A highly-decorated married commander of one of Britain’s biggest military bases faces being kicked out of the Army for allegedly grabbing a woman’s breasts at a regimental dinner.
Colonel John Musgrave, 53, has been suspended after he was accused of groping the 24-year-old civilian girlfriend of one of his junior officers.
The alleged incident took place on October 20 after a dinner attended by wives and girlfriends at Larkhill Barracks, where Col. Musgrave is commanding officer.
Royal Military Police launched an investigation after his behaviour was reported by another senior officer who made a complaint.
Colonel John Musgrave, 53, commander of Larkhill Barracks in Wiltshire, has been suspended after he was accused of groping a woman’s breasts after a regimental dinner last month
The alleged incident took place on October 20 after a dinner attended by wives and girlfriends at Larkhill Barracks, near Salisbury Plain, where Col. Musgrave is commanding officer
A source from the dinner, which was attended by Col. Musgrave’s wife, told MailOnline: ‘The meal was over and, as is usual on these occasions, a lot of drink had been taken.
‘Col. Musgrave had been drinking and was heard making sexually inappropriate comments to a female visitor about her breasts.
‘He was then seen pulling the woman out of the room and into a corridor.
‘That is when another senior officer stepped in. He wasn’t intimidated by the rank and decided to do something and told the Colonel to leave.’
The woman’s boyfriend is a lower-ranking officer, a 2nd Lieutenant, who was said to be ‘angry’ over the incident, but had not confronted his commanding officer.
The source added: ‘Her boyfriend was a very junior officer and was powerless to do anything.
‘If you want a career in the Army you do not say anything to someone so senior as a Colonel and certainly not the commander of the base.’
Following the complaint, Col. Musgrave was suspended as commander of Larkhill Barracks, Wiltshire, and home to the Royal Artillery.
He then jetted off to Las Vegas for a family holiday but has since returned and been questioned by military police.
The young woman involved will also be interviewed along with other witnesses at the dinner.
Royal Military Police launched an investigation after Col. Musgrave’s behaviour was reported by another senior officer who made a complaint and the senior officer has been suspended
If the allegations against Col. Musgrave are proved they would be ‘career ending’, added the military source.
He has served in Germany, Italy and Afghanistan and has represented the Army at military conferences around the world as an expert on modern firepower. His three years in Italy was on attachment to NATO.
As Lieutenant Colonal and commanding officer of the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, based in Catterick, he handed out HM Armed Forces Veterans Medals just a day before heading out for duty in Afghanistan.
And he has spoken movingly in the past when his men have been killed fighting in Afrghanistan.
Paying tribute to Warrant Officer Class 2 Sean Upton, who died in an explosion while on foot patrol in Sangin district, Helmand province, in 2009, he said: ‘Fifth Regiment has lost a truly dedicated and exemplary soldier and man who was a role model to all he met and worked with, always living and working to the highest standards, but also always with a smile on his face and a ready laugh.’
An Army spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that a member of staff from The Royal School of Artillery has been suspended pending an investigation. Anybody who falls short of the Army’s high standards will be dealt with and may face sanctions including dismissal.
‘Any inappropriate conduct by Army personnel is not tolerated and we encourage anyone who may have been affected by such behaviour to report it to the appropriate authorities.’