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TWO Beefeaters at the Tower of London were today facing the sack after being accused of subjecting a female colleague to a campaign of hate.
Moira Cameron allegedly had her uniform defaced and nasty notes left in her locker while she was living at the historic site with 34 male workers.
But the 44-year-old, who became the first woman appointed to the job in 522 years, today vowed to carry on and not be forced out by her bullies.
Two Beefeaters, officially called Yeoman Warders, have been suspended after an inquiry into the harassment allegations, and another is under investigation.
Miss Cameron, from Argyll, in Scotland, was appointed in January 2007, but that decision seems to have sparked jealousy among some colleagues, all ex-military personnel.
In an alleged hate campaign, notes were said to have been left in her locker and the globally recognisable uniform she wears, which costs £1,400, was said to have been defaced.
One suspect was also cautioned by police for defacing her entry in the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia.
Miss Cameron joined the Army at the age of 16 and had served the required minimum of 22 years in the Armed Forces to be a Beefeater. She was a Warrant Officer 2, the Army's second-highest NCO rank, at the Adjutant General's Corps in Aldershot.
Her appointment made worldwide headlines after she beat five men to secure the coveted position.
A spokesman for the Tower of London said: "We can confirm three Yeoman Warders are under investigation in response to allegations of harassment. Two have been suspended. We take such allegations very seriously and our formal harassment policy makes it clear this is totally unacceptable.
"As soon as these allegations were brought to our attention, we instigated procedures."
The spokesman added: "The Tower is a close-knit community and, understandably, this is a difficult time for us all."
When Miss Cameron started work at the Tower, she revealed not all her new colleagues had been welcoming.
She said then: "I've had some comments. I had one chap at the gate one day who said he was completely and utterly against me doing the job.
"I said to him, 'I would like to thank you for dismissing my 22 years' service in Her Majesty's Armed Forces'." Last night a Tower source said: "Moira's very upset, but relieved the alleged bullying and harassment has only been by a small minority.
"She's a big boost to tourism and is determined to carry on. She will not be forced out by bully boys."
Chief Yeoman Warder John Keohane said that male Beefeaters had realised for some time that one day a woman would do the job.
"If you went back into the 1800s, life for ladies was very different. All that's happened is that life has moved on."
The Yeoman Warders date back to 1485 and their nickname, Beefeaters, is thought to derive from the daily ration of meat they received.
Reader views (26)
Hey guys...check your calendars, please. This is 2009, not 1609. Women are out there doing more than cooking, cleaning and having babies. FYI- They have been doing that for a long time now and it's not going to change anytime soon. Get over it.
- Dooflotchie, USA
I had my friend photograph Moria and me at the Tower Gate in 2007 because I was enthralled to find a "lady" in that uniform. I could only think what fine men were these "elite", to accept her without a fuss. They are fine, indeed, having nothing better to do than bully a WOMAN!
Now I hear that she has not done combat duty! Good Lord, how much fighting is to be done at The Tower of London these days? The wartime service of Elizabeth II is never overlooked, and she didn't see combat. I think it was She who said, "I cannot lead you into battle". She has given you a great portion of her life, as has the young lady at the Tower Gate. Would you ask Her Majesty to step down, have Her bullied or Her uniform defaced? Both women are in service to your nation. Tell these old guys to "get a grip", enjoy this cushy job welcoming visitors to that museum (don't forget the perks) or ship off to a distant post where, old as they maybe, they might see some combat. I'm a Yank so I have no right to an opinion concerning your military. Please remember I paid my entrance fee to The Tower of London.
- Judith, houston, texas USA
Wow, some of you London men shock and disgust me - your attitudes towards women are antiquated, and your blatant sexism is irrational and grotesque. Why shouldn't a woman - a decorated 22-year military veteran - be capable of standing around in uniform like the rest of the guys? Not that she's incapable of much more difficult service, but honestly - what's so overwhelmingly difficult to accept about the situation?
I worked as a smokejumper - a wildland firefighter who parachutes into fires - for the US Forest Service, and experienced a lot of attempted bullying and harassment from SOME - not all! - of my colleagues. No reason for it - we all passed the same physical-fitness tests and did exactly the same job, with no allowances for size or gender.
One night out, I asked one of the biggest jerks "what's your problem with me?", and in a fit of drunken honesty, he replied "If you (a woman) can be a smokejumper, then I don't look as tough".
Maybe that's the problem here - you guys think having a woman around will expose your jobs as...not really that difficult. I wish Moira lots of luck and fortitude for dealing with these jerks.
- Dana, Boise, Idaho - USA
It's not this woman's fault - it's just another result of this wretched government's determination to wreck as many of the established British institutions as they can.
- Richard, London
She said then: "I've had some comments. I had one chap at the gate one day who said he was completely and utterly against me doing the job."
People ARE allowed to have an opinion other than your own, whatever their reasoning - but that said, harrassment and physical damage to property are NOT acceptable.
"Bullies have no place in any organisation, except it appears in the British military, where several recruits per year die as a result."
a) These occasional tragedies are NOT unique to the British military
b) "per year" suggests every year - wrong! Demonstrably so.
c) This is the voice of an outsider looking in who can't tell the difference between stressing recruits (nor understand its need) and the occasional, unacceptable, overstepping of the mark to actual bullying and its sometimes tragic consequences.
