Smash hit

Mr Davies accepted that the unpopularity of the Iraq War had had an impact on public opinion although he emphasised that the Armed Forces were carrying out the orders of the politicians.

He condemned recent incidents in which Service personnel had been picked on by members of the public. His report highlights incidents at Birmingham and Edinburgh airports last year when soldiers and Royal Marines returning from duty in Afghanistan were either told to put on civilian clothes before going through the terminal or were diverted to keep them out of the public eye.

Military personnel who had lost limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan and were being treated at the Armed Forces rehabilitation centre at Headley Court, near Leatherhead in Surrey, also suffered verbal abuse from members of the public in November when they used the local swimming pool.

Mr Davies referred to a policy adopted by Harrods, the Knightsbridge department store, of banning military personnel wearing combat fatigues. “We regard any such rule as quite unacceptable,” Mr Davies said. Harrods, however, has said that it does not not ban military personnel who wear their Service uniforms. An incident in November 2006, when a Harrods security assistant prevented an army officer from entering the store wearing Service dress after a Remembrance Day ceremony had been a mistake, the shop said.

The report calls for a wider use of uniforms in public, reversing a policy that has been in force since the IRA threat of the 1970s and 1980s, although Service personnel are allowed to wear uniforms to travel to work and to attend functions. Mr Davies said that he wanted the military to be encouraged to wear their uniform in public as often as possible, although he accepted it would not be right to do so “in nightclubs or on the beach”.

The report also calls for a more systematic approach to homecoming parades. These have become more common since General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the Army, appealed last year to local authorities to organise more parades for Service personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr Davies said that regional commanders should approach local authorities to hold such parades.

Other recommendations include allowing senior officers from all three Armed Forces to have access to the media without having to get permission from the Ministry of Defence.

Commenting on the proposal for an extra Bank Holiday, John Cridland, deputy Director-General of the CBI, said: “The idea of celebrating our Armed Foces is a positive one but there is no reason this couldn’t be done on an existing Bank Holiday. Statutory holiday entitlement is being increased from 20 to 28 days over the next two years - a substantial cost to firms. Offering staff an extra Bank Holiday would cost the economy up to £6 billion on top.”

A chance to change attitudes - or just more parades?

An Armed Forces Day to be held in June each year to celebrate and honour servicemen and servicewomen

Why? Any move to make the public think more about the sacrifices made by today’s military, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, has got to be beneficial for everyone.

Why not? Some Service personnel might think: “Oh no, not more parades.”

Legal protection for the uniform, making it a criminal offence to discriminate against Service personnel wearing their combat or dress clothes

Why? Although the incidents are rare, the measure would be viewed by the military as an additional mark of respect for the Services.

Why not? If Service personnel are big enough to handle the Taleban, they can deal with impertinent or rude shops, cinemas or members of the public.

More Combined Cadet Corps (CCF), the appointment of a “cadet ambassador”, and instruction in schools on the role of the Armed Forces

Why? More knowledge of and personal participation in the military world will help to improve understanding among young people.

Why not? The CCF is probably viewed as a toff-school activity and it could be tricky to persuade parents that it’s the right thing to do; and visits to schools should not be regarded as backdoor recruiting.

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