All soldiers are to be issued with a guide to moral behaviour to be carried in their top pockets, as a reminder of the good conduct required whether on the battlefield or in barracks.

The aide-memoire is to be introduced next month after allegations that Iraqi detainees have been abused.

An internal inquiry by Brigadier Robert Aitken, director of army personnel strategy, found no evidence of systematic abuse, but General Sir Richard Dannatt, the Chief of the General Staff, who has made public his strong Christian views, underlined the need for the highest standards.

General Dannatt was particularly angry over the allegations of ill-treatment by soldiers of nine Iraqis in September 2003, which led to the death of Baha Musa who was found to have suffered 93 injuries while being held in a British military detention centre in Basra. Six of the seven soldiers charged in relation to Mr Musa’s death were acquitted, but the judge who presided over the court martial said there had been a “closing of the ranks”. General Dannatt said that Mr Musa’s death had damaged the reputation of the British Army.

Soldiers are also to be given morality instruction by Army chaplains who are being trained to provide guidance in ethics and morals. Soldiers who shine in the morality stakes will be awarded with good-conduct chevrons: upside down stripes worn on the left sleeve of their dress uniform. The practice of presenting chevrons to the best-behaved soldiers has passed out of use in recent years.

An internal document that explains the need for a reevaluation of codes of behaviour states: “The changed strategic and operational context and the incidences of deliberate abuse of Iraqi citizens from operations in 2003 and 2004 demonstrated that the understanding and, perhaps more, the application of values and standards was not as comprehensive as required.”

The Commandant at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst has also been asked to draw up a new British Army leadership doctrine.

— The MoD has confirmed that 1 Rifles, which has been retrained as commandos, will be deployed to Afghanistan in September as part of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. The MoD said this would not provide a “significant uplift” to the troop numbers earmarked for Afghanistan. There are 7,800 British troops in the country. This is likely to increase to more than 8,000 in September.

Times Recommends

• Charles blazes trail as sun king
• Thalidomiders win payout 50 years on
• Libel gag on talk of 'medical hurricane'