- Rogan, Irving
"Why can't these Warders be named? If they are innocent it will not matter."
Why do you want to know? Surely this is a private disciplinary matter that's absolutely no-one's business if they're not directly involved?
- Michael, London
100s of years and no trouble. Then the pc brigade come along and insist on having a woman do this traditional role. Unsurprisingly, 2 years later there's trouble. Why can't people sometimes accept that certain roles are for men and certain roles are for women rather than constantly trying to bend this natural concept.
- H Morgan, London
Regardless of whether you approve of women beefeaters or not, why is it ever justified to treat anyone as she has been treated? She is doing a job, and should be able to do so without some idiot trying to intimidate her. Some of the other beefeaters disapprove of a woman in their ranks? Hmmm, then deal with it maturely, rather than like a childish schoolboy. And for those who think if she doesn't like it, she should just leave, perhaps the beefeaters who don't like there being a woman beefeater should be the ones to leave.
- Anna, Ontario, Canada
The problem with this appointment was always that it was in conflict with a fundamental reason the Tower still has Beefeaters - to attract the tourists with their ancient dress and Tower of London traditions.
And that, of course, means women should not qualify, no matter how good they may be. That's why we don't watch battle re-enactments with women soldiers. It just doesn't work.
If the govt wanted to make this a modern, gender-free job they should have got rid of the uniforms and ex-army qualifications and turned it over to a private security company.
Sorry, but its the lady who has to go, not the three blokes.
- Pete, london
How outrageous in this day and age that a person can be bullied simply because of there gender.Or for any other reason come to that.What a example they set to the children growing up in this country.Shame on the perpetrators,they should hang there heads in shame.Grown men indeed!
- Kev, London-UK
It is interesting and right that women are now allowed to be Beefeaters. However I understand there is still discrimination against the Royal Navy, who are not allowed to be Beefeaters because they are considered to be unreliable as they were originally "pressed" into service.
- Stephen C, London
The medals she is wearing are the General service medal, good conduct medal, long service medal and the UN medal. I'm not dismissing her service just the powers that be's justification of her position.
- Terence Harrington, Canterbury, UK
I think Wetherspoons grub is better than Beefeaters but not much.
- Tony, Essex
So Terence Harrington, Canterbury, seems to think that you need to be a "battle hardened veteran" to become a beefeater eh? Terence I think your comment is a flimsey veilled dig at women working in the male dominiated domain. Get used to it Terence as times are a changing - in fact were have you been for the passed few decades - has it escpaed your notice that women can vote as well as work?
- Nat, London
I understand that the name "Beafeater" Came from the French word Buffateer. This refered to their prime duty of having to taste the Kings food before it was to be consummed by the monarch thus preventing him from being poisoned.This would also explain why they must have a huge amount of seniority in the armed forced before being even considered for the position as obviously this was a duty entrusted to only the most "dependable" servants of the king.
- Zznhl, London
For your benefit Terence from Canterbury, military service is military service, regardless of where or when it is carried out. I didn't no that it was a requirement of the job of beefeater to have seen action on the battlefield. I think I detect a rather chauvanist 70's attitude.
- Bleeding Heart Liberal, London
Good on Moira Cameron for having the gumption to stay on despite the bullyboys. It was despicable of the more mouse than men Beefeaters, who acted out of spite and hate against her. Their Monarch is a woman!!
Why take out their resentments against a colleague? It wasn't her who changed the rules to include women. Those who bullied her, and those who stood by and allowed it to happen, have let the Beefeater office down in a big way. Their reputation is now in tatters. Visitors will look upon them as a mean, spiteful, petty crew of low standards and low morals. They've blown a hole through any pomp and ceremony. No better than other anti social thugs.
Regarding ruining the nearly £1.5K uniform. As it is Crown property, presumably the Crown or the taxpayer will foot the bill for repair or replacement? Let those responsible be prosecuted like anyone else for that particular crime. If punishment fits the crime, those guilty should also fork out for all court costs incurred.
- J Peyton, London
The 'male only' military is so old-fashioned. This attitude only seems to be prevalent in Britain. Well done for taking action. Bullies have no place in any organisation, except it appears in the British military, where several recruits per year die as a result.
- Anil, glos
Why can't these Warders be named? If they are innocent it will not matter.
- Mj, East Anglia
A sad story, but hopefully a happy ending. Bigotry is so difficult to route out. But consider that when my grandmother (who recently passed away) was a girl, Britain had a (Liberal) prime minister who thought the idea of women having the vote to be proposterous. It takes time for the dinosaurs to die off.
- Alan, London
what a surprise.
- Squiz, Islington
...'Have you ever been to a Beefeater?'
- Hippus, London, london, UK
22 years military service? In the Adjutant General's Corps hardly a battle hardened veteran. How many actual combat tours has she done on the ground not in an office? Theres a big difference in womans Army service than mens.
- Terence Harrington, Canterbury, UK
I've met Moira and she is a great lady. I hope that this gets sorted out quickly and that she can continue her job without being harassed.
- Carl, London
She should ask her colleagues 'What's the beef?'
- Steve, London
I thought that one would end in tears.
- Steve, Brentford
