning the compound was full. I dressed up for the Commandant and saluted him…”

“And off they went and you’d never seen such saluting in your life. They were seeking out and saluting German officers a compound away. The Germans thought it marvellous. But this was the point: from that moment on their shoulders squared back… and the light came in their eyes.”

In short, he turned them from captives back into soldiers.

By the time the camp was liberated the British POWs had taken over the running of the camp.

Concerned about the safety of the POWs once it became obvious the Nazis were losing the war, RSM Lord convinced the guards to allow British POWs to assist in sentry duty.

In the last five days before liberation, the camp guard was entirely taken over by the British POWs.

The effect he had on Stalagluft XIB was demonstrated by what Major Ralph Cobbold found when he paid the camp its first visit upon liberation.

After the war Lord went on to be inspirational as the first #Academy Sergeant Major (@AcSgtMaj_RMAS) where he gain a reputation for his iron-discipline.

He was famous for gripping the future King of #Jordan just as even-handedly as any other Officer Cadet.

And he was also famous for a sense of humour that still, somehow, managed to inspire fear and respect.

As Maj Gen Dato’ Selvarajah of #Malaysia, an Officer Cadet at Sandhurst under RSM Lord, related:

In July 1963 Lord was invited to lecture the officers at the Army Staff College in Camberley on the subject of discipline.

You can read his speech here:
thearmyleader.co.uk/discipline-spe…

Lord passed away in 1968 but he has an enduring legacy at @RMASandhurst.

To this day the WO1s at Sandhurst are nicknamed ‘Lords’ in honour of him. Two of the Academy’s rooms there are named after him (one of which, appropriately, is the bar in the WOs’ and Sgts’ Mess).

You can find out more about JC Lord here in ‘The Lord Down Here. Discipline Lessons from RSM John C Lord MVO MBE’.

For me, he’s a genuine legend and should be a role model to officers and NCOs everywhere.

thearmyleader.co.uk/rsm-lord/

If you found the thread interesting then please share the love by retweeting it.

Here it is again:

https://twitter.com/WillJMeddings/status/1474039674696081412

And if you want some throughs from some more recent Regimental Sergeants Major here are the reflections of a former @RANGLIANs RSM, Steve ‘Spud’ Armon:

thearmyleader.co.uk/rsm-common-sen…

… and a @RiflesRegiment former RSM (and now @RiflesAdjt) on his lessons as the Battalion’s senior soldier:
thearmyleader.co.uk/modern-rsm/

And if you want more usable leadership reflections and lessons then follow @thearmyleader on twitter for regular articles, or sign up to the mailing list:
mailchi.mp/thearmyleader.…